Reconstruction:Proto-Dravidian/nīr

This Proto-Dravidian 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-Dravidian

Etymology 1

Compound of *nī- (“you”, singular) +‎ *-r (plural ending).

Pronoun

*nīr

1. you (plural)

Descendants

• Old Tamil: 𑀦𑀻𑀭𑁆 (nīr)
  • Tamil: நீர் (nīr)
• Telugu: మీరు (mīru)

Etymology 2

Noun

*nīr

1. water

Descendants

• South Dravidian:
  • Tulu: ನೀರ್ (nīrŭ)
  • Tamil-Kannada:
    • Kota (India): நீர் (nīr)
    • Toda: நீர்
    • Kodava: ನೀರು (nīru)
    • Kannada-Badaga:
      • Badaga: ನೀರು (nīru)
      • Kannada: ನೀರು (nīru)
    • Old Tamil: 𑀦𑀻𑀭𑁆 (nīr)
      • Tamil: நீர் (nīr), ஈர் (īr), நீர்மை (nīrmai), ஈரம் (īram), ஈரிப்பு (īrippu), ஈரிய (īriya), ஈரலி (īrali)
      • Malayalam: നീര് (nīrŭ), ഈർപ്പം (īṟppaṁ), ഈരം (īraṁ), ഈറം (īṟaṁ), ഈർമ്മം (īṟmmaṁ)
• South-Central Dravidian:
  • Telugu: నీరు (nīru), నీళ్ళు (nīḷḷu), ఈమిరి (īmiri)
  • Konda-Dora: నీర్ (nīr)
  • Kui (India): ନୀରୁ (nīru)
• Central Dravidian:
  • Kolami: ఈర్ (īr)
  • Southeastern Kolami: ఈర్ (īr)
  • Duruwa: नीर
  • Ollari: నీర్ (nīr)
• North Dravidian:
  • Brahui: دیر (dīr)
• → Sanskrit: नीर (nīra) (see there for further descendants)

References

• Krishnamurti, Bhadriraju (2003) The Dravidian Languages (Cambridge Language Surveys), Cambridge University Press, →ISBN.
• Burrow, T., Emeneau, M. B. (1984) chapter 3690, in A Dravidian etymological dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, →ISBN.
• Burrow, T., Emeneau, M. B. (1984) chapter 3688, in A Dravidian etymological dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, →ISBN.