Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/mete

This Proto-Uralic 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-Uralic

Etymology

Borrowed from Proto-Tocharian *ḿətə, or alternatively (per EVE) from Pre-Proto-Indo-Iranian *médhu (later *mádhu),[1] ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *médʰu. One of the words found only within the traditional Finno-Ugric group.

It is not clear if the Mari words are inherited, as loss of *-t- would be irregular (contrast the development in *pata, *wete). UEW suggests the possibility of deriving them from a separate root *mäkɜ, while another possibility is loaning from Permic.

Noun

*mete

  1. honey

Descendants

  • Ugric:
    • Hungarian: méz
  • Proto-Permic: *må (see there for further descendants)
  • Proto-Mari: *mü (see there for further descendants)
  • Proto-Mordvinic: *meď (see there for further descendants)
  • Proto-Finnic: *meci (see there for further descendants)

See also

References

  1. ^ Junttila, Santeri, Kallio, Petri, Holopainen, Sampsa, Kuokkala, Juha, Pystynen, Juho, editors (2020–), “mesi”, in Suomen vanhimman sanaston etymologinen verkkosanakirja‎[1] (in Finnish), retrieved 4 August 2025
  • Rédei, Károly (1986–88), Uralisches etymologisches Wörterbuch [Uralic Etymological Dictionary] (in German), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó
  • Sammallahti, Pekka (1988), “Historical Phonology of the Uralic Languages”, in Denis, Sinor, editor, The Uralic Languages: Description, History and Foreign Influences, Leiden: E. J. Brill, →ISBN, pages 478-554
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