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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B1 root

Root	Meaning	Semantic Field	Confidence	Descendants
bʰlewH-	to overflow, to well up	waterbody	medium	0

D6 roots

dʰenh₂-	to flow, to run (liquid)	waterliquidmotion	medium
dʰewb-	to dip, to sink into liquid	waterliquid	high
dʰewh₂-	to flow, to run in drops	weatherwater	high
dʰews-	to scatter, to sprinkle (dew)	waterliquidnature	medium
dʰrewn-	to fall into water, to drown	waterliquiddeath	medium
dʰreyb-	to drip, to fall in drops	waterliquid	medium

G5 roots

ǵʰew-	to pour, to offer libation	waterliquidreligion	high
gʰew-r-	that which is poured, stream	waterflow	high
gʰewd-₂	to pour out, to pour a libation	wateraction	high
gʷelH-₂	to drip, to spring forth as a well	waterlandscape	high
gʷhedʰ-₂	to sink, plunge	waterimmersion	high

H13 roots

h₂eḱ-weh₂	sharp water, flowing water	watersharpness	medium
h₂ekʷeh₂-	water, body of water	waterlandscape	high
h₂ep-ero-	shore, bank, further side	landscapewater	high
h₂ep-es-	river, flowing water	waterlandscape	high
h₁eyH-	ice, frost	waterliquidnature	high
h₂kʷeh₂-	water (nominal)	watergeography	high
h₂neg-	to swim, float along	movementwater	high
Hreg-	to wet, to rain	waterliquidnature	medium
h₁reyH-	to flow, to stream (river)	waterliquidnature	high
h₂reyH-	to flow, to run as a stream	watermotion	high
h₂weh₁-r-	water, rain, river	waterelement	high
h₂weh₂-t-	water (extended nominal)	waterelement	high
h₂weHd-	to soak, to wet through	water	high

K1 root

ḱlew-d-

to rinse, to wash clean

hygienewater

medium

L5 roots

leHw-	to wash, bathe	watercleaning	high
leHw-mn̥	washing, bath	watercleaning	high
lewh₃-	to wash, bathe, purify	waterpurification	high
leyH-	to pour, flow	waterliquid	medium
lókus	body of still water, lake	waterliquidnature	high

M4 roots

meld-	to soften, to melt	waterliquid	high
móri	body of water, sea, lake	waterliquidnature	high
mori-	sea, body of water	naturewater	high
mori-₂	body of standing water, lake or sea	waterlandscape	high

N2 roots

neh₂-w-eyo-	to keep sailing, navigating	travelwater	high	0
neh₂-w-tó-	skilled in water, seafarer	watertravel	high	0

P5 roots

pisk-	fish, aquatic creature	animalwater	high
plew-	to flow, to swim	motionwater	high
plew-d-	to flow, float, flee	watermovement	high
plew-k-	to float, fly, flow	movementairwater	medium
plew-mn̥-₂	a flowing, stream, flood	watermovement	high

S11 roots

ser-	to flow, to move	motionwater	high
sneh₂-	to swim, flow, bathe	watermovement	medium
snew-	to flow, swim, drip	watermovement	medium
sprenǵʰ-	to spring up, to burst forth	waterliquidmotion	medium
srew-	to flow, to stream	waterliquidnature	high
srew-es-	a flow, a running stream	watermedicine	high
srew-mn̥	a flowing, a stream course	watermedicine	high
srew-mn̥-	a flow, stream, current	watermovement	high
srew-p-	to flow, stream, drip	watermovement	high
stew-	to push upward, to steam	waterliquidfire	medium
swem-	to swim, to be in motion	motionwater	high

W5 roots

wed-	to wet, to be moist	waterliquid	high
weH-d-	to wash, to wet	waterliquidbody	high
weh₂-gʰ-	to move on water, to sail	watermotion	medium
weh₂gʰ-	to move in waves, to waver	waterliquidmotion	medium
werh₃-s-	to rain, to drip moisture	waterweather	medium