Where does “kai” come from?

Kai derives from Māori kai, from Proto-Polynesian kai, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian kaən, ultimately from Proto-Austronesian kaən.

kai (English): food

Definitions

  1. food

Ancestry of “kai”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Maorikaito eat; food
2Proto-Polynesiankaifood
3Proto-Oceanickanito eat consume
4Proto-Malayo-Polynesiankaənto eat
5Proto-Austronesiankaənto eat
Every word from Proto-Austronesian kaən →Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian kaən →Every word from Proto-Oceanic kani →
kai — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer