Swadesh-207-word.htm

Counter Swadesh 207 Word List for the Proto-Language

Swadesh 207-Word List
for the Proto-Language

by Patrick C. Ryan
rev. February 4, 2008

Monosyllables marked with an asterisk ( * ) in blue are found with more than one Swadesh word.
Click on the *link or superposed number to see other employments.
Some readers may want to inspect the full range of semantically related meanings I have assigned
to the Proto-Language monosyllables at Proto-Language Monosyllables, which is a large file with many line drawings.


In many entries, you will find the simple monosyllable by itself. This means I have found at least one language
in which the monosyllable conveys the indicated meaning without any (apparent) additions.
Monosyllables followed by other monosyllables in parentheses ( . . . ) indicate
frequent additions found that designate the specific meanings ascribed to the initial monosyllables.


SIMPLIFIED PRONUNCIATION SUGGESTIONS

1
1a
1b
1c
1d
1e

I†
(cheek[s]-{caller})
(voicer)
(this male)
(one)
(jaw - speaker)

*?O23(-HHA)
*¿E
?A-K?E
*NA23
*K?A2
2
2a
2b

2c

2d
2e
2f

2g

you (sing.) †
(hearer)
(fellow clans
-[wo]man)
(fellow tribes
-[wo]man)
(childfeminine)
(standing)
(male)

(other)


*FO
*SHO[-¿E]
*THO[-¿E]
*KHO
*THSA
*K?E2
*KHE23
3
3a
3b 		he†
(one here)
(alone)

*?A-NA
(?A-)*SHE2
(-NA)
4
4a
4b
4c

we†
(inclusive)
(inclusive2)
(exclusive)

*ME(-NO)
*NO
FA(-NA)
5 you (pl.)†¿A-FO
6 they† ?A-NA-?A-NA
7 this *?A-NA
8
8a
8b 		that
(one nearby)
(one yonder)
?O-NA
?E-NA
9 here (also I) *?A(-MA)
10 there (also you [sing.])

there (yonder) (also he)
*?O23(-MA)
*?E2(-MA)
11
11a
11b

11c
11d
11e

who(?)
(one)
(individual)

(primary)
(quantity)
(adult)

*(?A-)NA
(?A-)SHE
(?A-)PHA
*(?A-)XHA
(?A-)RO-?A
12
12a
12b

12c
12d 		what(?)
(one)
(separate)

(part)
(quantified)
*(?A-)NA
(?A-)SE
(?A-)P?A
*(?A-)XHA
13 where(?) (?A-)MA-?A
14 when(?) (?A-)MA-?A HHA-NO
15 how(?)
[what(?) other (one)] 		(?A-)NA-KHE
-¿E(-NA)
16
16a

16b
16c

not
(existential - absent)
(modal - avoid)
(prospective - hold off)
*?E2(-FA)
*MHE(-FHA)
NO(-¿E)
17 all REDUPLICATION
18
18a
18b

18c

many
(more than one)
(pack)

(full amount)



*¿A(-MO)
XHA(-NHA)
PHO-NHA
(-FHA)
19
19a
19b
19c

some
(inanimate)
(animate)
(one)

P?A
PHA
SHE(-MO)
20 few PHA-HHA
-FHA
21 other *KHE23(-¿E)
22 onea (?A-/?O-/?E-)*NA23 / *SHE2
?A-¿E-FA
23 twoa T?SO(-FA)-FAb
24 threea *
25 foura *
26 fivea T?A(-¿E)-FA
NOTE:
T?A-KHE-FA (thumb-other) ten
PHO-NA
-KHO-FAc
(mouth) ten
27
27a
27b 		big
(mature)
(tall)
RO(-?A)
RA(-¿E)
28
28a
28b 		long
([become] long)
(stretch out)
T?SA(-NHA)
T?A-NHA
29
29a
29b 		wide
(big circumference)
(open)
FO-RO
RA-FA(-HHA)
30 thick (pot-bellied) P?FA-QO
31 heavy XA-RE-FA
32 small *NHE(-¿E)
33 short(en) KHXO-RE
34 narrow (strangled) (HA-)QO-¿E
35 thin *PHE(-¿E)
36 woman (female) *HA(-NA)
K?A-¿E-MO
37
37a
37b
37c
man
(male)
(strong)
(energetic)
*K?E2(-NA)
FE-¿E-RO
HA-NO-RO
38
38a

