3.0 Natural Objects, Plants, Foods > 3.1 Plants > 3.1.5 Fruits and vegetables

#5494 PTB *swa-n ONION / GARLIC

This root is well-attested in Tibeto-Burman and Chinese, but has a fortuitous resemblance to an Indo-Aryan root (Skt. laśuna-, Hindi lahsun, Nepali lasun). In fact, many Tibeto-Burman languages (e.g. Maru la³¹sɔn³⁵, Chang lasung, Lotha lasen, Bantawa losuna, and Jingpho la³¹son³³) have borrowed the Indic root. In a couple of cases, a compound seems to be an Indic-TB hybrid, e.g. Achang lɑ³¹suɑn⁵⁵.

Compound formations with this etymon show an interesting range of semantic associations, including BITTER (e.g. Lisu), CHICKEN (e.g. Burmese), WHITE (e.g. Burmese), and SMELLY (e.g. Lahu).

rnanalysislgidreflexglossgfnlanguagegrpidgrpnogrpgeneticcitationsrcabbrsrcidrn
51588754942012swa-|nonion / garlic*Tibeto-Burman20.1Tibeto-Burman (previously published reconstructions)0Matisoff 03 HPTBJAM-HPTB6130
607625494181swa-|ngarlic*Tibeto-Burman20.1Tibeto-Burman (previously published reconstructions)0LaPolla 87RJL-DPTB99 1
533478m,54942079kha-tshuanonion, garlicnLai (Hakha)701.2.2Central Chin1Matisoff 03 HPTBJAM-HPTB3020
1907035494561fu⁵⁵garlicErsu343.2Qiangic1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.180
1906525494,m561fu⁵⁵bu⁵⁵onion (green)Ersu343.2Qiangic1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC209.180
1906775494595su⁵³garlicGuiqiong343.2Qiangic1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.170
36671954941811ʂu⁵⁵garlicnGuiqiong343.2Qiangic1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.160
3666695494,m1813fu³³bu⁵³onion / scallionnLyuzu343.2Qiangic1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0423.180
3667215494,m1813fu³³khuæ⁵³garlicnLyuzu343.2Qiangic1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.180
19067854941147fu³³garlicNamuyi343.2Qiangic1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.190
36674954941844fu³¹garlicnNamuyi343.2Qiangic1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.460
36671654941808ɕy⁵⁵garlicnQueyu (Xinlong)343.2Qiangic1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.130
366724m,54941817khuɑ³¹sui⁵⁵garlicnNung384Nungic1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.210
190716m,5494269khuɑ³¹sui⁵⁵garlicAnong384Nungic1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.440
36667154941816su⁵³onion / scallionnDulong384Nungic1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0423.200
1907175494537su⁵³garlicTrung [Dulong]384Nungic1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.460
1906665494,m537su⁵³dɔŋ⁵⁵onion (green)Trung [Dulong]384Nungic1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC209.460
36672354941816sɔ⁵⁵garlicnDulong384Nungic1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.200
594805494539su⁵³garlicTrung [Dulong] (Dulonghe)384Nungic1LaPolla 87RJL-DPTB990
594825494,m539su⁵³ dɔŋ⁵⁵green onionTrung [Dulong] (Dulonghe)384Nungic1LaPolla 87RJL-DPTB990
594835494,m541su³¹ dɔŋ⁵⁵green onionTrung [Dulong] (Nujiang)384Nungic1LaPolla 87RJL-DPTB990
2990625494,m540su³¹dɔŋ⁵⁵green onionTrung [Dulong] (Nujiang)384Nungic1Sun H 82 DulJZ-Dulong0
2990635494540su⁵³garlicTrung [Dulong] (Nujiang)384Nungic1Sun H 82 DulJZ-Dulong0
594815494541su⁵³garlicTrung [Dulong] (Nujiang)384Nungic1LaPolla 87RJL-DPTB990
366731m,54941824kă³¹sun³⁵garlicnAchang (Longchuan)446.1.1Burmish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.280
190689m,5494200kă³¹sun³⁵garlicAchang (Longchuan)446.1.1Burmish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.410
3666781606,5494,m1823tɕɛʔ⁴tθũ²²meʔ⁴onion / scallionnBurmese (Rangoon)446.1.1Burmish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0423.270
3667301606,5494,12351823tɕɛʔ⁴tθũ²²phju²²garlicnBurmese (Rangoon)446.1.1Burmish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.270
346581606,5494387ce'◦thunonionBurmese (Standard Spoken)446.1.1Burmish1Okell 71JO-PB0
