*šū̆/šū̆ˀ/šū̆wa - he (Kogan 2009:66)

Forms with the initial sibilant, whose primary nature cannot be doubted in view of the data of non-Semitic Afroasiatic languages, are found in Akk., ESA (except for Sabaic) and, to a greater or lesser extent, in MSA. In Ug., Heb., Arm., Arb. and Sab. *š- shifts to h- (Kogan 2009:66).

Akkadian

šū - he (CAD Š₃ 155, AHw. 1254)

Ugaritic

hw - he, it (DUL 348)

Hebrew

hū(ˀ) - he (HALOT 240)

Arabic

huwa - he (BK II 1454)

Sabaic

hˀ, hwˀ - he (SD 55)

Geez

wəˀətu - he (CDG 602)

No convincing explanation of the loss of the initial *h has been suggested. The origin of the extension *-tū is not entirely certain. It may go back to the PS pronominal marker of the oblique case (see Akk. šuāti, Ug. hwt, Sab. hwt). However, it seems more probable to interpret it as the deictic element attested in other EthS pronominal forms (see, for example, Geez zəntu). See Bulakh–Kogan 2013b:97–98.

Tigre

hətu - he (WTS 16)

The origin of the extension *-tū is not entirely certain. It may go back to the PS pronominal marker of the oblique case (see Akk. šuāti, Ug. hwt, Sab. hwt). However, it seems more probable to interpret it as the deictic element attested in other EthS pronominal forms (see, for example, Geez zəntu). See Bulakh–Kogan 2013b:97.

Tigrinya

ˀətu - that (masc. sg. demonstrative pronoun) (TED 1467)

Obviously related to Tigre hətu, but preserved only with the function of the remote deixis pronoun. The origin of the extension *-tū is not entirely certain. It may go back to the PS pronominal marker of the oblique case (see Akk. šuāti, Ug. hwt, Sab. hwt). However, it seems more probable to interpret it as the deictic element attested in other EthS pronominal forms (see, for example, Geez zəntu). See Bulakh–Kogan 2013b:97–98.

Zway

ut - he (EDG 332)

Gafat

wət - he (Bulakh–Kogan 2013b:95)

Mehri

hē - he (ML 150)

Jibbali

šɛ - he (JL 259)

Harsusi

hah - he (HL 50)