Reconstruction:Proto-Polynesian/lima

This Proto-Polynesian 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-Polynesian

Proto-Polynesian cardinal numbers

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Cardinal : *lima

Etymology

From Proto-Oceanic *lima, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *lima.

Noun

*lima

1. hand

Numeral

*lima

1. five

Descendants

• Proto-Nuclear Polynesian:
  • Proto-Eastern Polynesian:
    • Marquesic
      • Hawaiian: lima
      • South Marquesan: 'ima
    • Tahitic
      • Maori: rima
      • Tahitian: rima
    • Rapa Nui: rima
  • Samoic-Outlier
    • Ellicean
      • Kapingamarangi: lima
      • Nukuoro: lima
      • Sikaiana: lima
      • Tuvaluan: lima
    • Futunic
      • East Futuna: lima
    • Samoic
      • Niuatoputapu: lima
      • Samoan: lima
      • Tokelauan: lima
• Tongic:
  • Niuean: lima
  • Tongan: nima

Reconstruction notes

This term may in fact be *lima; identification is unclear due to a discontinuity in Tongan. If it were *rima, Tongan would be expected to have *ima, and if it were *lima, Tongan would be expected also to have *lima. No other Polynesian language fully distinguishes */ɾ/ and */l/. This reconstruction assumes that nima evolved out of *ima, which may have been modified to avoid confusion with a common homophone.