38b
38c
man
(human)

(adult)
(juvenile)

*MO23(-NA)
(-FA)
RO-?A-MO
MO-RO-¿E
39 child *KHO(-NA)
40 wife ?A-THO-HA
41 husband (consort) ?A-THO
42 mother ?A-MA-HHA
43
43a
43b
43c 		father
(protector)
(provider)
(progenitor)

?A-PHO-HHA
?A-PHA-HHA
?A-P?O-HHA
44
44a
44b 		animal
(skull)
(track [suffix])
*QO2
-P?FE(-¿E)
45
45a
45b

fish
(school)
(labor to breathe)


XHA(-NHA)
PHFE-¿E-SE
(-XHA)
46
46a
46b
46c

bird
(animal)
(animal2)
(bird name)

(HA-)*RHA
HA-FA(-¿E)
-FA
47
47a


47b


dog
(canine)


(wolf[-pack])



*KHE23
(-FHA)(-NA)
FHA(-¿E)
(-NHA)
(-XHA)
48 louse (scratch) HE(-RE
-KHXO)
49
49a
49b


49c


snake
(venomous)
(constrictor)


(strangling to death)

(SA-RA-)*PHO
(SO-NHE-)QHO
HA-QO-FA-¿E
50 worm *NHE(-¿E)
51 tree (T?A-¿E-)*RA
52 forest T?A-¿E
-RA-FA
53 stick T?SO(-¿E)
54 fruit P?FE-RO
55 seed SE(-¿E)
56
56a
56b 		leaf
(vine)
(hanging leaf)
*FE(-¿E)
T?A-¿E
57 root (RA-)*P?FE2
58 bark (from tree) P?FA(-RE)
59 flower FO-NA
60 grass ?A(-FA)
61
61a
61b 		rope
(what is twisted)
(cord)
*K?O(-SA)
SA-¿E
62 skin (flayed) *SO(-KHXO)
(-¿E)
63 flesh (meat) *MO23(-MO)
(-SO)
64 blood *MO23(-HHA)
65 bone QHA-SO
66
66a
66b
66c

fat
obesity
jiggling
(oil[y])

PHFA-¿E
NHA-¿E
NE-¿E
67 egg (clutch - nest) *FA2(-FA)
68
68a
68b 		horn
(bovine)
(antler)
KHA-RO
KHXE-RA
69 tail *K?E2(-P?FO)
PHFA-FHA
-KHXA(-FHA)
70 feather XE(-¿E)
71
71a
71b

hair
(head)
(body)

K?XA(-¿E)
XE(-¿E)
72
72a
72b 		head
(skull)
(face)
*QO2(-QO)
K?XE(-RE)
73 ear *FO (-FA-SO)
74 eye(s) *¿A(-FA)
75 nose: nostril (nose) *NA23(-HA-SO)
76
76a
76b
76c


mouth
(cheek[s])
(lips)
(jaw)



*?O23(-FA-SO)
RO-FA
*K?A2(-¿E
-P?FO)
77 tooth (grinder) *?E2(-NHA)
78 tongue (licker) *ME(-NHA)
79 fingernail/claw *RE(-¿E
-P?FE)
80
80a
80b 		foot
(toe/digit)
(ball of the foot)
*P?FE2
T?E
81 leg P?FO(-¿E-NA)
82
82a
82b

82c

knee
(cap)
(cap2)

(joint - angled)

*K?A2
QHA-PHA

QE-NA-FA
83
83a


83b


83c
hand
(thumb) [pointer]


(finger [plug])


(palm [pusher])

