Reconstruction:Proto-Ryukyuan/nao

This Proto-Ryukyuan 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-Ryukyuan

Reconstruction

Most Ryukyuan words meaning "what" would either be 何 (nō) or 何 (nū). However a form exists in Old Ryukyuan nau, and also literary Miyako 何 (nau), suggesting that the forms result from monophthongization.

Etymology

From Proto-Japonic *n-anu- (“what”).

Pronoun

*nao

1. what

Descendants

• Northern Ryukyuan:
  • Kikai: 何 (nū)
  • Kunigami: 何 (nū)
  • Northern Amami Ōshima: 何 (nū)
  • Okinawan: 何 (nū)
  • Okinoerabu: 何 (nū)
  • Southern Amami Ōshima: 何 (nū)
  • Tokunoshima: 何 (nu)
  • Yoron: 何 (nū)
• Southern Ryukyuan:
  • Miyako: 何 (nau, nō)
  • Yaeyama: 何 (nō)
  • Yonaguni: 何 (nū)