H3213 יָלַל yâlal → Root

18 languages

Root of the ילל family (4 members).

To emit a loud, mournful cry—typically to wail, howl, or lament vocally in distress. The verb is used of animals (especially wild beasts and birds) and humans, particularly in contexts of anguish, grief, or devastation, such as mourning the destruction of cities or anguish over disaster. Its primary sense is to express intense emotion or pain through a prolonged vocalization, often in public mourning or lamentation rituals.

Etymology The root יָלַל (y-l-l) is associated with producing a loud, intense sound, specifically howling, wailing, or lamenting loudly. The form יָלַל is a verb stem directly built from this root and is typically used in the Qal and Hiphil stems to express either the act itself or causation of such a cry. The root likely imitates the actual sound of howling (onomatopoeic origin), a feature observed in several Semitic languages for vocalic expressions.
Language Word Meaning Segmentation Root
Bemba kulila to cry -li(l)-
Chichewa kulira to cry, to mourn -lir-
Kikongo lela to cry -lel-
Kinyarwanda kuririra to cry for, to mourn for -lir-
Kirundi kuririra to cry for, to mourn for -lir-
Lingala kolila to cry -li(l)-
Lozi ku lila to cry -lil-
Luba-Kasai kulila to cry -li(l)-
Lunda kulila to cry, to weep -lil-
Ndebele lila to cry, mourn -lil-
Sotho lila to cry, weep -lil-
Swahili lilia to cry for, to lament over lil-
Swazi lila to cry, weep -lil-
Tonga (Zambia) kulila to cry -lil-
Tswana lela to cry, weep -lel-/ -lil-
Venda lila to cry, weep -lil-
Xhosa lila cry, weep, mourn -lil-
Zulu lila to cry, weep, mourn aloud lil-

Family members (3)

Lexemes that inherit from this canonical via the SilexRoot family or an additional inheritance edge. Tags show the cognate-propagation status.

  • H3214 יְלֵל yᵉlêl unset

    A loud, mournful cry or wail, typically expressing grief, anguish, or distress. In context, 'yelêl' refers to the sound

  • H3215 יְלָלָה yᵉlâlâh unset

    A loud, lamenting wail or cry, especially of mourning, grief, or distress; the act or sound of howling, often as a ritua

  • H8437 תּוֹלָל tôwlâl unset

    A poetic or rare term denoting one who causes lamentation or anguish, particularly an oppressor whose actions provoke pu

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