원시 한국어 / 朝鮮祖語
Proto-Koreanic
Koreanic (proto)
Proto-Koreanic is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Koreanic language family, including modern Korean and Jeju. It is typically dated to roughly 500 BCE through the early centuries CE on the Korean Peninsula, predating large-scale Sino-Korean lexical borrowing. Because Han characters were adopted into Korean only centuries later, most of the concepts written with Han characters here are filled with the native Proto-Koreanic root (e.g. 山 *moy, 水 *mɨr, 火 *pɨr), not a Sino-Koreanic reading. Reconstructions follow Vovin (2010), Whitman (2012), Ko (2018) and related comparative work using Middle Korean, Jeju, and early transcriptional sources.
Where it is spoken
Han character readings in Proto-Koreanic
| Character | Meaning | Reading | Form | IPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 一 | one | *hʌtan | /*hʌtan/ | |
| 二 | two | *tupɨr | /*tupɨɾ/ | |
| 三 | three | *seki | /*seki/ | |
| 四 | four | *neki | /*neki/ | |
| 五 | five | *tasəs | /*tasəs/ | |
| 六 | six | *jəsəs | /*jəsəs/ | |
| 七 | seven | *nirkup | /*niɾkup/ | |
| 八 | eight | *jətərp | /*jətəɾp/ | |
| 九 | nine | *ahop | /*ahop/ | |
| 十 | ten | *jer | /*jeɾ/ | |
| 日 | sun | *hʌy | /*hʌj/ | |
| 月 | moon | *tʌr | /*tʌɾ/ | |
| 山 | mountain | *moy | /*moj/ | |
| 水 | water | *mɨr | /*mɨɾ/ | |
| 火 | fire | *pɨr | /*pɨɾ/ | |
| 木 | tree | *namk | /*namk/ | |
| 土 | soil | *hʌrk | /*hʌɾk/ | |
| 天 | sky | *hanʌr | /*hanʌɾ/ | |
| 地 | ground | *tʌh | /*tʌh/ | |
| 海 | sea | *parʌr | /*paɾʌɾ/ | |
| 龍 | dragon | *mir | /*miɾ/ | |
| 虎 | tiger | *pəm | /*pəm/ | |
| 犬 | dog | *kahi | /*kahi/ | |
| 鳥 | bird | *say | /*saj/ | |
| 魚 | fish | *koki | /*koki/ | |
| 牛 | ox | *sjo | /*sjo/ | |
| 人 | person | *salʌm | /*salʌm/ | |
| 手 | hand | *son | /*son/ | |
| 足 | foot | *par | /*paɾ/ | |
| 目 | eye | *nun | /*nun/ | |
| 耳 | ear | *kuy | /*kuj/ | |
| 口 | mouth | *ip | /*ip/ | |
| 頭 | head | *məri | /*məɾi/ | |
| 心 | heart | *mʌzʌm | /*mʌzʌm/ | |
| 血 | blood | *pih | /*pih/ | |
| 肉 | meat | *salh | /*salh/ | |
| 上 | up | *uh | /*uh/ | |
| 下 | down | *arʌy | /*aɾʌj/ | |
| 中 | middle | *kawɨn | /*kawɨn/ | |
| 中 | hit | *mac- | /*mat͡s-/ | |
| 左 | left | *oyn | /*ojn/ | |
| 右 | right | *parʌn | /*paɾʌn/ | |
| 行 | go | *ka- | /*ka-/ | |
| 行 | row | *hʌ- | /*hʌ-/ | |
| 来 | come | *o- | /*o-/ | |
| 去 | leave | *ka- | /*ka-/ | |
| 見 | see | *po- | /*po-/ | |
| 聞 | hear | *tɨr- | /*tɨɾ-/ | |
| 食 | eat | *mək- | /*mək-/ | |
| 飲 | drink | *mas- | /*mas-/ | |
| 走 | run | *tʌt- | /*tʌt-/ | |
| 坐 | sit | *anc- | /*ant͡s-/ | |
| 立 | stand | *se- | /*se-/ |
Sources
- Vovin 2010
- Whitman 2012
- Ko 2018
Han readings compared
Compared with related Koreanic (proto) languages
| Character | Proto-Koreanic | Korean Hanja-hun (native reading) | Proto-Japonic | Proto-Tungusic | Proto-Mongolic | Proto-Hmong-Mien | Proto-Austroasiatic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 一 | *hʌtan /*hʌtan/ | han /han/ | *pitə-tu /*pitə-tu/ | *əmun /*əmun/ | *nigen /*niɡen/ | *ʔɨ /*ʔɨ/ | *muəjʔ /*muəjʔ/ |
| 二 | *tupɨr /*tupɨɾ/ | du /tu/ | *puta /*puta/ | *dʒuər /*d͡ʒuər/ | *qoyar /*qojar/ | *ʔu̯i /*ʔu̯i/ | *ɓaːr /*ɓaːr/ |
| 三 | *seki /*seki/ | se /se/ | *mi /*mi/ | *ilan /*ilan/ | *gurba(n) /*gurban/ | *pjɔu /*pjɔu/ | *peːʔ /*peːʔ/ |
| 四 | *neki /*neki/ | ne /nɛ/ | *jə /*jə/ | *dügin /*dyɡin/ | *dörbe(n) /*dœrben/ | *plei /*plei/ | *puənʔ /*puənʔ/ |
| 五 | *tasəs /*tasəs/ | daseot /tasʌt̚/ | *itu /*itu/ | *tuɲga /*tuɲɡa/ | *tabu(n) /*tabun/ | *prja /*prja/ | — |
| 六 | *jəsəs /*jəsəs/ | yeoseot /jʌsʌt̚/ | *mu /*mu/ | *ɲuŋun /*ɲuŋun/ | *jirguɣa(n) /*dʒirɣuɣan/ | *kruk /*kruk/ | *pruʔ /*pruʔ/ |
| 七 | *nirkup /*niɾkup/ | ilgop /ilɡop̚/ | *nana /*nana/ | *nadan /*nadan/ | *doluɣa(n) /*doluɣan/ | — | *pɔh /*pɔh/ |
| 八 | *jətərp /*jətəɾp/ | yeodeol /jʌdʌl/ | *ja /*ja/ | *dʒapkun /*d͡ʒapkun/ | *nayima(n) /*najiman/ | — | *tNɕaːm /*tɲcaːm/ |
| 九 | *ahop /*ahop/ | ahop /ahop̚/ | *kəkənə /*kəkənə/ | *xəgün /*xəɡyn/ | *yersü(n) /*jersyn/ | *N-ɟuə̯X /*N-ɟuə̯X/ | — |
| 十 | *jer /*jeɾ/ | yeol /jʌl/ | *təwə /*təwə/ | *dʒuwan /*d͡ʒuwan/ | *harba(n) /*harban/ | *gju̯əpD /*gju̯əpD/ | — |
| 日 | *hʌy /*hʌj/ | nal /nal/ | *pi /*pi/ | *siun /*siun/ | *naran /*naran/ | *hnu̯ɔiA /*hnu̯ɔiA/ | *tŋiːʔ /*tŋiːʔ/ |
