Where does “lima belas” come from?

lima belas (Malay) comes from Malay lima, from Proto-Malayic lima(ʔ), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian lima, from Proto-Austronesian lima — five; hand.

lima belas (Malay): fifteen

Definitions

  1. fifteen

Ancestry of “lima belas”, step by step

lima belas traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Malay lima

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malaylimafive
2Proto-Malayiclima(ʔ)five
3Proto-Malayo-Polynesianlimafive; hand
4Proto-Austronesianlimafive; hand

via Malay belas

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malaybelas-teen; clemency, pity
2Javanesewelas

Words derived from “lima belas

Every word from Proto-Austronesian limaEvery word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian limaEvery word from Proto-Malayic lima(ʔ)
lima belas — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer