Where does “whai” come from?
whai (Maori) comes from Proto-Polynesian *fai, from Proto-Oceanic *paʀi, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian paʀih, from Proto-Austronesian paʀiS — ray.
Ancestry of “whai”, step by step
whai traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Proto-Polynesian *fai
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-Polynesian | *fai | ray marine fish with a flat body, large wing-like fins, and a whip-like tail |
| 2 | Proto-Oceanic | *paʀi | stingray |
| 3 | Proto-Malayo-Polynesian | paʀih | ray |
| 4 | Proto-Austronesian | paʀiS | ray |
via Proto-Eastern Polynesian *fai
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-Eastern Polynesian | *fai | — |