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
bʰerǵ-es-	protection, a guarantee	lawsociety	medium
bʰerǵ-mn̥-₂	something protected, a pledge	exchangesociety	medium
bʰeyd-mn̥	act of persuading, a trusting	religionsociety	high
bʰorgʰ-	fortified high place, stronghold	societydwelling	high

D6 roots

dem-mn̥	household, built dwelling	dwellingsociety	high
dewk-	to pull, to lead by pulling	societymotion	high
dews-	to lack, to be in need	exchangesociety	medium
dʰeh₁-bʰr-₂	a craftsman workshop, a smith	craftsociety	high
dʰeh₁-mn̥-ǵ-	a law, customary practice	lawsociety	medium
dʰer-mn̥-₂	a holding, something firmly fixed	societylaw	high

G6 roots

ǵenh₁-es-	race, stock, family line	kinshipsociety	high
gʰabʰ-	to give or receive	exchangesociety	high
gʰostis	stranger who is treated as guest or enemy	society	high
gʷenh₂-mn̥	woman, female person	kinshipsociety	high
gʷerh₂-₃	to welcome, to show favor	societyemotion	high
gʷerH-d-	to prize, to praise highly	societycommunication	medium

H15 roots

h₃ep-es-	work, productive labor	societyaction	high
h₃ep-n-	riches, abundance	exchangesociety	high
h₃erbʰ-es-	an orphan, one bereft of heritage	kinshipsociety	high
h₂erH-d-	to fit together, to join properly	craftsociety	high
h₂erk-₄	to hold, to contain, to guard	actionsociety	high
h₂ew-g-₂	to increase, to grow in strength	societyaction	high
h₂ewg-es-	growth, increase of power	society	high
h₂ewg-mn̥-₂	act of growing, increase	societyagriculture	high
h₁ey-tl-	means of going, pathway	motionsociety	high
h₂eyd-s-₂	to honor, to revere	societycognition	medium
h₂eyḱ-	to possess, to be master of	societyexchange	high
h₂eyḱ-mn̥	possession, property owned	societyexchange	medium
h₂ner-mn̥	manly strength, vital force	bodysociety	high
h₂reǵ-	to straighten, to direct, to rule	lawsociety	high
h₂welh₁-d-	to exercise power, to command	societyaction	high

K12 roots

kap-mn̥	act of grasping, a handle	bodysociety	high
ḱeh₂-p-₂	to seize, to take into custody	actionsociety	high
keh₃l-₂	to call out, to summon	communicationsociety	high
keh₂ro-	beloved, dear one	emotionsociety	high
kelh₁-s-	to be prominent, to tower	societylandscape	medium
ḱerd-mn̥-₂	heartfelt feeling, mercy	emotionsociety	medium
ḱerp-es-	body form, physical shape	bodysociety	high
ḱewH-ro-	swollen, powerful, heroic	societybody	medium
ḱlewd-	to hear tell of, to be famous	communicationsociety	high
ḱóyno-	shared, common	society	medium
kreyd-	to believe, to place trust in	religionsociety	high
kʷelh₁-mn̥	a turning, a cycle	agriculturesociety	high

L3 roots

legh-mn̥	something laid down, a rule	lawsociety	high
lewdʰ-₂	to grow, to mount up	societyaction	high
leyǵ-₂	to bind, to tie together in alliance	lawsociety	high

N1 root

neh₁-mn̥

an apportioned thing, a custom

measurementsociety

high

P4 roots

peh₂-ḱ-mn̥	act of fastening, an agreement	lawsociety	high
peh₂-mn̥-₂	act of feeding, nourishment	foodsociety	high
peh₂-s-mn̥	act of protecting, a shelter for animals	agriculturesociety	high
peh₂ḱ-	to fasten, to join in peace	lawsociety	high

S3 roots

sew-bʰ-	one's own, of the self	societycognition	high
steh₂-bʰ-₂	to prop up, to support	constructionsociety	high
steh₂-tis-₂	a standing, a condition of being	societyposition	high

T3 roots

terp-₃	to be satiated, to enjoy fully	societyemotion	medium
tewt-	tribe, people, community	societykinship	high
treh₂w-	to trust, to be faithful	lawsociety	high

W3 roots

wes-no-	a purchase price, value in exchange	exchangesociety	high
weyḱ-₂	settlement, clan dwelling	societydwelling	high
weyḱ-mn̥	a household, settlement unit	societydwelling	high