Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/matala

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

Unknown; possibly *matadak (“to creep”) +‎ *-la, though the semantic development is unclear.

Adjective

*matala

1. low
2. shallow

Inflection

Inflection of *matala

Note: The Proto-Finnic declension system is yet to be reconstructed in detail. What is presented here is only one possibility.
		singular	plural
nominative		*matala	*matalat
accusative		*matalan	*matalat
genitive		*matalan	*mataladën *mataloidën
partitive		*matalata	*mataloita
inessive		*matalassa *matalahna	*mataloissa *mataloihna
elative		*matalasta	*mataloista
illative		*matalasën	*mataloisën
adessive		*matalalla	*mataloilla
ablative		*matalalta	*mataloilta
allative		*matalalën *matalalëk	*mataloilën *mataloilëk
essive		*matalana	*mataloina
translative		*matalaksi	*mataloiksi
instructive		*matalan	*mataloin
comitative		*matalanëk	*mataloinëk
abessive		*matalatta	*mataloitta

Descendants

• Estonian: madal
• Finnish: matala
• Ingrian: matala, (Soikkola) mattaala
• Karelian: matala, madala
• Livonian: madāl
• Livvi: madal
• Ludian: madal
• Veps: madal
• Võro: matal'
• Votic: matalõ

References

• “madal”, in [ETY] Eesti etümoloogiasõnaraamat [Estonian Etymological Dictionary] (in Estonian) (online version), Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus (Estonian Language Foundation), 2012
• Itkonen, Erkki, Kulonen, Ulla-Maija, editors (1992–2000), Suomen sanojen alkuperä [The origin of Finnish words]‎^[2] (in Finnish) (online version; note: also includes other etymological sources; this source is labeled "SSA 1992–2000"), Helsinki: Institute for the Languages of Finland/Finnish Literature Society, →ISBN