1906631606,54941428tɕɛʔ⁴⁴tθũ²²onion (green)Burmese (Spoken Rangoon)446.1.1Burmish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC209.400
1907141606,5494,12351428tɕɛʔ⁴⁴tθũ²²phju²²garlicBurmese (Spoken Rangoon)446.1.1Burmish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.400
34660m,5494382ka◦swanonionBurmese (Inscriptional)446.1.1Burmish1Okell 71JO-PB0
346591606,5494404krak'swanonionBurmese (Written)446.1.1Burmish1Okell 71JO-PB0
4371931606,5494406krak-swanonionBurmese (Written)446.1.1Burmish1Benedict 76 WBurPKB-WBRD0
594841606,5494407krak-swangarlicBurmese (Written)446.1.1Burmish1LaPolla 87RJL-DPTB990
2462841606,5494392krak◦swanonionBurmese (Written)446.1.1Burmish1Marrison 67 NagaGEM-CNL0
2419091606,5494,1235392krak◦swan◦phrūgarlicBurmese (Written)446.1.1Burmish1Marrison 67 NagaGEM-CNL0
1906371606,5494411krɑk thon²onion (green)Burmese (Written)446.1.1Burmish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC209.390
196351606,5494388krɑk-swɑnonionBurmese (Written)446.1.1Burmish1Chou 72ACST175b0
3666771606,5494,m1822krɑk⁴ tθon² mrit⁴onion / scallionnBurmese (Written)446.1.1Burmish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0423.260
3667291606,5494,12351822krɑk⁴◦tθon²◦phru²garlicnBurmese (Written)446.1.1Burmish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.260
1906881606,5494,1235411krɑk◦thon²◦phru²garlicBurmese (Written)446.1.1Burmish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.390
233862m,m,5494,1235653kʃ̆wè, kă◦ʃwè phyú (=wgarlic / onion (cf. WHITE)Hpun (Northern)446.1.1Burmish1Henderson 86 HpunEJAH-Hpun0
4526551606,54941965kraʔ◦θwaiŋonionMarma446.1.1Burmish1Huziwara 08 SakHK-Sak73-10
4526561606,5494,12351965kraʔ◦θwaiŋ◦phrugarlicMarma446.1.1Burmish1Huziwara 08 SakHK-Sak73-1a0
117415494152swan¹/²|garlic / onion*Loloish456.1.2Loloish1Bradley 79 PLoDB-PLolo2860
366750229,54941845kha³¹si³³garlicnGazhuo466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.470
292179229,5494879khà-sjýgarlicLalo466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Björverud 94SB-Lalo0
33593854941220xu⁵⁵garlicNusu (Southern)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun J 86 NusuJZ-Nusu0
33503754941219zu³⁵garlicNusu (Northern)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun J 86 NusuJZ-Nusu0
36673754941831zu⁵⁵garlicnNusu (Central)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.340
19069154941215zu⁵⁵garlicNusu (Bijiang)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.450
190705m,54941658kɯ³³sɯ³³garlicYi (Dafang)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.220
460436m,54941962ka³³si³³garlicYi (Liangshan)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Ma 08 YiSIL-Nuosuindex0
19068154941662ʂo⁵⁵garlicYi (Mile)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.250
1907075494,m1663so⁵⁵bɛ²¹garlicYi (Mojiang)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.260
366740m,54941834khɯ²¹sɿ³³garlicnYi (Nanhua)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.370
19070654941664ʂu⁵⁵garlicYi (Nanhua)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.240
1906555494,m,m1664ʂu⁵⁵phu̱²¹tɛ³³onion (green)Yi (Nanhua)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC209.240
190680m,54941666khɯ²¹ɕy⁵⁵garlicYi (Nanjian)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.230
366739229,54941833khɑ²¹ɕy⁵⁵garlicnYi (Weishan)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.360
190679m,54941670ka³³si³³garlicYi (Xide)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.210
366738m,54941832kɑ³³si³³garlicnYi (Xide)466.1.2.1Northern Loloish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.350
594875494,1235843śū-phuonionLahu476.1.2.2Central Loloish1LaPolla 87RJL-DPTB990
594885494,1235,1415843śū-phu-nùgarlicLahu476.1.2.2Central Loloish1LaPolla 87RJL-DPTB99 2
366746m,54941841phɯ⁵³ɕu¹¹garlicnLahu (Lancang)476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.430
