PIE Roots

An index of reconstructed Proto-Indo-European roots. Each entry links to a full page with descendant tables, sound law references, and scholarly discussion.

RootMeaningSemantic FieldConfidenceDescendants
bʰer-to carry, to bearactionmotiontransferhigh0
bʰréh₂tērbrotherkinshipfamilyhigh0
deh₃-to giveactiontransfersocialhigh0
dem-house, householddwellingsocialhigh0
deru-tree, wood, to be firmnaturequalitymaterialhigh0
déḱm̥tennumbercountinghigh0
dʰeh₁-to put, to place, to doactioncreationhigh0
dʰugh₂tḗrdaughterkinshipfamilyhigh0
gʷem-to come, to gomotionactionhigh0
gʷerh₃-to swallow, to devourbodysustenancemedium0
gʷōwscow, cattleanimaldomesticwealthhigh0
gʷʰen-to strike, to killactionviolencehigh0
h₁ed-to eatbodysustenancehigh0
h₁es-to bestateexistencehigh0
h₁regʷ-darkness, nightnaturetimemedium0
h₁reudʰ-redcolourqualityhigh0
h₁éḱwoshorseanimaltransporthigh0
h₂enh₁-to breathebodystatenaturehigh0
h₂ew-to perceive, to hearperceptioncognitionhigh0
h₂ews-dawn, eastnaturecelestialtimehigh0
h₂eǵ-to drive, to leadactionmotionsocialhigh0
h₂ster-starnaturecelestialhigh0
h₂ékʷeh₂waternatureelementhigh0
h₂éḱ-sharp, pointedqualitytoolhigh0
h₃nómn̥namelanguageidentityhigh0
lewk-light, brightnessnatureperceptioncelestialhigh0
leykʷ-to leave, to remainactionstatehigh0
meǵ-great, largequalitysizesocialhigh0
méh₂tērmotherkinshipfamilyhigh0
nokʷt-nighttimenaturehigh0
néwosnewqualitytimehigh0
ped-footbodymotionhigh0
peh₂-to protect, to feedactionsustenancesocialhigh0
peh₃-to drinkbodysustenancehigh0
ph₂tḗrfatherkinshipfamilyhigh0
snéygʷʰ-snownatureweatherhigh0
spend-to pour a libation, to make a treatyritualsocialactionhigh0
steh₂-to standactionpositionstatehigh0
swépnossleep, dreambodystatecognitionhigh0
sóh₂wl̥sunnaturecelestialhigh0
weyd-to see, to knowperceptioncognitionhigh0
wódr̥waternatureelementhigh0
wĺ̥kʷoswolfanimalnaturehigh0
ǵenh₁-to beget, to produce, to be borncreationkinshiplifehigh0
ǵneh₃-to know, to recognisecognitionperceptionhigh0
ǵónukneebodyhigh0
ḱerd-heartbodyemotionhigh0
ḱlew-to hear, to listenperceptionsocialhigh0
ḱm̥tómhundrednumbercountinghigh0
ḱwon-doganimaldomestichigh0