Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/sëpra

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

Likely borrowed from Proto-Baltic [Term?] (whence Latvian sēbrs (“friend”), Lithuanian sėbras (“companion”)).

Noun

*sëpra

1. friend
2. friendship, companionship

Inflection

Inflection of *sëpra

Note: The Proto-Finnic declension system is yet to be reconstructed in detail. What is presented here is only one possibility.
		singular	plural
nominative		*sëpra	*sëprat
accusative		*sëpran	*sëprat
genitive		*sëpran	*sëpradën *sëproidën
partitive		*sëprada	*sëproida
inessive		*sëprassa *sëprahna	*sëproissa *sëproihna
elative		*sëprasta	*sëproista
illative		*sëprahën	*sëproihën
adessive		*sëpralla	*sëproilla
ablative		*sëpralta	*sëproilta
allative		*sëpralën *sëpralëk	*sëproilën *sëproilëk
essive		*sëprana	*sëproina
translative		*sëpraksi	*sëproiksi
instructive		*sëpran	*sëproin
comitative		*sëpranëk	*sëproinëk
abessive		*sëpratta	*sëproitta

Descendants

• Estonian: sõber
  • → Livonian: sõbrā
• Finnish: seura
• Ingrian: sebra
• Karelian:
  • North Karelian: sepra
  • South Karelian: sebra
• Livonian: (archaic) sü'br
• Livvi: siebru
• Ludian: siebr
• Veps: sebr
• Võro: sõpr, sõbõr
• Votic: sõbrõ
• → Proto-Samic: *seaprē
  • Western Samic:
    • Ume Sami: seäbrrie
    • Lule Sami: siebrre
    • Northern Sami: searvi
  • Eastern Samic:
    • Inari Sami: servi
    • Skolt Sami: seäʹrvv
    • Kildin Sami: се̄ббр (sjēbbr)

Further reading

• “sõber”, 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