Reconstruction:Proto-Mon-Khmer/()ŋaaj

This Proto-Mon-Khmer 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-Mon-Khmer

Etymology

Proto-Mon-Khmer: *[]ŋaaj (Shorto, 2006, #1453)

Noun

*()ŋaaj

eye
pupil

Perhaps related to *(m)ŋaaj (“person, human being”). The senses "face" also appear in descendant languages.

Descendants

Bahnaric:
- Bahnar: ngai (“pupil”)
Palaungic: *ʔŋaj (“eye”) (Sidwell, 2010)
- Danaw: [ŋɑj²]
- Palaung: ngāī (“eye, face”)
- Riang: [ŋɑj²]
- Wa: ngai (“eye”)
Pearic:
- Chong: [ŋa̤ːj] ("face")
Vietic: *-ŋaːj (“pupil”) (Ferlus, 2007) (see there for further descendants)
- Vietnamese: ngươi