Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/-nu

This Proto-Japonic 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-Japonic

Etymology

Related to *na (“prohibitive marker”).

Suffix

*-nu (infinitive *-ni, irrealis *-na)

Negativizes a verb in the irrealis stem.
*kikanu
does not listen

Descendants

Old Japanese: ぬ (nu), ず (-zu) (< *-nu, *-n(i)su)
- Japanese: ぬ (-nu), ず (-zu) (literary)
Proto-Ryukyuan: *-nai (suffixed with the irrealis *-na and *wu (“to have; to sit”))
- Northern Ryukyuan:
  - Kikai: ねーん (-nēn), ねーらん (-nēran)
  - Kunigami: ねー (-nē), ぬ (-nu)
  - Northern Amami Ōshima: ねん (-nen)
  - Okinawan: ねーん (-nēn)
  - Okinoerabu: ん (-n)
  - Southern Amami Ōshima: ねむっ (-nem), ねーむっ (-nēm)
  - Yoron: ねん (-nen), ねんぬ (-nennu)
- Southern Ryukyuan:
  - Miyako: なーん (-nān)
  - Yaeyama: ねーぬ (-nēnu)
  - Yonaguni: みぬん (-minun)