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.
B5 roots Root Meaning Semantic Field Confidence Descendants bʰeh₂- to speak, to say, to tell communication language high 0 bʰeh₁-mn̥-₂ a speaking, a statement communication high 0 bʰeh₂-sko- to speak, to utter sounds communication high 0 bʰeh₁-tl- instrument of speaking, lips communication body high 0 bhewdh- to be aware, to make aware cognition communication high 0
D7 roots deh₃-s- to give as instruction, to teach exchange communication high 0 délh₁- to recount, to count, to tell cognition communication number high 0 deyḱ-₂ to show, point out, pronounce solemnly speech law communication high 0 deyḱ-eyo- to keep pointing, indicating communication direction high 0 deyḱ-mn̥ the act of showing, a sample communication law high 0 deyḱ-tl- instrument for pointing, indication device communication law high 0 deyḱ-tó- pointed out, shown, taught cognition communication high 0
G11 roots gʰel-mn̥ a cry, a calling out sound communication medium 0 ǵhel-mn̥ a calling, a yelling out sound communication medium 0 gʰewH- to call, to invoke communication language religion medium 0 ǵʰews- to shout, to cry out communication language medium 0 gʰrebʰ-₃ to write, scratch, draw writing communication high 0 gʰrebʰ-₅ to write, to scratch marks into surface communication craft high 0 gʰrebʰ-mn̥ something scratched, a mark or letter communication craft high 0 gʰrebʰ-s- to engrave, to carve signs craft communication medium 0 ǵneh₃-men- means of knowing, a name communication cognition high 0 gʷerH-d- to prize, to praise highly society communication medium 0 gʷhedʰ-₃ to ask, to pray, to request communication religion high 0
H14 roots h₂enǵʰ-el- a messenger, one who is sent religion communication high 0 h₂ent-swer- to answer, to swear back communication language medium 0 h₂erǵ-eyo- to keep arguing, making clear communication reasoning high 0 h₂eysk- to wish, to ask communication language high 0 h₂eysk-mn̥- a questioning, inquiry communication inquiry medium 0 h₃eyt- to swear an oath communication language religion medium 0 h₁ger-mn̥- a waking, rousing state communication medium 0 h₁nómn̥- to name, to call by name communication language high 0 h₁wegʷʰ-mn̥ a spoken thing, a vow communication religion high 0 h₁wekʷ- to speak, say speech communication high 0 h₂wekʷ- to speak prophetically, oracle religion ritual communication medium 0 h₁wekʷ-es- voice, spoken word communication sound high 0 h₁wekʷ-mn̥ a spoken word, a saying communication narrative medium 0 h₁wekʷ-mn̥- a calling, spoken name communication calling high 0
K16 roots ḱeh₁-n- to sing, chant, intone sound communication high 0 keh₃l-₂ to call out, to summon communication society high 0 keh₃l-mn̥ what is called, a name or summons communication law medium 0 kelh₁- to call, to shout communication language high 0 kelh₁-d- to strike so as to ring, to resound sound communication medium 0 kelp-mn̥ a carving, sculpted work craft communication medium 0 ḱenk-mn̥ something hung, a singing sound communication medium 0 ḱens-mn̥- a proclamation, public notice communication judgment medium 0 ḱerh₂-mn̥-₃ praise, song of praise communication beauty high 0 kewH- to curse, to strike with words communication language religion medium 0 ḱleh₁-eyo- to keep calling out, summoning communication social high 0 ḱleh₁-mn̥- a calling, summons communication social high 0 ḱlew-mn̥-₂ that which is called, a summons communication sound high 0 ḱlewd- to hear tell of, to be famous communication society high 0 kleyH- to ring out, to resound sound communication high 0 krey-mn̥-₂ an accusation, a crying out law communication high 0
M2 roots men-eyo-₂ to keep thinking, pondering cognition communication high 0 mur- to murmur, to mutter softly sound communication medium 0
P3 roots peHǵ-mn̥ that which is fixed, page writing communication high 0 pleh₂-eyo- to keep spreading flat surface communication high 0 preḱ- to ask, to pray, to entreat communication religion high 0
S10 roots sekʷ- to say, to tell, to utter communication language high 0 sekʷ-mn̥- a sign, indicator, mark communication marking high 0 senh₂- to sing, to compose communication language art high 0 skreybʰ-mn̥- a scratching, writing writing communication high 0 skrībʰ- to scratch marks, write writing communication high 0 spendʰ-eyo- to keep pledging, promising communication obligation high 0 stel-eyo- to keep sending, dispatching movement communication high 0 stel-mn̥- a sending, dispatched message communication mission high 0 steyg-mn̥ a mark, a pricking action communication high 0 swer- to swear, to speak solemnly religion ritual communication high 0
T1 root teh₂ḱ- to be silent, to say nothing communication high 0
W14 roots wegʰ- to pledge, to vow solemnly religion ritual communication medium 0 weh₁-r- to speak truly, to declare as fact communication law high 0 weh₂k-eyo- to keep calling, summoning communication social high 0 wekʷ-₂ to speak, tell, voice speech communication high 0 wekʷ-es- utterance, spoken word communication language high 0 wekʷ-mn̥ a word, something spoken communication high 0 wekʷ-mn̥- spoken thing, a word language communication high 0 wekʷ-s- a voice, an utterance communication high 0 wekʷ-tl- means of speaking, a calling tool communication high 0 werdʰ- to speak, to say formally communication law high 0 werdʰ-o- a word, formal utterance language communication high 0 werdʰh₁- to speak, word communication language high 0 werh₃- to speak solemnly, to say communication language medium 0 werh₃-₂ to speak, say speech communication high 0