Where does “alas” come from?

alas (Tetum) comes from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian halas, from Proto-Austronesian Salas — forest, wilderness, woods.

alas (Tetum): forest

Definitions

  1. forest

Ancestry of “alas”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Malayo-Polynesianhalasforest
2Proto-AustronesianSalasforest, wilderness, woods
Every word from Proto-Austronesian Salas →Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian halas →