Phonetic Change Reference
Interactive guide to sound changes between Hebrew, Ge'ez, and Amharic based on Leslau 1969
Labial Alternance
8
Loss of b
4
k → h Weakening
5
Metathesis Cases
9
Interchange between labial consonants b, m, p, and f
መጠረ
mäṭṭärä
בָּתַר
bātar
"cut into small pieces"
b-m alternance: Hebrew b corresponds to Amharic m
ጨመረ
čämmärä
צָבַר
ṣābar
"add/heap up"
b-m alternance: Hebrew b corresponds to Amharic m
ነመር/ነበር
nämar/näbar
נָמֵר
nāmēr
"leopard"
Within Amharic: both nämar and näbar forms exist
ዘነብ/ዘነም
zänäb/zänäm
זֶרֶם
zerem
"rain"
Within Amharic: alternance between b and m
ሰለበ
sälläbä
שָׁלַף
šālap
"castrate/draw out"
b-p alternance: Hebrew p corresponds to Amharic b
ነጠበ
näṭṭäbä
נָטַף
nāṭap
"drop/drip"
b-p alternance
ጠበበ
ṭäbbäbä
צָפוּף
ṣāpūp
"be narrow/crowded"
b-p alternance
አቀፈ
aqqäfä
חָבַק
ḥābaq
"embrace/hug"
f-b alternance with metathesis