Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/hëlma

This Proto-Finnic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Finnic

Etymology

Uncertain. Probably from earlier *šëlma, borrowed either from Proto-Baltic [Term?] (whence Lithuanian šelmuo (“ridge (of a roof)”))[1] or from Proto-Germanic *helmaz.

Noun

*hëlma[2]

  1. hem (of clothing)
  2. threshold ?

Inflection

Inflection of *hëlma
Note: The Proto-Finnic declension system is yet to be reconstructed in detail. What is presented here is only one possibility.
singular plural
nominative *hëlma *hëlmat
accusative *hëlman *hëlmat
genitive *hëlman *hëlmadën
*hëlmoidën
partitive *hëlmada *hëlmoida
inessive *hëlmassa
*hëlmahna 		*hëlmoissa
*hëlmoihna
elative *hëlmasta *hëlmoista
illative *hëlmahën *hëlmoihën
adessive *hëlmalla *hëlmoilla
ablative *hëlmalta *hëlmoilta
allative *hëlmalën
*hëlmalëk 		*hëlmoilën
*hëlmoilëk
essive *hëlmana *hëlmoina
translative *hëlmaksi *hëlmoiksi
instructive *hëlman *hëlmoin
comitative *hëlmanëk *hëlmoinëk
abessive *hëlmatta *hëlmoitta

Descendants

  • Estonian: hõlm
  • Finnish: helma
  • Ingrian: helma
  • Karelian:
  • Livonian: ȭlma
  • Livvi: helmu
  • Ludian: helm
  • Võro: hõlm
  • Votic: õlma (Itšäpäivä)

From *šëlma:

  • →? Proto-Samic: *šielmā (“threshold”) (see there for further descendants)

References

  1. ^ Santeri Junttila, Petri Kallio, Sampsa Holopainen, Juha Kuokkala, Juho Pystynen, editors (2020–), “helma”, in Suomen vanhimman sanaston etymologinen verkkosanakirja‎[1] (in Finnish), retrieved 29 October 2025
  2. ^ Kallio, Petri (2020–), “*hëlma”, in Yhteissuomalainen sanasto [Common Finnic Vocabulary]‎[2] (in Finnish)

Further reading

  • “hõlm”, in [ETY] Eesti etümoloogiasõnaraamat [Estonian Etymological Dictionary] (in Estonian) (online version), Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus (Estonian Language Foundation), 2012
  • Erkki Itkonen, Ulla-Maija Kulonen, editors (1992–2000), “helma”, in Suomen sanojen alkuperä [The Origin of Finnish Words]‎[3] (in Finnish) (online version; note: also includes other etymological sources; this source is labeled "SSA 1992–2000"), Helsinki: Institute for the Languages of Finland/Finnish Literature Society, →ISBN
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