Where does “nifo” come from?

nifo (Tongan) comes from Proto-Polynesian nifo, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian nipən, from Proto-Austronesian nipən — tooth.

nifo (Tongan): tooth, tusk; horn

Definitions

  1. tooth, tusk; horn

Ancestry of “nifo”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Polynesiannifotooth
2Proto-Malayo-Polynesiannipəntooth
3Proto-Austronesiannipəntooth
Every word from Proto-Austronesian nipən →Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian nipən →Every word from Proto-Polynesian nifo →