1.0 The Body > 1.9 Reproductive System > 1.9.4 Breast

#254 PTB *s-nya-n BREAST / MILK / SUCK

This etymon, which frequently occurs reduplicated, may have a hypocoristic (baby-talk) flavor. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish reflexes of this etymon from those of #253 PTB *s‑nəw BREAST / MILK / SUCK, which also often appear reduplicated. Particularly problematic are the Qiangic forms, many of which have front vowels, but which after much vacillation I have finally assigned to #253 PTB *s‑nəw BREAST / MILK / SUCK instead of to the present set. Both #3585 PTB *s‑nəw(‑) BREAST / MILK / SUCK and #254 PTB *s‑nya‑n BREAST / MILK / SUCK occasionally take a nasal suffix, which further complicates the picture (cf. the *Tamang, Chepang, Hayu, and Pa-O forms, below).

A couple of Himalayish languages (Gurung, Thakali) have a velar initial, which appears to be a secondary development from the palatal nasal *ny‑. A pair of other forms with voiceless nasals (Lushai [Mizo], E. Chepang) reflect the *s‑ prefix.

rnanalysislgidreflexglossgfnlanguagegrpidgrpnogrpgeneticcitationsrcabbrsrcidrn
150528p,2541430a³³niɛ¹¹breastSulung [Puroik]41.1“North Assam”0Sun H 93 SulQSHK-Sulung0
193219p,2541431a³³niɛ¹¹breastSulung [Puroik]41.1“North Assam”0Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC259.520
150555m,2541430mə³³niɛ¹¹milkSulung [Puroik]41.1“North Assam”0Sun H 93 SulQSHK-Sulung0
194341m,2541431mə³³niɛ¹¹milkSulung [Puroik]41.1“North Assam”0Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC281.520
156417p,254286a-ñimilkApatani731.1.1.1Western Tani1Sun J 93 TaniJS-Tani0
156420p,254,m286a-ñi hiʔmilkvApatani731.1.1.1Western Tani1Sun J 93 TaniJS-Tani0
156841p,254,254,276285à-ñi ñi-penippleApatani731.1.1.1Western Tani1Sun J 93 TaniJS-Tani0
156422m,254,6531,m285à-ñim-pjú-nɯmilkmanApatani731.1.1.1Western Tani1Sun J 93 TaniJS-Tani0
156413p,254285a-ñíŋmilkApatani731.1.1.1Western Tani1Sun J 93 TaniJS-Tani0
156421p,254,m,m285à-ñiŋ gá-nɯŋmilkvtApatani731.1.1.1Western Tani1Sun J 93 TaniJS-Tani0
156842254?,6522286ñim-pɯrnippleApatani731.1.1.1Western Tani1Sun J 93 TaniJS-Tani0
341274m,m,254,m1800ma:◦cap nye ceimilk of cowDarang [Taraon]61.1.2Deng1Anonymous xx TarNEFA-Taraon0
114320254,m503nye ceibreast milkDarang [Taraon]61.1.2Deng1Matisoff 87 BPJAM-Ety0
341271254,m1800nye ceimilknDarang [Taraon]61.1.2Deng1Anonymous xx TarNEFA-Taraon0
341272254,m,m1800nye ma:◦ceimilknDarang [Taraon]61.1.2Deng1Anonymous xx TarNEFA-Taraon0
114321254,m,m503nye maː◦ceibreast milkDarang [Taraon]61.1.2Deng1Matisoff 87 BPJAM-Ety0
293767254,4671509nɔ́i◦mùʔnippleThado681.2.1.1Northern Chin1Thirumalai 72THI1972660
172707254976hnesuckLushai [Mizo]701.2.2Central Chin1Marrison 67 NagaGEM-CNL0
3113882541112ninippleMoyon721.2.4“Old Kuki”0Kosha 90DK-Moyon5.4.10
150302254,4671112ni◦mówrnippleMoyon721.2.4“Old Kuki”0Kosha 90DK-Moyon5.4.10
1726942541017nesuckMao651.3.2Angami-Pochuri Group1Marrison 67 NagaGEM-CNL0
