Proto-Indo-European
|Pro-to-In-do-Eu-ro-pe-an|
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/ˌproʊtoʊ ˌɪndoʊ ˈjʊrəpiən/
🇬🇧
/ˌprəʊtəʊ ˌɪndəʊ ˈjʊərəpiən/
original ancestor of Indo-European languages
Etymology
'Proto-Indo-European' is formed from the prefix 'proto-' meaning 'first' or 'earliest', and 'Indo-European', which refers to the large language family that includes most languages of Europe and many in South and Western Asia.
The term 'Proto-Indo-European' was coined in the 19th century by linguists to describe the reconstructed common ancestor of the Indo-European languages.
Initially, it referred specifically to the hypothetical language, but it is now also used as an adjective to describe things related to that language or its speakers.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the hypothetical reconstructed ancestor language of the Indo-European language family, spoken by the Proto-Indo-Europeans.
Linguists study Proto-Indo-European to understand the origins of many modern languages.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
relating to the Proto-Indo-European language or its speakers.
Proto-Indo-European roots can be found in many European languages.
Last updated: 2025/08/06 16:06