habeen

Somali

Etymology

From Proto-Somaloid *hibéèn (“night”), which may be from Proto-Cushitic *hamin (compare Beja himni), derived from Proto-Cushitic *ham- (“darkness”), from Proto-Afroasiatic *ḥam- (“to be burnt”), or related to Egyptian hbnj (“African blackwood”) and Tamahaq henbey (“have a black head”). Cognate with Garre habiin, Aweer habee, Rendille ibeen, Jiiddu hamin, Baiso hemen.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /hɑbêːn/, [hɑbɛ̂ːn]

Noun

habèen m (plural habeenno f)

1. night

References

• De Larajasse, E. (1897). "Somali-English and English-Somali dictionary", HA-HAB, page 59