Where does “avainkysymys” come from?

avainkysymys (Finnish) comes from Finnish avain, from Finnish avata, from Proto-Finnic avait'ak, from Proto-Finno-Ugric aŋa-.

avainkysymys (Finnish): key to a problem

Definitions

  1. key to a problem

Ancestry of “avainkysymys”, step by step

avainkysymys traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Finnish avain

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnishavainkey; code; clef, used especially in compound...
2Finnishavatato open; to unwrap; to turn on
3Proto-Finnicavait'akto open
4Proto-Finno-Ugricaŋa-

via Finnish kysymys

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnishkysymysquestion; issue, problem
2FinnishkysyäTo ask, inquire/enquire; To take, require,...
3Proto-Finnicküsüdäkto ask, to enquire
Every word from Proto-Finno-Ugric aŋa-Every word from Proto-Finnic avait'akEvery word from Finnish avata
avainkysymys — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer