Where does “mā” come from?
mā (Pali) comes from Sanskrit मा, from Proto-Iranian máH, from Proto-Indo-Iranian maH, from Proto-Indo-European meh₁ — prohibitive particle.
mā (Pali): do not; mother; moon
Ancestry of “mā”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Sanskrit | मा | don't; accusative singular of अहम्; to sound,... |
| 2 | Proto-Iranian | máH | — |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | maH | do not; prohibitive particle |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | meh₁ | prohibitive particle |