Reconstruction:Proto-Austroasiatic/bnɨm

This Proto-Austroasiatic 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-Austroasiatic

Etymology

• Proto-Austroasiatic: *b<n>ɨm (Sidwell, 2024, #AA141)
• Proto-Mon-Khmer: *bn₂uum ~ *bn₂əm (Shorto, 2006, #1369)

Cognates include Santali ᱵᱩᱱᱩᱢ (bunum, “termite hill, white ant hill”). Possibly related to Vietnamese nấm (“mound”).

Noun

*bnɨm

1. hill
2. mound

Descendants

• Proto-Aslian: *bənɨ(ɨ)m (“mountain”) (Phillips, 2012)
  • Jah Hut: benam
  • Jahaic:
    • Chewong: banim
  • Semelaic:
    • Semelai: benem
• Proto-Bahnaric: *bnɨm (Sidwell, 2011)
• Khmeric:
  • Old Khmer: vnaṃ
    • Khmer: ភ្នំ (phnum)
• Proto-Khmuic:
  • Khmu: pnɨm (“termite hill”)
• Proto-Palaungic: *pənɤm (Sidwell, 2015)
• Proto-Pearic:
  • Chong: pnɯ̂m(“ant hill”)