Where does “'ava” come from?

'ava (Samoan) comes from Proto-Polynesian kawa, from Proto-Oceanic *kawaʀ, from Proto-Oceanic *wakaʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wakaʀ — root.

'ava (Samoan): kava

Definitions

  1. kava

Ancestry of “'ava”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Polynesiankawakava, bitterness; bitter, sour
2Proto-Oceanic*kawaʀpotent root root of a plant with strong properties: e.g. ginger
3Proto-Oceanic*wakaʀ—
4Proto-Malayo-Polynesian*wakaʀroot
Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wakaʀ →Every word from Proto-Oceanic *wakaʀ →Every word from Proto-Oceanic *kawaʀ →
'ava — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer