Where does “cani” come from?

cani (Old Irish) comes from Old Irish cía, from Proto-Celtic *kʷei, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷís.

cani (Old Irish): particle introducing a question that expects the answer “yes”

Definitions

  1. particle introducing a question that expects the answer “yes”

Ancestry of “cani”, step by step

cani traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old Irish cía

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Irishcíawho? what?; whoever, whatever; whatever
2Proto-Celtic*kʷeiwho
3Proto-Indo-European*kʷís—

via Old Irish ní

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Irishnínot; is not, isn’t; something, anything
2Proto-Celticnīs—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanne h₁éstiis not
Every word from Proto-Indo-European *kʷís →Every word from Proto-Celtic *kʷei →Every word from Old Irish cía →