Where does “zi-” come from?

zi- (Chichewa) comes from Proto-Bantu jí-, from Navajo ní-, from Navajo ł-, from Proto-Athabaskan *-ɬ — Forms instrumental nouns from verbs.

zi- (Chichewa): Class 8 noun prefix

Definitions

  1. Class 8 noun prefix

Ancestry of “zi-”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Bantují-Class 10 pronominal concord; Class 10 subject...
2Navajoní-forms the comparative form of neuter imperfective verbs
3Navajoł-the
4Proto-Athabaskan*-ɬForms instrumental nouns from verbs

Words derived from “zi-”

Every word from Proto-Athabaskan *-ɬ →Every word from Navajo ní- →Every word from Proto-Bantu jí- →
zi- — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer