Where does “tanu” come from?
tanu (Proto-Polynesian) comes from Proto-Oceanic ranum, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian danum, from Proto-Austronesian daNum — fresh water; water.
tanu (Proto-Polynesian): bury
Ancestry of “tanu”, step by step
tanu traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Proto-Oceanic ranum
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-Oceanic | ranum | water |
| 2 | Proto-Malayo-Polynesian | danum | water |
| 3 | Proto-Austronesian | daNum | fresh water; water |
via Austronesian *tanəm
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Austronesian | *tanəm | — |
| 2 | Proto-Austronesian | CaNəm | grave, to bury; to plant, to bury; bury |
Words derived from “tanu”