Where does “ala kely” come from?

ala kely (Malagasy) comes from Malagasy ala, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian halas, from Proto-Austronesian Salas — forest, wilderness, woods.

ala kely (Malagasy): grove; woods

Definitions

  1. grove; woods

Ancestry of “ala kely”, step by step

ala kely traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Malagasy ala

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malagasyalaforest; without; freed from; removed from
2Proto-Malayo-Polynesianhalasforest
3Proto-AustronesianSalasforest, wilderness, woods

via Malagasy kely

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malagasykelysmall; little
Every word from Proto-Austronesian Salas →Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian halas →Every word from Malagasy ala →