190685m,5494851phɯ⁵³su¹¹garlicLahu (Black)476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.330
285403229,5494943hkwa⁵-sye⁴garlic (sp.)Lisu (Central)476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Fraser 22JF-HLL0
190682229,5494942khuɑ³¹se⁴⁴garlicLisu476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.270
276804229,5494946khwa²¹sø³³garlicNLisu (Northern)476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Bradley 94 LisuDB-Lisu0
276807229,5494,m,m946khwa²¹sø³³ ɔ⁵⁵ɲɔ³³garlic boltLisu (Northern)476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Bradley 94 LisuDB-Lisu0
276805229,5494,m946khwa²¹sø³³baʔ²¹garlic cloveLisu (Northern)476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Bradley 94 LisuDB-Lisu0
276809229,5494,m946khwa²¹sø³³dzi³³garlic shootLisu (Northern)476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Bradley 94 LisuDB-Lisu0
276808229,5494,m946khwa²¹sø³³phja²¹garlic leafLisu (Northern)476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Bradley 94 LisuDB-Lisu0
276806229,5494,m946khwa²¹sø³³tʃhɿ³³garlic bulbLisu (Northern)476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Bradley 94 LisuDB-Lisu0
3667425494,m1836ʂʐ̩⁵⁵mɒ³³garlicnYi (Sani)476.1.2.2Central Loloish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.390
1906335494,m510se⁵⁵bɔ³¹onion (green)Hani (Dazhai)486.1.2.3Southern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC209.310
190684229,5494510xa³¹se⁵⁵garlicHani (Dazhai)486.1.2.3Southern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.310
3666925494,m1839se⁵⁵bɔ³¹onion / scallionnHani (Lüchun)486.1.2.3Southern Loloish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0423.410
366744229,54941839xa³¹se⁵⁵garlicnHani (Lüchun)486.1.2.3Southern Loloish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.410
190709m,5494418kɔ³¹se⁵⁵garlicHani (Caiyuan)486.1.2.3Southern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.300
1906585494,m418se⁵⁵pu³¹onion (green)Hani (Caiyuan)486.1.2.3Southern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC209.300
3000035494,m,m630sɛ⁵⁵bo³¹bo⁵⁵green onionHani (Gelanghe)486.1.2.3Southern Loloish1Li Yongsui 86 HaniJZ-Hani0
3000045494,m630sɛ⁵⁵phu⁵⁵garlicHani (Gelanghe)486.1.2.3Southern Loloish1Li Yongsui 86 HaniJZ-Hani0
1906595494,m1416sɛ⁵⁵pu³¹onion (green)Hani (Shuikui)486.1.2.3Southern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC209.320
190710229,54941416xɔ³¹sɛ⁵⁵garlicHani (Shuikui)486.1.2.3Southern Loloish1Sun H 91 ZMYYZMYYC210.320
3666935494,m1840sɛ⁵⁵pu³¹onion / scallionnHani (Mojiang)486.1.2.3Southern Loloish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0423.420
366745229,54941840xɔ³¹sɛ⁵⁵garlicnHani (Mojiang)486.1.2.3Southern Loloish1Huang and Dai 92 TBLTBL0424.420
52278654942020ʂɞ̠⁴⁵garlicAzha756.1.2.4Southeastern Loloish1Pelkey 11 PhulaJP-CPL1980
520387p,5494,m2018a⁵⁵ɕɛ³³bi⁵⁵garlicSouthern Muji756.1.2.4Southeastern Loloish1Pelkey 11 PhulaJP-CPL1980
518005m,54942016ᵑqɑ³¹sɛ⁵⁵garlicPhola756.1.2.4Southeastern Loloish1Pelkey 11 PhulaJP-CPL1980
5215825494,m2019so⁵⁵ma³³garlicHlepho Phowa756.1.2.4Southeastern Loloish1Pelkey 11 PhulaJP-CPL1980
5191655494,m2017sɯ³³mʌ³³garlicPhuza756.1.2.4Southeastern Loloish1Pelkey 11 PhulaJP-CPL1980
51765154941999fv˧garlicLaze (Xiangjiao)436.2Naxi1Michaud 06 NaLazeAM-NaLaze139700
5177095494,m,m1999fv˧u˧tu˥garlic rootLaze (Xiangjiao)436.2Naxi1Michaud 06 NaLazeAM-NaLaze142020
594855494482suângarlicChinese (Old/Mid)539.0.1Old Chinese0LaPolla 87RJL-DPTB990
5125035494482swângarlicChinese (Old/Mid)539.0.1Old Chinese0LaPolla 87RJL-DPTB990
202425494480swɑ̂ngarlicChinese (Old/Mid)539.0.1Old Chinese0Chou 72ACST175b0
36908m,54941011dah suahngarlicChinese (Mandarin)559.0.3Modern Chinese0Sun J 85 ChGlJS-Ch2990

Chinese comparandum

蒜 OC *swɑ̂n, GSR #175b; Mand. suàn.


^ 1.
[Source note] [G&C p.10] (LaPolla 1987).
^ 2.
Contra DL:1195, Lahu ‑phu‑ in this compound seems to mean WHITE rather than the homophonous morpheme BULBOUS OBJECT.