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.

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B17 roots

Root	Meaning	Semantic Field	Confidence	Descendants
bheg-	to break, shatter	destructionaction	high	0
bʰelh₂-	to strike, fight in battle	conflictaction	high	0
bʰendʰ-₂	to bind, tie, fetter	bindingaction	high	0
bʰendʰ-mn̥	something bound, a binding	craftaction	high	0
bʰer-	to carry, to bear	actionmotiontransfer	high	37
bʰer-mn̥-₂	something carried, a burden	actionbody	high	0
bʰerh₃-	to bore, to pierce through	actiontool	high	0
bʰerH-	to scrape, bore, perforate	actioncutting	high	0
bʰerH-eyo-	to keep bearing, enduring	actionendurance	high	0
bʰerh₂-mn̥	an opening made by boring	actionlaw	high	0
bʰerH-mn̥	that which bores, hole	openingaction	high	0
bʰerH-mn̥-₂	a bearing, carrying, burden	actiontransport	high	0
bʰewg-	to bend, to flex	bodyaction	high	0
bʰeyd-₂	to split, cleave, bite	cuttingaction	high	0
bʰeyh₂-	to strike, to cut	actiontool	high	0
bʰlendʰ-mn̥	a mixing, a blending together	actionfood	medium	0
bʰreg-mn̥-₂	something broken, a fragment	action	high	0

D27 roots

deh₃-	to give, to bestow	actiontransfersocial	high	35
delbʰ-	to dig, delve, hollow	earthactiongeography	high	0
dew-k-	to pull, lead, draw	leadershipaction	high	0
dʰeh₁-	to put, to place, to do	actioncreation	high	36
dʰeH-	to set, establish (athematic)	actioncreation	high	0
dheh₁-k-₂	to make do, cause to place	actioncreationcausation	high	0
dʰeh₁-ḱ-	to make, do, put into action	actioncreation	high	0
dʰeh₁-ḱ-eyo-	to keep making, doing	actioncreation	high	0
dʰeh₁-k-mn̥	that which is made, thing	creationaction	high	0
dʰeh₁-ḱ-mn̥-	a making, thing made	actionability	high	0
dʰeh₁-ḱ-to-	that which is made, deed	actionresult	high	0
dʰeh₁-mn̥-₃	deed, action, thing done	actionevent	high	0
dʰeh₁-s-	to set, place (extended)	placementaction	high	0
dʰeh₁-s-eyo-	to keep placing, arranging	arrangementaction	high	0
dʰeh₁-tl-	instrument of placing, that which is established	actionlaw	high	0
dʰeh₁-tó-	placed, set, established	actionplacement	high	0
dʰeh₁-tó-₂	something placed, an established thing	cognitionaction	high	0
dhelbh-	to dig, to hollow out	landscapeaction	high	0
dʰembʰ-	to bury, to dig into earth	landscapeaction	medium	0
dʰer-s-mn̥	boldness, daring act	emotionaction	medium	0
dʰerh₂-s-	to be bold, to dare	emotionaction	high	0
dʰreǵ-	to draw, drag, pull along	actionmovement	high	0
dʰreǵ-₂	to pull, to drag along the ground	actionmotion	high	0
dʰreǵ-tó-	something drawn or dragged	actioncraft	high	0
dhregh-	to pull, drag, carry	movementaction	high	0
dʰreh₁ǵ-	to pull, to drag, to draw	actionmovementforce	high	0
dreh₂-	to run, to move quickly	actionmovementspeed	high	0