165269p,2541017o◦nebreastMao651.3.2Angami-Pochuri Group1Marrison 67 NagaGEM-CNL0
1727002541382nisuckSema [Sumi]651.3.2Angami-Pochuri Group1Marrison 67 NagaGEM-CNL0
3429722541803nisuckvSema [Sumi]651.3.2Angami-Pochuri Group1Achumi 98Qbp-Sumi5.4.50
77989254,m1192ni pobreastNocte841.7.2.1Tangsa-Nocte1French 83WTF-PNN4900
18104253,254731nu◦ninippleKanauri202.1.1Western Himalayish0Sharma, D.D. 88 KnDS-Kan120
168675254,254319ne¹³ ne³⁵breastBaima222.1.2Bodic1Sun H 91 BaimSHK-BaimaQ5.40
126438254,m319ne¹³ po³⁵breastBaima222.1.2Bodic1Sun H 91 BaimSHK-BaimaQ5.40
126439253,254,254319no³⁵ ne¹³ ne³⁵milkBaima222.1.2Bodic1Sun H 91 BaimSHK-BaimaQ5.4.30
12968254329ȵə¹³suckv.Tibetan (Batang)242.1.2.1Tibetan1Dai 89 BataDQ-Batang5.4.50
177566254172ᴬneːmilk*TGTM232.1.4Tamangish1Mazaudon 94 TheseMM-Thesis5550
127642254436nɦemilkChantyal232.1.4Tamangish1Noonan 92NPB-ChanQ5.4.30
175815254600³ŋẽbreastsGurung (Ghachok)232.1.4Tamangish1Mazaudon 94 TheseMM-Thesis2130
177598254600³ŋemilkGurung (Ghachok)232.1.4Tamangish1Mazaudon 94 TheseMM-Thesis5610
177599254600³ŋe-milk (cow)v.t.Gurung (Ghachok)232.1.4Tamangish1Mazaudon 94 TheseMM-Thesis5610
64613254604ŋẽhbreastsGurung (Ghachok)232.1.4Tamangish1Glover 72 GuVoSIL-Gur1.510
65086254604ŋehmilkGurung (Ghachok)232.1.4Tamangish1Glover 72 GuVoSIL-Gur7.A.160
66088254,m,s604ŋeh pip◦baweanGurung (Ghachok)232.1.4Tamangish1Glover 72 GuVoSIL-Gur6.B.2.30
66086254,502,s604ŋeh tĩq◦banurseGurung (Ghachok)232.1.4Tamangish1Glover 72 GuVoSIL-Gur6.B.2.10
65929254,s604ŋeh◦bamilk (cow)v.t.Gurung (Ghachok)232.1.4Tamangish1Glover 72 GuVoSIL-Gur3.B.410
64702254,m604ŋeh◦kranippleGurung (Ghachok)232.1.4Tamangish1Glover 72 GuVoSIL-Gur2.A.350
79797259,m,254999nyog¹ ro¹ nyᴇː⁴breast (woman)Manang (Gyaru)232.1.4Tamangish1Nagano 84 ManYN-Man0340
79890254,s999nyᴇː³ basuckVManang (Gyaru)232.1.4Tamangish1Nagano 84 ManYN-Man0870
79875254999nyᴇː¹milkManang (Gyaru)232.1.4Tamangish1Nagano 84 ManYN-Man0790
79798254,163999nyᴇː⁴ bɯn¹nippleManang (Gyaru)232.1.4Tamangish1Nagano 84 ManYN-Man034-010
212162541002²ɲeːmilkManang (Prakaa)232.1.4Tamangish1Hoshi 84HM-Prak05280
1776002541003³ɲeːmilkManang (Prakaa)232.1.4Tamangish1Mazaudon 94 TheseMM-Thesis5610
209312541002⁴ɲeː-suckManang (Prakaa)232.1.4Tamangish1Hoshi 84HM-Prak02870
126269254,m1455³ne-²tʰunnippleTamang (Risiangku)232.1.4Tamangish1Mazaudon 91 TamQMM-TamRisQ5.4.10
1262682541455³neːbreast, udder, milknTamang (Risiangku)232.1.4Tamangish1Mazaudon 91 TamQMM-TamRisQ5.4, 5.4.20
1775602541456³neːbreast / teat / milkTamang (Risiangku)232.1.4Tamangish1Mazaudon 94 TheseMM-Thesis5550
124379254,5540,m,m,s1464nyeh cʰuT Tai'◦ti-paweanv.Tamang (Sahu)232.1.4Tamangish1Taylor 72 TmVoSIL-Sahu17.B.3 1
1775912541462³ɲemilkTamang (Sahu)232.1.4Tamangish1Mazaudon 94 TheseMM-Thesis5610
1775922541462³ɲemilk (a cow)Tamang (Sahu)232.1.4Tamangish1Mazaudon 94 TheseMM-Thesis5610
