Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/we

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

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “See Talk.”)

Possibly related to *wo (compare prefixing and suffixing element appearing as o in modern Japanese terms such as Japanese 雄 (osu, “male”), Japanese 益荒男 (masurao, “manly man”) or 雄花 (obana, “male flower”)).

Noun

*we

man

Descendants

Proto-Ryukyuan: *we
- ⇒ Proto-Ryukyuan: *weke
  - Northern Ryukyuan:
    - Kunigami: 男 (yikigā)
    - Okinawan: 男 (wikiga)
    - Yoron: 男 (wuiga)
  - Southern Ryukyuan:
    - Miyako: 男 (biki)
    - Yaeyama: 男 (bigidun)
- ⇒ Proto-Ryukyuan: *wekeri (“brother (from a sister)”)
  - Northern Ryukyuan: ゑけり (wekeri) (Omoro Sōshi, 1531)
    - Kikai: いぃーい (yīi)
    - Kunigami: うぃきー (wikī)
    - Northern Amami Ōshima: いぇへり (yeheri)
    - Okinawan: うぃきー (wikī)
    - Okinoerabu: いぃー (yī)
    - Southern Amami Ōshima: いぃひるっ (yihir)
    - Tokunoshima: いぃーり (yīri)
    - Yoron: をぅひーび (wuhībi)
  - Southern Ryukyuan:
    - Miyako: びきい゚ (bikiɿ)
    - Yaeyama: びぎるぃ゚ (bigirï)
    - Yonaguni: びぎ (bigi)
- ⇒ Proto-Ryukyuan: *wenga
  - Northern Ryukyuan:
    - Kikai: 男 (yinnga)
    - Northern Amami Ōshima: 男 (yenga)
    - Okinawan: 男 (yinga)
    - Okinoerabu: 男 (yinga)
    - Southern Amami Ōshima: 男 (yïnga)
    - Tokunoshima: 男 (yïnga)
  - Southern Ryukyuan:
    - Yonaguni: 男 (binga)