| 月 | *tʌr /*tʌɾ/ | dal /tal/ | *tukuy /*tukui/ | *bēga /*beːɡa/ | *sara(n) /*saran/ | *hlaH /*hlaH/ | *kVcaːj /*kəcaːj/ |
| 山 | *moy /*moj/ | me /me/ | *jama /*jama/ | *xada /*xada/ | *agula /*aɣula/ | — | — |
| 水 | *mɨr /*mɨɾ/ | mul /mul/ | *mintu /*mintu/ | *mū /*muː/ | *usu(n) /*usun/ | *ʔu̯əm /*ʔu̯əm/ | *ɗaːk /*ɗaːk/ |
| 火 | *pɨr /*pɨɾ/ | bul /pul/ | *poy /*poi/ | *tōga /*toːɡa/ | *gal /*ɡal/ | — | *ʔuːs /*ʔuːs/ |
| 木 | *namk /*namk/ | namu /namu/ | *kəy /*kəi/ | *mō /*moː/ | *modu(n) /*modun/ | *ntju̯əŋH /*ntju̯əŋH/ | *ɟɕɨːʔ /*ɟcɨːʔ/ |
| 土 | *hʌrk /*hʌɾk/ | heuk /hɯk̚/ | *tuti /*tuti/ | *na /*na/ | *sirui /*siruj/ | — | *teːʔ /*teːʔ/ |
| 天 | *hanʌr /*hanʌɾ/ | haneul /hanɯl/ | *ama /*ama/ | *abka /*abka/ | *teŋri /*teŋri/ | — | — |
| 地 | *tʌh /*tʌh/ | ttang /t͈aŋ/ | — | *na /*na/ | *gajar /*ɡadʒar/ | — | *teːʔ /*teːʔ/ |
| 海 | *parʌr /*paɾʌɾ/ | bada /pada/ | *umi /*umi/ | *lāmu /*laːmu/ | *dalai /*dalaj/ | — | — |
| 龍 | *mir /*miɾ/ | mireu /miɾɯ/ | — | — | — | — | — |
| 虎 | *pəm /*pəm/ | beom /pʌm/ | — | — | — | *tsjɔB /*tsjɔB/ | *klaːʔ /*klaːʔ/ |
| 犬 | *kahi /*kahi/ | gae /kɛ/ | *enu /*enu/ | *ŋinda /*ŋinda/ | *noxai /*noxaj/ | *qluwX /*qluwX/ | *cɔʔ /*cɔʔ/ |
| 鳥 | *say /*saj/ | sae /sɛ/ | *təri /*təri/ | *gasa /*ɡasa/ | *sibawun /*sibaʊn/ | *m-nɔk /*m-nɔk/ | *ciːm /*ciːm/ |
| 魚 | *koki /*koki/ | mulgogi /mulɡoɡi/ | *iwo /*iwo/ | *nimaka /*nimaka/ | *jigasu(n) /*dʒiɣasun/ | *mbrəuX /*mbrəuX/ | *kaʔ /*kaʔ/ |
| 牛 | *sjo /*sjo/ | so /so/ | *usi /*usi/ | *xuker /*xuker/ | *hüker /*hyker/ | — | — |
| 人 | *salʌm /*salʌm/ | saram /saɾam/ | *pitə /*pitə/ | *niama /*niama/ | *kümün /*kymyn/ | *lan /*ʔja/ | *kmiː /*kmiː/ |
| 手 | *son /*son/ | son /son/ | *ta /*ta/ | *ŋāla /*ŋaːla/ | *gar /*ɡar/ | — | *tiːʔ /*tiːʔ/ |
| 足 | *par /*paɾ/ | bal /pal/ | *asi /*asi/ | *bəgdi /*bəɡdi/ | *köl /*kœl/ | — | *ɟəːŋ /*ɟəːŋ/ |
| 目 | *nun /*nun/ | nun /nun/ | *ma /*ma/ | *jāsa /*jaːsa/ | *nidün /*nidyn/ | — | *mat /*mat/ |
| 耳 | *kuy /*kuj/ | gwi /kwi/ | *mimi /*mimi/ | *sēn /*seːn/ | *cikin /*tʃikin/ | — | *ktɔːr /*ktɔːr/ |
| 口 | *ip /*ip/ | ip /ip̚/ | *kutuy /*kutui/ | *amŋa /*amŋa/ | *aman /*aman/ | — | — |
| 頭 | *məri /*məɾi/ | meori /mʌɾi/ | *kasira /*kasira/ | *dil /*dil/ | *terixün /*terixyn/ | *S-phreiX /*S-phreiX/ | *kduəl /*kduəl/ |