1775932541467³ɲemilkTamang (Taglung)232.1.4Tamangish1Mazaudon 94 TheseMM-Thesis5610
177594254,s1467³ɲe-bamilkTamang (Taglung)232.1.4Tamangish1Mazaudon 94 TheseMM-Thesis5610
1775972541526ᴸnjemilkThakali (Syang)232.1.4Tamangish1Mazaudon 94 TheseMM-Thesis5610
1775952541530³ŋjebreastsThakali (Tukche)232.1.4Tamangish1Mazaudon 94 TheseMM-Thesis5610
671322541531ŋjehbreastsThakali (Tukche)232.1.4Tamangish1Hari 71a ThVoSIL-Thak1.510
679632541531ŋjehmilkn.Thakali (Tukche)232.1.4Tamangish1Hari 71a ThVoSIL-Thak7.A.160
68035254,m1531ŋjeh cohnippleThakali (Tukche)232.1.4Tamangish1Hari 71a ThVoSIL-Thak2.A.350
68047254,m,m1531ŋjeh kʰa-lɔnursev.Thakali (Tukche)232.1.4Tamangish1Hari 71a ThVoSIL-Thak6.B.2.10
68776254,m,s1531ŋjeh pi-laweanThakali (Tukche)232.1.4Tamangish1Hari 71a ThVoSIL-Thak6.B.2.30
74831254911nEnippleLimbu312.3.1Eastern Kiranti1Michailovsky 89 LmBM-Lim0
114317254644nyenbreast milkHayu302.3.4Western Kiranti1Matisoff 87 BPJAM-Ety0
64170254,m449nyonʔ-sasuckChepang282.4Kham-Magar-Chepang1Caughley 72 CVocSIL-Chep6.B.2.20
127965254,m452hnyonh◦naʔsuckChepang (Eastern)282.4Kham-Magar-Chepang1Caughley 90 CheQRC-ChepQ5.4.50
127964254,m452nyonʔ◦naʔsuckChepang (Eastern)282.4Kham-Magar-Chepang1Caughley 90 CheQRC-ChepQ5.4.50
66855254,1019766nwiː◦səynippleKham282.4Kham-Magar-Chepang1Watters 89 KhQDNW-KhamQ2.A.350
1321342541493nẹ²breastTangut [Xixia]333.1Tangut1Sofronov 97MVS-Grin0
349834253,2541810nə³³nø²⁴breastnMuya343.2Qiangic1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0094.150
129759253,2541135nɯ³³nø⁵³breastMuya [Minyak]343.2Qiangic1Sun H 91 MuyQSHK-MuyaQ5.40
193175253,2541136nɯ³³nø⁵³breastMuya [Minyak]343.2Qiangic1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC259.150
129760253,2541135nɯ³⁵nø³⁵nippleMuya [Minyak]343.2Qiangic1Sun H 91 MuyQSHK-MuyaQ5.4.10
38571254201ȵɛ̃³¹breastAchang (Lianghe)446.1.1Burmish1Dai 85 AcJZJZ-Achang0
38594254201ȵɛ̃³¹milkAchang (Lianghe)446.1.1Burmish1Dai 85 AcJZJZ-Achang0
38708254207ȵɛn³¹breastAchang (Luxi)446.1.1Burmish1Dai 85 AcJZJZ-Achang0
38732254207ȵɛn³¹milkAchang (Luxi)446.1.1Burmish1Dai 85 AcJZJZ-Achang0
17383254209ɲɔn³⁵breastAchang (Xiandao)446.1.1Burmish1Dai 89 XianDQ-Xiandao1180
9763p,254,m1164a⁵⁵ ȵi²¹ ʑ²¹nippleNesu466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Chen 86 YiCK-YiQ5.4.10
9764p,254,m1164a⁵⁵ ȵi²¹ ʑʅ²¹milkNesu466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Chen 86 YiCK-YiQ5.4.30
283617p,2541194a⁴⁴ne³³breastNosu466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Chen 86 YiCK-YiQ5.40
283619p,2541194a⁴⁴ne³³milkNosu466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Chen 86 YiCK-YiQ5.4.30
283618p,254,m,m1194a⁴⁴ne³³ma⁴⁴ma³³nippleNosu466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Chen 86 YiCK-YiQ5.4.10
42530254,254,1013,m1219nə̃³¹ nə̃⁵⁵ ɹɯ³⁵ ɑ⁵⁵milkNusu (Northern)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun J 86 NusuJZ-Nusu0