*T?A2[-¿E
-KHXE]
T?SE[-FA
-P?FE]
*FA2[-T?SA]
84 wing *PHE(-RO)
85
85a
85b 		belly
(stomach)
(diaphragm)
*NO(-P?FO)
¿E(-P?FO)
86 guts (intestine) QA(-RA
-P?FO)
87 neck *K?O(-NHA)
88 back (spine/vertebrae [rib]) *RA(-P?FO)
(-¿E)
89 breast(s) *MA2(-FA) /
(-NA)(-T?SA)
90 heart KHXE-RA
-T?O
91
91a
91b

liver
(viscera)
(organ palpation)

¿E-SE
¿E-XHA-RE
92 drink (suck up) SO(-FA)
93
93a
93b

eat
(bite off)
(chew [up])

?E-T?A
K?A-¿E-FA
94 bite (into) MHA(-RE)
95 suck (in) T?SE-HHA
(-¿E)
96 spit (out)[spray] PHFE-¿E-FA
97 vomit RO-FA-P?O
98 blow (intrans.) HA-FHA
(-T?A)
99 breath(e) in
[nose] 		PHO-NA(-FA)
[-T?SA]
HA-NO
(-HHA)

100
laugh (derisively) 		KHXA-KHXA
101
101a
101b
101c


101d


see
(squint at)
(glance)
(stare)


(pay attention)


¿A-XHA
SA-¿A-RE
T?SA-¿A
-HHA
K?A-¿A-P?FA

102 hear FO(-¿E)-T?A
(-¿E)
103
103a

103b 		know
(observe)

(study)
¿A-FE(-HHA)
(-¿E)(-T?A)
T?SA-¿A-FA
104
104a

104b
think
(recall)

(review)
ME-NA
(-HHA)(-¿E)
THO-QO
105
105a
105b

smell (trans.)
(taste)
(sniff)


?O-T?A(-¿E)
NA-FHA
(-PHA)

106
106a
106b

106c




fear
(twitch)
(trembling hands)

(perspire)



THA-RE
T?A-RHA
(SA-)P?O-¿E
-T?A
107
107a


107b

sleep
(be on floor/ground)


(rest [curl up])


(?A-)*HHO
(-FHA)(-SHA)
XHE-¿E-HHA

108
108a
108b
108c 		live
(dwell)
(be alive)
(stay)
P?FO-¿E/FA
XE-¿E
MHA-NA
109 die (bleed out) *MO-FA-T?O
110 kill (put to sleep) HHO-NHA
(-¿E)
111 fight (inflict pain) KHXA-T?SA
112
112a
112b
112c

hunt
(drive into trap)
(catch in snare)
(ambush)

NHA-FHA
QO-RO
HHO-RHE
113
113a

113b

113c

113d

hit
(strike)

(beat up/hurt)

(raise lumps)

(bruise)


P?FO-¿E
(-HHA)
KHXA-FHA
XO-HHA-NA
P?FA-HHA
-FHA
114 cut (off) KHXO(-FHA)
115 split (trans.) *P?FE2(-¿E)
116 stab (puncture) THSE-RE
117 scratch *RE(-¿E /
-FA)
118
118a
118b

dig
(excavate)
(expose)

P?A(-?A/-¿E)
P?FA-RE
119 swim (immerse) NA-HHA
120 fly (verb) (PHE-)*RHA
121 walk (tread) *RHE2(-¿E)
122 come *HE(-¿E)
123 lie (become supine / rest) *HHO(-NHA)
124
124a
124b 		sit
(immobile)
(squat)
(HE-)SHA
XHO(-¿E)
125 stand *THSA(-¿E /
-FHA)
126
126a
126b 		turn
(trans.)
(intrans.) 		T?SO-RE
XHE-NHA
127 fall (repose) *RHE2(-FHA)
128 give (away) *T?A2(-FA)
129 hold T?SO(-FA)
130 squeeze XA-¿E
131
131a
131b 		rub
[intransitive]
[transitive]
MHO(-NHA)
MO-RE
132
132a
132b 		wash
(rinse)
(scrub [out])
HHA-THSO
NHA-FHA
133 wipe MHE(-¿E)
134
134a
134b 		pull
(behind = draw along)
(out = pluck)

*SO(-FA)
T?A-HHA
(-¿E)
135 push (on/away) SE-FA
136 throw SE-HHA(-¿E)
137 tie T?E-HHA(-¿E)
138 sew SA-¿E-FA
139 count RE-HHA(-¿E)
(-T?SO)
140
140a
140b

