Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/(s)pel-

This Proto-Indo-European 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-Indo-European

Etymology

Possibly from *bʰel- (“to sound, speak”), with an s-mobile prefix.

Root

*(s)pel-

1. to say aloud, recite
2. to publicly speak
3. to tell

Alternative reconstructions

• *(s)pelH-

Descendants

Terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *(s)pel- (8 c, 0 e)

• Proto-Albanian: *feln-
  • Albanian: fjalë (“word”)
• Proto-Albanian: *śp(e)latśi-
  • Albanian: flas (“to speak”)
• Proto-Armenian:
  • Old Armenian: առասպել (aṙaspel, “tale, proverb, riddle”) (←aṙ-a-spel)
• Proto-Germanic: *spellą (see there for descendants)
• Proto-Hellenic:
  • Ancient Greek: ἀπειλή (apeilḗ, “boast, boastful promise”)