Where does “papai” come from?
papai (Portuguese) comes from Portuguese Pai, from Old Portuguese pay, from Old Portuguese padre, from Latin pater, from Proto-Italic patēr, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- — to protect; to shepherd.
Ancestry of “papai”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Portuguese | Pai | — |
| 2 | Old Portuguese | pay | papa, dad, father |
| 3 | Old Portuguese | padre | father |
| 4 | Latin | pater | father; head of household; parent |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | patēr | father |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₂tḗr | father |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₂- | to protect; to shepherd |