Where does “உயிரினம்” come from?

உயிரினம் (Tamil) comes from Tamil உயிர், from Proto-Dravidian *ucV- — to breathe.

உயிரினம் (Tamil): living being, creature

Definitions

  1. living being, creature

Ancestry of “உயிரினம்”, step by step

உயிரினம் traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Tamil உயிர்

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilஉயிர்life, soul
2Proto-Dravidian*ucV-to breathe

via Tamil இனம்

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilஇனம்kind, breed, race
Every word from Proto-Dravidian *ucV-