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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B4 roots

Root	Meaning	Semantic Field	Confidence
bʰeh₂-g-	to allot, to apportion fate	religionritual	medium
bʰer-g-	to hide, to protect, to bury	religiondeathdwelling	high
bʰeyd-mn̥	act of persuading, a trusting	religionsociety	high
bʰleh₁g-	to shine, to be blessed	religionrituallight	medium

D11 roots

deh₂-mn̥-₃	a dividing, a distribution	religion	medium
deh₂-p-	to apportion a sacrificial meal	religionfood	medium
deh₃-r-₂	a gift, something given freely	exchangereligion	high
deh₂p-	to sacrifice, to distribute (ritual meal)	religionritual	medium
deh₃p-	to apportion for sacrifice, offering	religionritual	medium
dem-h₂-	to build (a temple), tame/domestic	religionritualdwelling	medium
dew-₂	to worship, show reverence	religionsacred	high
dʰeh₁-s-mn̥	divine law, what is laid down by gods	religionlaw	high
dʰeh₁s-	god, deity, the divine	sacredreligionsupernatural	high
dyew-	to shine (as divine sky), divine	religionrituallight	high
dyu-es-	daylight, bright day	timecelestialreligion	high

G8 roots

ǵeh₂-	to sing, to chant, to cry out	soundreligion	high
ǵʰew-	to pour, to offer libation	waterliquidreligion	high
ǵʰew-t-	to call upon, to invoke a god	religionritual	high
gʰewH-	to call, to invoke	communicationlanguagereligion	medium
ǵʰeysd-	to be terrified, ghost/spirit	religionritualdeath	medium
gʷerH-	to favor, praise, bless	socialreligionemotion	high
gʷhedʰ-	to ask, pray, bid	speechreligion	high
gʷhedʰ-₃	to ask, to pray, to request	communicationreligion	high

H13 roots

h₂enǵʰ-el-	a messenger, one who is sent	religioncommunication	high
h₂enh₁m-	to breathe, soul-breath	religionritualbody	high
h₂erk-₂	to sing, praise	speechritualreligion	high
h₂ew-s-r-	dawn, the dawn goddess	timenaturereligion	high
h₂ey-ǵ-	to be in awe, to revere	emotionreligion	medium
h₂ey-s-	to be in reverent fear, to worship	religionemotion	medium
h₂eyd-mn̥	burning, a fire-offering	firereligion	medium
h₃eyt-	to swear an oath	communicationlanguagereligion	medium
h₁neḱ-tó-	death, the slain state	deathreligion	high
h₁wegʷʰ-mn̥	a spoken thing, a vow	communicationreligion	high
h₂wekʷ-	to speak prophetically, oracle	religionritualcommunication	medium
h₁yeh₂ǵ-	to worship, revere	religionsacred	medium
h₂yeh₂ǵ-mn̥-	sacred thing, sacrifice	religionritual	high

K7 roots

kayl-	whole, uninjured, holy	religionritualbody	high
kerd-	to believe firmly, to trust as true	religionlaw	high
kewH-	to curse, to strike with words	communicationlanguagereligion	medium
ḱred-dʰeh₁-	to place trust, to believe	religionritualcognition	high
kreh₁-	to grow, nourish (Ceres)	growthagriculturereligion	high
kreyd-	to believe, to place trust in	religionsociety	high
ḱwey-tó-₂	shining, holy, bright	colorreligion	medium

M1 root

meh₂gʰ-

to be able, to have power (magic)

religionritual

high

P7 roots

peh₂-tó-	fed, pastured, protected	foodagriculturereligion	high
pent-	to tread, walk, path	movementpathreligion	high
pewH-mn̥	cleansing, purification rite	religionhygiene	medium
pewH-s-	to purify, cleanse (extended)	purityreligion	high
pewH-tl-	instrument for cleansing	hygienereligion	medium
peyt-mn̥-	devotion, faithful duty	religionduty	high
preḱ-	to ask, to pray, to entreat	communicationreligion	high

S10 roots

sak-	to sanctify, to make holy	religionritual	high
seh₂g-	to seek the divine, to sacrifice	religionritual	medium
seh₂k-	to consecrate, to make sacred	religionritual	high
seh₂k-mn̥	that which is sacred, rite	religionritual	high
seh₂k-mn̥-₂	act of consecrating, holy rite	religion	high
seh₂k-r-	sacred, consecrated	religionritualsacred	high
seh₂k-ro-	set apart as holy, consecrated	religion	high
spend-₂	to pour a libation, to promise solemnly	religionexchange	high
speyH-	to blow, to breathe spirit	religionritualbody	high
swer-	to swear, to speak solemnly	religionritualcommunication	high

T1 root

temh₁-mn̥

a cutting, a sacred precinct

religionconstruction

high

W1 root

wegʰ-

to pledge, to vow solemnly

religionritualcommunication

medium