Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/faimnijǭ

This Proto-Germanic entry contains reconstructed words 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-Germanic

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *pēymen- (“girl”), *poymen- (“breast milk”), from Proto-Indo-European *peyH- (“fat”). Cognate with Sanskrit पयते (páyate), प्यायते (pyā́yate, “he swells, abounds, increases, grows”). Unrelated to Latin fēmina (“woman”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈɸɑi̯m.ni.jɔ̃ː/

Noun

*faimnijǭ f

young woman, maid, maiden

Inflection

ōn-stemDeclension of *faimnijǭ (ōn-stem)
	singular	plural
nominative	*faimnijǭ	*faimnijōniz
vocative	*faimnijǭ	*faimnijōniz
accusative	*faimnijōnų	*faimnijōnunz
genitive	*faimnijōniz	*faimnijōnǫ̂
dative	*faimnijōni	*faimnijōmaz
instrumental	*faimnijōnē	*faimnijōmiz

Related terms

*faimijō

Descendants

Old English: fǣmne
Old Frisian: fāmne, fēmne, fomne, fonna, fovne, fone
- North Frisian: faamen, fomen, foomen, faamel, fømel
- Saterland Frisian: Fauene
- West Frisian: feem, faam, faamne, famke
- → Middle English: fonne (possibly)
  - English: fun, fond