Reconstruction:Proto-Ryukyuan/wonari

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

Etymology

The initial *wona- has been attributed to Japanese 女子 (onago < wonago, “girl”), while *-ri may be the same as the one in *wekeri (“brother (from a perspective of a sister)”). (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Noun

*wonari

1. sister (from a perspective of a brother)

Descendants

• Northern Ryukyuan: をなり (wonari) (Omoro Sōshi, 1531)
  • Kikai: うない (unai), ぐない (gunai)
  • Kunigami: をぅない (wunai)
  • Northern Amami Ōshima: をなり (wonari)
  • Okinawan: をぅない (wunai)
  • Okinoerabu: をぅない (wunai), をぅねー (wunē)
  • Southern Amami Ōshima: をぅなり (wunari)
  • Tokunoshima: うない (unai)
  • Yoron: ふない (funai)
• Southern Ryukyuan:
  • Miyako: ぶなイ゚ (bunaɿ)
  • Yaeyama: ぶなりぃ (bunarï)
  • Yonaguni: ぶない (bunai)