Reconstruction:Proto-Ryukyuan/opo

This Proto-Ryukyuan 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-Ryukyuan

Alternative reconstructions

• *ope (< Proto-Japonic *əpəi)

Etymology

From Proto-Japonic *əpə (“big, large; many”). The retention of *p is unexpected.

Adjective

*opo

1. big, large
2. many

Descendants

• Northern Ryukyuan:
  • Kikai: 大さい, 多さい (ussai, ufisai, ubisai)
  • Kunigami: 大ーせん, 多ーせん (fupōsen, pōsen, fupīsen)
  • Northern Amami Ōshima: 大っさり, 多っさり (fïssari)
  • Okinawan: 大さん, 多さん (ufusan, ufisan)
  • Okinoerabu: 大いさん, 多いさん (fūsan, fuisan)
  • Southern Amami Ōshima: 大ーさむっ, 多ーさむっ (ufūsam, fūsam, fïïsam)
  • Tokunoshima: 大ーい, 多ーい (hōi, fëëi)
  • Yoron: 大さん, 多さん (upusan), 大しゃん, 多しゃん (upishan)
• Southern Ryukyuan:
  • Miyako: 大, 多 (upu)
  • Yaeyama: 大さん, 多さん (ufusan)
  • Yonaguni: 大さん, 多さん (ubusan) (< *oposi)