| 心 | *mʌzʌm /*mʌzʌm/ | maeum /maɯm/ | *kəkərə /*kəkərə/ | *mēwan /*meːwan/ | *jirüken /*dʒiryken/ | — | — |
| 血 | *pih /*pih/ | pi /pʰi/ | *ti /*ti/ | *sēksə /*seːksə/ | *cisu(n) /*tʃisun/ | *ntshjamX /*ntshjamX/ | *mhaːm /*mhaːm/ |
| 肉 | *salh /*salh/ | sal /sal/ | *sisi /*sisi/ | *uldʒə /*uld͡ʒə/ | *mika(n) /*mikan/ | — | *sɔc /*sɔc/ |
| 上 | *uh /*uh/ | wi /wi/ | *upəy /*upəi/ | *ugi /*uɡi/ | *degere /*deɡere/ | — | — |
| 下 | *arʌy /*aɾʌj/ | arae /aɾɛ/ | *sita /*sita/ | *xərgi /*xərɡi/ | *doxora /*doxora/ | — | — |
| 中 | *kawɨn /*kawɨn/ | gaunde /kaundɛ/ | *naka /*naka/ | *dulin /*dulin/ | *dumda /*dumda/ | — | — |
| 中 | *mac- /*mat͡s-/ | majeul /madʑɯl/ | *atar- /*atar-/ | *dulin /*dulin/ | *dumda /*dumda/ | — | — |
| 左 | *oyn /*ojn/ | oen /wen/ | *pintari /*pintari/ | *dʒəgün /*d͡ʒəɡyn/ | *jegün /*dʒeɡyn/ | — | — |
| 右 | *parʌn /*paɾʌn/ | oreun /oɾɯn/ | *minkiri /*minkiri/ | *aŋān /*aŋaːn/ | *baragun /*baraɣun/ | — | — |
| 行 | *ka- /*ka-/ | danil /tanil/ | *ik- /*ik-/ | *jabu- /*jabu-/ | *yabu- /*jabu-/ | — | *cuːr /*cuːr/ |
| 行 | *hʌ- /*hʌ-/ | haenghal /hɛŋhal/ | *okonap- /*okonap-/ | *ŋənə- /*ŋənə-/ | *yabu- /*jabu-/ | — | *cuːr /*cuːr/ |
| 来 | *o- /*o-/ | ol /ol/ | *kə- /*kə-/ | *əmə- /*əmə-/ | *ire- /*ire-/ | — | — |
| 去 | *ka- /*ka-/ | gal /kal/ | — | *ŋənə- /*ŋənə-/ | *od- /*od-/ | — | — |
| 見 | *po- /*po-/ | bol /pol/ | *mi- /*mi-/ | *ičə- /*it͡ʃə-/ | *üje- /*ydʒe-/ | — | — |
| 聞 | *tɨr- /*tɨɾ-/ | deureul /tɯɾɯl/ | *kik- /*kik-/ | *dōldi- /*doːldi-/ | *sonos- /*sonos-/ | — | — |
| 食 | *mək- /*mək-/ | meogeul /mʌɡɯl/ | *kup- /*kup-/ | *dʒəp- /*d͡ʒəp-/ | *ide- /*ide-/ | — | *ca(ː)ʔ /*caːʔ/ |
| 飲 | *mas- /*mas-/ | masil /maɕil/ | *nəm- /*nəm-/ | *umī- /*umiː-/ | *uxu- /*uxu-/ | — | *ʔɔːk /*ʔɔːk/ |
| 走 | *tʌt- /*tʌt-/ | dallil /tallil/ | *pasir- /*pasir-/ | *tuksa- /*tuksa-/ | *güyü- /*ɡyjy-/ | — | — |
| 坐 | *anc- /*ant͡s-/ | anjeul /andʑɯl/ | — | *təgə- /*təɡə-/ | *saxu- /*saxu-/ | — | *ŋkuːʔ /*ŋkuːʔ/ |
| 立 | *se- /*se-/ | seol /sʌl/ | *tat- /*tat-/ | *ili- /*ili-/ | *bos- /*bos-/ | — | *cɔŋ /*cɔŋ/ |
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