Where does “whaiaro” come from?

whaiaro (Maori) comes from Maori whai, from Proto-Polynesian *fai, from Proto-Oceanic *paʀi, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian paʀih, from Proto-Austronesian paʀiS — ray.

Ancestry of “whaiaro”, step by step

whaiaro traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Maori whai

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Maoriwhai—
2Proto-Polynesian*fairay marine fish with a flat body, large wing-like fins, and a whip-like tail
3Proto-Oceanic*paʀistingray
4Proto-Malayo-Polynesianpaʀihray
5Proto-AustronesianpaʀiSray

via Maori aro

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Maoriarofront; to turn toward something or someone
2Proto-Polynesianqarofront
3Proto-Oceanicqaropfront
4Proto-Malayo-Polynesianqadəpfront
Every word from Proto-Austronesian paʀiS →Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian paʀih →Every word from Proto-Oceanic *paʀi →
whaiaro — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer