Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/-lta

This Proto-Finnic 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-Finnic

Etymology

Probably contracted from the genitive ending *-n + *ülä (“upper, above”) + Proto-Uralic *-ta (ablative suffix), perhaps through a Uralic postposition *ültä: (*-n-ülä-tä >) *-n-ültä > *-n-ltä > *-lta/*-ltä.

In the past also thought to derive from *-la + the aforementioned ablative suffix.

Suffix

*-lta / *-ltä

1. Ablative case ending.

Descendants

• Estonian: -lt
• Finnish: -lta
• Ingrian: -lt
• Karelian:
  • North Karelian: -lta
  • South Karelian: -lda
• Livonian: -ld, -ldō, -õld
• Livvi: -l, ⇒ -lpäi (+ päi to avoid merging with adessive)
• Ludian: (merged with adessive *-lla)
• ⇒ Veps: -lpäi (+ päi to avoid merging with adessive)
• Võro: -lt
• Votic: -ltõ