Where does “தேனீ” come from?

தேனீ (Tamil) comes from Tamil ஈ, from Proto-Dravidian ī — this, this here.

தேனீ (Tamil): honeybee (insect)

Definitions

  1. honeybee (insect)

Ancestry of “தேனீ”, step by step

தேனீ traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Tamil ஈ

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1TamilஈThe fourth vowel in Tamil
2Proto-Dravidianīthis, this here

via Tamil தேன்

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilதேன்—
2Proto-Dravidian*tiy-am—

Words derived from “தேனீ”

Every word from Proto-Dravidian ī →Every word from Tamil ஈ →
தேனீ — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer