Reconstruction:Proto-Samic/sëvsëm
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
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