Where does “hahine” come from?
hahine (Hiri Motu) comes from Proto-Oceanic papine, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian babinahi, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian bahi, from Proto-Austronesian bahi — female, woman.
hahine (Hiri Motu): woman, specifically a married woman
Definitions
- woman, specifically a married woman
Ancestry of “hahine”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-Oceanic | papine | — |
| 2 | Proto-Malayo-Polynesian | babinahi | — |
| 3 | Proto-Malayo-Polynesian | bahi | — |
| 4 | Proto-Austronesian | bahi | female, woman |