Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/keeli

This Proto-Finnic 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-Finnic

Etymology

From Proto-Uralic *käle.[1] Cognates include Proto-Samic *kielë, Proto-Mordvinic *keľ.

Noun

*keeli[2]

  1. tongue
  2. language

Inflection

Descendants

  • Estonian: keel
  • Finnish: kieli
  • Ingrian: keeli, keel
  • Karelian: kieli
  • Livonian: kēļ, (Salaca) kiel
  • Livvi: kieli
  • Ludian: kielʹ
  • Veps: kelʹ
  • Võro: kiil'
  • Votic: tšeeli

References

  1. ^ Junttila, Santeri, Kallio, Petri, Holopainen, Sampsa, Kuokkala, Juha, Pystynen, Juho, editors (2020–), “kieli”, in Suomen vanhimman sanaston etymologinen verkkosanakirja[1] (in Finnish), retrieved 4 August 2025
  2. ^ Kallio, Petri (2020–), “*keeli”, in Yhteissuomalainen sanasto [Common Finnic Vocabulary]‎[2] (in Finnish)