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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B3 roots

Root	Meaning	Semantic Field	Confidence
bʰeh₂-g-	to allot, to apportion fate	religionritual	medium
bʰleh₁-mn̥	that which blows, breath	airfireritual	high
bʰleh₁g-	to shine, to be blessed	religionrituallight	medium

D5 roots

deh₃-tis-	act of giving, offering	givingritual	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
dyew-	to shine (as divine sky), divine	religionrituallight	high

G7 roots

ǵʰew-₂	to pour, offer libation	liquidritualaction	high
ǵhew-mn̥-₂	pouring, libation, offering	liquidscienceritual	high
ǵʰew-t-	to call upon, to invoke a god	religionritual	high
gʰewH-mn̥	that which is poured, libation	liquidritual	high
ǵʰeysd-	to be terrified, ghost/spirit	religionritualdeath	medium
gʰh₁ew-	to call, invoke	speechritual	medium
gʷeyh₃-₂	to sing, cry out	speechsoundritual	high

H6 roots

h₂enh₁m-	to breathe, soul-breath	religionritualbody	high
h₂erk-₂	to sing, praise	speechritualreligion	high
h₂erk-eyo-₂	to keep enclosing, exercising	actionritual	high
h₁wegʷʰ-	to speak solemnly, vow	speechrituallaw	high
h₂wekʷ-	to speak prophetically, oracle	religionritualcommunication	medium
h₂yeh₂ǵ-mn̥-	sacred thing, sacrifice	religionritual	high

K6 roots

kayl-	whole, uninjured, holy	religionritualbody	high
ḱred-dʰeh₁-	to place trust, to believe	religionritualcognition	high
kremH-	to burn, smolder	fireritual	high
kremH-mn̥	burning, cremation	fireritualdeath	high
kʷer-	to make, form, create	creationactionritual	high
kʷer-mn̥	that which is done, deed	actionfateritual	high

L1 root

leyh₂-

to pour, to flow, to offer a libation

actionritualliquid

high

M1 root

meh₂gʰ-

to be able, to have power (magic)

religionritual

high

P1 root

pewH-r-eyo-

to keep purifying, cleansing

purityritual

high

S12 roots

sak-	to sanctify, to make holy	religionritual	high	0
seh₂g-	to seek the divine, to sacrifice	religionritual	medium	0
seh₂k-	to consecrate, to make sacred	religionritual	high	0
seh₂k-mn̥	that which is sacred, rite	religionritual	high	0
seh₂k-r-	sacred, consecrated	religionritualsacred	high	0
sengʷ-	to sing, make an incantation	musicspeechritual	high	0
sengʷʰ-mn̥-	sung thing, incantation	soundritual	high	0
spend-	to pour a libation, to make a treaty	ritualsocialaction	high	17
spendʰ-	to pour a libation, pledge solemnly	emotionritualsocial	high	0
spendʰ-mn̥-	a pledging, solemn promise	socialritual	high	0
speyH-	to blow, to breathe spirit	religionritualbody	high	0
swer-	to swear, to speak solemnly	religionritualcommunication	high	0

W1 root

wegʰ-

to pledge, to vow solemnly

religionritualcommunication

medium