140c
140d

140e
140f

140g

140h


say
(speak)
(whisper)

(declare)
(shout)

(praise)
(converse / agree)

(confess / swear)

(call to)




*¿E(-HHA)
HA-¿E
SE-XHA
P?FA-HA
HA-FHA
ME-HHA(-¿E)
T?O-NA
-K?XE
¿E-ME
141 sing (hum) KHXA-NA
142 play (back and forth) NHA-¿E-T?A
143 float NA-FHA
144 flow HHA-FHA
145 freeze (coagulate) QE-NHA
146 swell (up) *PHO (-FHA)
147 sun *HO(-RHE)
148 moon ME-HHA-NA
149 star THE(-HHA)
(-RHA)
150 water HHA(-FHA)
151 rain *RHE2(-¿E)
152 river / stream *HE(-RHE)
(-¿E)
153 lake (bank) MO-HHA-RO
(-¿E)
154 sea (shore) MO-HHA-RO
155 salt SHA-NHA
156 stone QHA(-RA)
157 sand K?A-¿E-¿E
(-SE)
cf. K?A-¿E-FA
158 dust PHE-HHA-SE
159
159a


159b
159c
159d

earth
(barren)


(mound)
(loose dirt)
(hunting preserve)



K?XE-¿E
(-MA)
*MA2
?A-RA(-FA)
K?XE-T?SO
-MA
160 cloud *QO2(-P?E)
161 fog HHA-QE / QHE-P?FO
162
162a
162b
sky
(air)
(heavens = tent)
*HA(-¿E)
P?A-¿E-THO
163 wind (HA-)FHA
164 snow (SHE-)NO-¿E
-XE-¿E
165 ice HHA-¿E
-SHE/NA
166 smoke *HHE(-RA)
167
167a
167b
167c 		fire
(flame)
(fiery heat)
(sparkling light)
HHA-¿E-T?SE
HHA-THO
PHFE-FHA-RE
168
168a


168b


ash
(sun-burnt = darkened - blistered)

(live)


SA-FHE-RA /
T?SA
HHA-SHA

169
169a
169b 		burn
(incinerate)
(release light)
T?A-HHA-FA
HHA-¿E-T?SE
170 path PHA-NA-THSO
171
171a
171b 		mountain
(peak)
(cone)
ME-NA
XO-RA
172
172a
172b 		red
(bloody)
(orange)
*MO23(-RA)
*HHE(-RA)
173 green *FE(-RA)
174
174a
174b 		yellow
(sun color)
(shiny)
*HO(-RA)
K?XE-NHA
175
175a
175b 		white
(milky)
(colorless)
QE(-RA)
P?FA(-RA)
176
176a
176b

176c

black
(dark)
(gray)

(bare)


QHA(-RA)
*KHE23(-RA)
NO(-¿E)
-K?XA(-FA)
177
177a
177b


night
(darkness)
(blackness/bareness)



KHE-KHE
NO-K?XA
(-FA)(-THO)
178
178a
178b 		day
(daytime)
(irradiate)
HO-RO(-FA)
T?A-¿E-NA
179 year ¿A-HE-RE
180
180a
180b 		heat
hot
warm
*THO(-RE)
THO-PHA
181
181a
181b

181c 		cold
(lost heat [thicken])
(freeze - coagulate)

(cool)
*SHE2[-NA]
QE-NHA
QHE(-P?FO)
182
182a
182b



full
(ripe)
(blown up)



*MA2(-?A)
PHO-NHA
(-HHA) /
(-FHA)
183 new NO-P?O-RO
184
184a
184b 		old
(many yeared)
(deteriorated) 		¿A-HE-RE-FA
K?A-¿E-RA
185
185a


185b


185c


185d

good
(companionable)


(festive)


(outstanding)


(dependable)

*SHO(-FHA)
(-¿E)
T?SE(-HHA)
-SHA(-RO)
P?FA-?A
(-T?A)
MA-?A-NA
186 bad (supine/helpless) T?SA-FA(-¿E)
187 rotten (stinking) PHFE(-FHA)
188 dirty (unclean) *MO-FA-T?O
189 straight (loosely hanging) RA-K?XA
(-¿E)
190 round *FA2(-¿E)
191
191a


191b
191c
sharp
([point]ed) {sharp}


(edged)
(knapped)
?A-¿E[-P?FO]{-RO}
T?SE-FA-RA
T?A-SO
192 dull (abraded) MHO(-FHA)
-RO
193 smooth (naturally) MHE(-¿E)
194 wet (damp) *THA(-¿E)
195 dry (intrans.) SE(-¿E)-XHA
196 correct (fitting) ?A-RO-¿E
197
197a


197b

197c


near
(close)


(beside)

(around)


*?O23(-P?FE
-¿E)
P?FE-¿E
?A-MA+
P?FO-¿E / FA
198 far T?A-FA-RO
199 right (hand) MHA-NA
200 left (hand) SE-FA(-¿E)
201 at -*?A
202 in -*NA23
203 with -*T?A2
204 and IMMEDIATE JUXTAPOSITION
205 if RISING INTONATION AT END OF PREPOSED CLAUSE (optionally introduced by HO-RO[-¿E], day[time])
206 because (come in front of): post hoc ergo propter hoc PHA-RHE
207 name (?E-NA=)¿E
-ME(-NA)









the latest revision of this document can be found at
http://www.oocities.org/proto-language/Swadesh-207.htm

Patrick C. Ryan * 9115 West 34th Street - Little Rock, AR 72204-4441 * (501)227-9947
PROTO-LANGUAGE@msn.com




SIMPLIFIED PRONUNCIATION SUGGESTIONS FOR PROTO-LANGUAGE PHONEMES

A, /a/ (father); E, /e/ (get); O, /o/ (not);

P?F, /bw/; PFH, /pf/; F, /w/; FH, /f/; M, /m/; MH, /m/ + lengthened following vowel;

T?S, /dz/; TSH, /ts/; S, /z/; SH, /s/; N, /n/; NH, /l/;

K?X, /gy/; KXH, /ky/; X, /zh/; XH, /sh/; Q, /ng/; QH, /nk/;

R, /r/; RH, /r/ + lengthened following vowel;

?, /?/; H, /h/; ¿, /y/; HH, /x/.



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NOTES

>BR>
* NOTE: These values have yet to be determined.

† The Proto-Language had no category of words corresponding to personal pronouns which have only a pronominal meaning and usage. Circumlocutions like "speaker" for I or "there" for you (singular) were instead employed.

a Hardly any agreement exists among the languages of the world on numbering nomenclature, even for the simplest concepts such as 'one': Sumerian aš; Egyptian w'; PIE *ein-. What seems likely, however, is that the terms greater than 'one', whatever they might have been, were suffixed with FA, 'palm/number'; e.g. 'two': Egyptian sn-w; PIE *dwo:-u.

b Although expressions for 'two' formally differ, semantically they are well represented under the rubric of 'friendly':
Sumerian man, for presently read min, 'two, companion';
Proto-Language MA-?A-NA(-FA), 'dependable(-number)';

Egyptian sn-w, 'two, brother';
Proto-Language SHO-NHA(-FA), 'favorable(-number)';

Proto-Indo-European *bhey-, 'two, beside';
Proto-Language P?FE-¿E(-FA), 'toe-like, one beside(-number)'.


The form cited above, T?SO(-FA)-FA, is the basis for the innovative PIE *dwo:u-, 'two', but is clearly only one of the possible earliest names for 'two'.

c Another early form for '5' seems to be based on a word for 'nose' (cf. PIE *pneu-, 'breathe'; Afrasian fi/un, 'nose, smell'), Proto-Language PHO-NA.

The final element, which we reconstruct as KHO means 'little', changes the meaning to 'mouth', based on Afrasian fi/unax, 'mouth', designating the 'mouth' as a secondary breathing orifice.

This is a terminological survival from a hand-counting utilizing the touching of various spots on the body to indicate a number. With the addition of -*w, 'number', we have PIE *penkwe-, 'five', which developed into *penkwe-.