Reconstruction:Proto-Austroasiatic/rwaːjʔ

This Proto-Austroasiatic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Austroasiatic

Etymology

Proto-Austroasiatic: *rwaːjʔ (Sidwell, 2024, #AA163)
Proto-Mon-Khmer: *rwaaj (Shorto, 2006)

Noun

*rwaːjʔ

tiger, large felid

It is unknown whether the sense of “soul”, “spirit” was present at the Proto-Mon-Khmer stage or was a later development. Either way, this root reflects the animistic lifestyle of the early Mon-Khmer-speaking peoples.

Descendants

Aslian: *rəwaay (“soul, spirit”) (Phillips, 2012)
- Temiar: reiwai
- Semai: ruwaay
Bahnaric:
Proto-Katuic: *rwaaj (“soul, spirit”) (Sidwell, 2005)
- Pacoh: rvai
- So: rawi̤aj
- Eastern Katu: r'vai
Khmeric:
- Khmer: រវើ រវាយ (rôveu rôvéay)?
Proto-Khmuic: *rwaːj (“tiger”) (Sidwell, 2013)
- Khmu: rwaːj
- Mlabri: rwaːj
Proto-Palaungic: *rəʋaːj (“tiger”) (Sidwell, 2015)
- Palaung:
  - Shwe:
    - Sam-Loong: ရႎါည်
- Plang:
  - Man Noi: kà.vàj
- Lamet: rəwaːj
- Riang: rᵊwaj²
Proto-Pearic: *rəvaːj (Headley, 1985)
- Chong: rəwaj ~ rəwɤ̤ːj
Proto-Vietic: *r-vaːjʔ (“soul, spirit”) (Ferlus, 2007)
- Arem: vaːjʔ
- Chut:
  - Rục: vaːj³
  - Sách: vaːj³
- Kri: rʋaːjʔ
- Maleng: rəvɐːj⁴
- Tho
  - Cuoi Cham: vaːj³
- Viet-Muong:
  - Muong: wãi
  - Vietnamese: vía?