Where does “உயிர்மெய்” come from?

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

Ancestry of “உயிர்மெய்”, step by step

உயிர்மெய் traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Tamil உயிர்

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

via Tamil மெய்

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilமெய்truth, reality, fact
Every word from Proto-Dravidian *ucV- →