2111322541662ne̱³³milkvYi (Mile)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC611.250
3114002541663ni̱³³milkvYi (Mojiang)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC611.260
194328p,254,10131663ᴀ⁵⁵nɛ²¹ʑi²¹milkYi (Mojiang)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC281.260
2111572541664ȵi⁵⁵milkvYi (Nanhua)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC611.240
10167p,2541667a³⁴-nᴇ³³breasts, milkYi (Xide)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Chen 79 YiChCSL-YIzd0
10169p,254,m,m1667a³⁴-nᴇ³³ ma³⁴-ma³³nippleYi (Xide)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Chen 79 YiChCSL-YIzd0
9929p,254,5021667a³⁴-nᴇ³³ to²¹breast feedYi (Xide)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Chen 79 YiChCSL-YIzd0
43958p,2541669a⁴⁴ ne³³milkYi (Xide)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Chen 85 YiJZJZ-Yi0
193178p,2541670a⁴⁴ne³³breastYi (Xide)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC259.210
194300p,2541670a⁴⁴ne³³milkYi (Xide)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC281.210
101682541667ȵi²¹breasts, milkYi (Xide)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Chen 79 YiChCSL-YIzd0
163428p,254957a◦gnibreastsLolo (Ni)476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Luce 85GHL-PPBU.90
47407p,253,254216ɑ³³ nɯ³³ ni²¹nippleAhi476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Luo 90LMZ-AhiQ5.4.10
211162254696ȵɛ⁵⁵milkvJinuo476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC611.340
211136254851ni³⁵milkvLahu (Black)476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC611.330
131994p,2541379A³³ni³³milkSani [Nyi]476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Wu 84YHJC-Sani0
132007p,254,5021379A³³ni³³to³³nursevSani [Nyi]476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Wu 84YHJC-Sani0
17089p,254,385,3871365ɑ⁴⁴ n̩³³ o⁵⁵ qo¹¹nippleSani [Nyi]476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Ma 89 SanQMXL-SaniQ368.3 2
283859p,2541223ɑ⁴⁴n̩³³milkSani [Nyi]476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Chen 86 YiCK-YiQ5.4.30
283858p,254,385,3871223ɑ⁴⁴n̩³³o⁵⁵qo²¹nippleSani [Nyi]476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Chen 86 YiCK-YiQ5.4.10
167393458,5539,2541285lɑ̃⁵⁵ cu¹¹ ɲiʔ⁵⁵suckCôông [Phunoi]486.1.2.3Southern Loloish1Bradley xx PhuDB-Phunoi0
126620254,m1157ȵi³¹bi³³milkNaxi (Eastern)436.2Naxi1He 85JZ-Naxi0
129479254,2541159ȵi⁵⁵ȵi³³milkNaxi (Western)436.2Naxi1He 85JZ-Naxi0
1615092541233nɛn²breasts, nipplePa-O (Northern)507Karenic1Luce 85GHL-PPBG.530
563942541242nɛ̂nbreastPa-O507Karenic1Jones 61RBJ-KLS230
211138254,m311ne³⁵pɑ⁴²milkvBai (Bijiang)518Bai1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC611.370

Chinese comparandum

嬭 OC *niər, GSR #359d-f ‘mother; breasts, milk’; Schuessler 2007:395 *nêʔ; Mand. nǎi.


^ 1.
Final consonant in Sahu cʰuT evidently due to assimilation to the initial of the following syllable.
^ 2.
Literally “breast-head”.