Where does “alofa” come from?

alofa (Tuvaluan) comes from Proto-Polynesian qarofa, from Proto-Oceanic *qalopan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qaləpan, from Proto-Austronesian *qaləpan — love.

alofa (Tuvaluan): compassion, empathy, love

Definitions

  1. compassion, empathy, love

Ancestry of “alofa”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Polynesianqarofalove
2Proto-Oceanic*qalopanlove
3Proto-Malayo-Polynesian*qaləpanlove
4Proto-Austronesian*qaləpanlove
Every word from Proto-Austronesian *qaləpan →Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qaləpan →Every word from Proto-Oceanic *qalopan →