G33 roots

gerH-d-	to scrape, to scratch a surface	actioncraft	medium	0
gerH-eyo-	to carry on, wage, manage	actionmanagement	medium	0
gʰedʰ-	to unite, to join, to fit together	actionconnectionsocial	high	0
ǵheh₁-	to release, to let go	actionlaw	medium	0
gʰeh₂-bʰ-	to seize, take hold	acquisitionaction	high	0
gʰendʰ-	to seize, to take hold firmly	action	high	0
gʰendʰ-mn̥	act of seizing, an arrest	actionlaw	high	0
gʰerH-	to rub, scrape, grind	actionfood	high	0
gʰesd-	hand, seize by hand	bodyaction	high	0
ǵʰew-₂	to pour, offer libation	liquidritualaction	high	0
gʰew-d-	to pour (extended)	liquidaction	high	0
gʰewd-₂	to pour out, to pour a libation	wateraction	high	0
gʰley-	to smear, to stick, to be gluey	materialaction	high	0
gʰrebʰ-₂	to reach, seize, grab	actionacquisition	high	0
gʰrebʰ-₄	to seize, to take hold of	actionbody	high	0
gʰrebʰ-eyo-	to keep seizing, grasping	actionpossession	high	0
gʰrebʰ-mn̥-	a seizing, thing grasped	actionwriting	high	0
gʰrendʰ-	to grind, crush	foodactionmaterial	high	0
gʰrendʰ-eyo-	to keep grinding, grating	soundaction	high	0
gʰrewb-	to dig, to scratch the ground	actionlandscape	high	0
ǵnebʰ-	to gnaw, bite	foodaction	medium	0
ǵneh₃-bʰ-	to gnaw, to scrape with teeth	bodyaction	medium	0
gʷel-₂	to throw, cast	actionthrowing	high	0
gʷelH-	to pierce, prick, sting	violenceaction	high	0
gʷelh₃-eyo-	to keep swallowing, gulping	consumptionaction	high	0
gʷelH-eyo-	to keep throwing, casting	actionmovement	high	0
gʷelh₁-mn̥-	a piercing, pain, torment	actionsuffering	high	0
gʷem-	to come, to go	motionaction	high	32
gʷerh₂-eyo-₂	to keep swallowing, consuming	consumptionaction	high	0
gʷerh₂-mn̥-	a swallowing, eating	consumptionaction	high	0
gʷʰen-	to strike, to kill	actionviolence	high	13
gʷher-eyo-	to keep warming, heating	temperatureaction	high	0
gʷʰn̥-tó-	struck, killed	violenceaction	high	0

H38 roots

h₂eǵ-	to drive, to lead	actionmotionsocial	high	22
h₂eǵ-₂	to lead, drive (variant)	actionleadership	high	0
h₂eǵ-eyo-	to keep driving, manage	actionmovement	high	0
h₂eǵ-mn̥-₂	a driving, leading	actionleadership	high	0
h₂eǵ-mn̥-₃	action, movement, agitation	actionmovement	high	0
h₂eḱ-tó-	sharpened, driven	actionmovement	high	0
h₂eḱ-tó-₂	sharpened, done with force	actionforce	high	0
h₂enk-eyo-	to keep bending, hooking	shapeaction	high	0
h₁ep-	to take, seize, reach	actionacquisition	high	0
h₂ep-₂	to reach, grasp, handle	actionacquisition	high	0
h₃ep-es-	work, productive labor	societyaction	high	0
h₂ep-mn̥	act of fitting, skill at joining	actioncraft	medium	0
h₂erǵ-es-	a working, energetic action	actioncraft	high	0
h₂erk-₄	to hold, to contain, to guard	actionsociety	high	0
h₂erk-eyo-₂	to keep enclosing, exercising	actionritual	high	0
h₂erk-tó-₂	kept back, secret	concealmentaction	high	0
h₂ew-g-₂	to increase, to grow in strength	societyaction	high	0
h₂ewk-eyo-	to keep growing, augmenting	growthaction	high	0
h₂eyg-eyo-	to keep driving forward, urging	movementaction	high	0
h₂lew-	to avert, to ward off	action	medium	0
h₂ley-	to grind, to crush into powder	actionmaterial	medium	0
h₁leydʰ-	to go, to depart, to die	actionmovementdeath	high	0
h₁leykʷ-₂	to leave behind, to abandon	action	high	0
h₁leykʷ-mn̥	remainder, what is left behind	action	high	0
h₁neyḱ-	to attack, begin, endeavor	actionconflict	medium	0
h₁reHp-mn̥-	stolen goods, plunder	actionviolence	high	0
h₁rep-	to snatch, pluck	actionforce	high	0
h₁rep-mn̥-	a snatching, stolen thing	actionviolence	high	0
h₁rewd-	to break apart, to make rough	action	high	0
h₁rewp-eyo-	to keep breaking, disrupting	destructionaction	high	0
h₃reydʰ-	to ride, to travel, to move	actionmovementtransport	high	0
h₁reyk-	to scratch, tear, rip	actioncutting	medium	0
h₂welh₁-d-	to exercise power, to command	societyaction	high	0
h₂werg-	to do, to work, to make	actioncreationlabor	high	0
h₁werg-es-	activity, energy, work-force	forceaction	high	0
h₁werg-eyo-	to keep working, energize	actionforce	high	0
h₁werg-tó-	worked, activated, energized	actionresult	high	0
h₁weyh₁-	to pursue, to seek with force	actionwar	medium	0

