Reconstruction:Proto-Samic/sëvsëm

This Proto-Samic 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-Samic

Etymology

Origin unknown, related to Proto-Finnic *heühen (“feather”). Often reconstucted as *sëvsëm, but this does not explain the -ks- consonant cluster seen in the declension of the descendant forms, thus a form of *sëŋsëm is more probable (compare Proto-Samic *pëŋsëm). The word is a likely candidate for a substrate loanword. Possibly from a Pre-Finno-Samic *šeŋšimV.

Noun

*sëvsëm

1. hair

Descendants

• Eastern Samic:
  • Inari Sami: soovsâ
  • Skolt Sami: sõõus
  • Akkala Sami: [script needed] (siusa)
  • Kildin Sami: сэфс (sefs)
  • Ter Sami: [script needed] (sa̭ᵞʿs̀)

Further reading

• Koponen, Eino, Ruppel, Klaas, Aapala, Kirsti, editors (2002–2008), Álgu database: Etymological database of the Saami languages‎^[1], Helsinki: Research Institute for the Languages of Finland