K26 roots

ḱap-	to grasp, seize (extended)	acquisitionaction	high
kap-eyo-	to keep seizing, take repeatedly	possessionaction	high
ḱeh₂-p-₂	to seize, to take into custody	actionsociety	high
ḱeh₂-yd-	to cut, to strike down	actiontool	high
keh₂p-	to seize, grasp	actionacquisition	high
keh₂p-es-	act of seizing, mental grasping	cognitionaction	high
keh₂p-eyo-	to keep seizing, grasping	possessionaction	high
keh₂p-tó-₂	something seized, taken by force	actionlaw	high
kelh₂-d-	to strike, to hew with a tool	actiontool	medium
kelh₂-eyo-	to keep striking, driving	actionimpact	medium
kelh₂-mn̥	something hidden, concealed thing	actionwarfare	high
kerh₂-p-	to pluck, to gather by hand	agricultureaction	high
ḱerp-₂	to pluck, to harvest by cutting	agricultureaction	high
ḱerp-eyo-	to keep plucking, harvesting	actionagriculture	high
ḱerp-mn̥-	a plucking, harvest	agricultureaction	high
kes-₂	to scratch, comb	actiontool	medium
kew-es-	a hollowing, cave-making	shapeaction	high
ḱewh₁-d-	to hide, to cover over	dwellingaction	high
kleh₂w-	to hook, to fasten with a clasp	toolaction	high
ḱlep-	to steal, to take secretly	actionlaw	high
kreHs-	to scratch, to scrape a surface	action	high
ḱrey-	to sieve, to separate, to distinguish	actioncognitionjudgment	high
kʷeh₁-s-	to acquire, to gain possession	actioncognition	high
kʷer-	to make, form, create	creationactionritual	high
kʷer-mn̥	that which is done, deed	actionfateritual	high
ḱweyd-	to cut, sever	cuttingaction	medium

L3 roots

lewdʰ-₂	to grow, to mount up	societyaction	high	0
leyh₂-	to pour, to flow, to offer a libation	actionritualliquid	high	0
leykʷ-	to leave, to remain	actionstate	high	17

M2 roots

meh₂-k-	to knead, press, form	craftingaction	high	0
meld-eyo-	to keep grinding, milling	actiontool	high	0

P17 roots

peh₂-	to protect, to feed	actionsustenancesocial	high	30
per-eyo-	to keep trying, experiencing	cognitionaction	high	0
pewǵ-	to prick, fight with fists	fightingaction	high	0
pewg-mn̥	a pricking, pointed action	actiontool	high	0
pewǵ-n-	fist, closed hand for striking	bodyaction	high	0
pewg-neh₂-	to fasten by piercing, fight	conflictaction	high	0
pewǵ-s-	a blow struck with the fist	actionbody	high	0
pewh₁-	to strike, stamp, cut	actioncuttingjudgment	high	0
pewH-d-	to cut back, to prune, to clean	actioncognition	high	0
pewk-	to prick, sting	actionsharpness	high	0
pewk-eyo-	to keep pricking, puncturing	actionprecision	high	0
pewk-tro-	stabbing tool, pointed instrument	toolaction	high	0
pleh₁-dʰ-	to clap, to strike flat	actionsound	high	0
pleh₂-k-	to strike flat, to slap	actionemotion	high	0
pleh₁-ḱ-mn̥-	a blow, striking	actionsuffering	high	0
pleh₂k-	to strike, beat	actionviolence	high	0
pleyḱ-	to tear, pluck	actiontextile	high	0

R1 root

reg-mn̥

act of stretching, a reaching

actionmeasurement

high

S28 roots

seh₂g-mn̥-₂	a seeking, a legal suit	lawaction	high	0
sekH-	to cut, divide	actiondivision	high	0
sewh₁-	to sew, to stitch	actioncrafttextile	high	0
sḱeh₂-	to cut, to separate with a blade	actiontool	medium	0
skeh₂-d-	to scatter, to spread apart	action	high	0
sḱel-	to cut, to split apart	actiontool	high	0
skel-eyo-	to keep cutting, dividing	actiondivision	high	0
sker-bʰ-eyo-	to keep cutting, inscribe	writingaction	high	0
skerbʰ-	to scratch, cut, scrape	cuttingaction	high	0
skerbʰ-₂	to cut, to scratch marks	actioncraft	high	0
skewb-	to push, to shove	actionmotion	medium	0
skewH-d-	to shoot, to project forward	actionweapon	high	0
skey-d-₂	to split, to cleave apart	actioncognition	high	0
smeh₂-	to smear, to apply a substance	actioncraft	medium	0
speh₁-r-	to stretch outward, to scatter widely	actionmotion	high	0
spend-	to pour a libation, to make a treaty	ritualsocialaction	high	17
spend-eyo-	to keep weighing out, expending	exchangeaction	high	0
steh₂-	to stand, to be upright	actionpositionstate	high	40
stelh₂-	to put, to place, to set up	actionpositionstructure	high	0
ster-neh₂-	to spread flat, lay out	surfaceaction	high	0
sterh₃-mn̥-	a scattering, strewing	actionsurface	medium	0
sterh₃-n-	something spread out, a covering	actionconstruction	high	0
steyg-mn̥	a mark, a pricking	actioncommunication	high	0
strebʰ-	to turn, to twist tightly	actioncraft	medium	0
strew-	to spread, strew, scatter	actionbuilding	high	0
strew-eyo-	to keep spreading, laying out	actionsurface	high	0
streygʰ-	to stroke, rub, press	actioncontact	high	0
sweyp-	to sweep, to swing in an arc	actionmotion	high	0

T9 roots

teh₂g-es-	a touching, an arrangement	actioncognition	high
teh₂g-mn̥	something touched, a mark	actionsensation	high
teh₂w-mn̥	a cutting, felling	actioncognition	high
telh₂-	to lift, to bear, to weigh	measurementaction	high
terh₂-eyo-	to keep boring through	actionwear	high
terh₂-mn̥-	a wearing through, grinding	actionwear	high
terkʷ-	to twist, turn, wind	rotationaction	high
terkʷ-₂	to twist, to turn repeatedly	actiontool	high
trewd-mn̥	that which pushes, thrust	forceaction	high

W6 roots

werg-eyo-	to keep working, be active	actionlabor	high
werǵ-mn̥	something worked, an act	actioncraft	high
werḱ-₂	to work, toil, be active	laboraction	high
werḱ-mn̥-	wringing, pain, punishment	actionsuffering	high
weyp-	to tremble, vibrate, wind	movementaction	high
wreyḱ-	to push, to drive out	action	high

Y1 root

yewg-

to join, to yoke together

actionagriculture

high