Reconstruction:Proto-Oceanic/qanitu

This Proto-Oceanic 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-Oceanic

Etymology

From Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qanitu, Proto-Austronesian *qaNiCu.

Noun

*qanitu

ghost (spirit of the dead)

Descendants

Central–Eastern Oceanic:
- Central Oceanic:
  - East Fijian-Polynesian:
    - Fijian: nitu, vatunitu
    - Proto-Polynesian: *qaitu
      - Nuclear Polynesian:
        Eastern Polynesian:
        Marquesic:
        North Marquesan: aitu
        South Marquesan: aitu
        Tahitic:
        Māori: aitu
        Rarotongan: aitu
        Tahitian: aitu
        Western Polynesian:
        Ellicean–Outlier:
        Nukuoro: eidu, itu
        Takuu: aitu
        Tuvaluan: aitu
        Futunic:
        Pukapukan: aitu
        Futuna-Aniwa: fegaitua
        Samoic:
        Samoan: aitu
        Tokelauan: aitu
      - Tongic:
        Niuafo'ou: aitu
        Niuean: aitu
        Tongan: ʻeitumatupuʻa
  - West Fijian-Rotuman:
    - Rotuman: ʻoitu
    - Western Fijian: yanitu
- Proto-Micronesian: *anitu
  - Nuclear Micronesian:
    - Marshallese: anij, Anij
    - Kosraean: inut (“god, spirit, ghost”)
    - Gilbertese: anti (“god, spirit, ghost”)
    - Chuukic-Pohnpeic:
      - Proto-Chuukic: *yanútú
        Chuukese: énú
        Puluwat: yanú (“ancient god”)
        Carolinian: anú (“spirit, ghost”)
        Satawalese: anú (“ghost”)
        Ulithian-Woleaian:
        Woleaian: yalúsú (“god, spirit, ghost”)
        Echangese:
        Sonsorolese: yarúdú (“spirit, ghost”)
      - Pohnpeic:
        Pohnpeian: eni (“ghost”)
        Mokilese: eni (“demon, ghost”)
        Pingelapese: eni (“ghost, spirit”)
Western Oceanic:
- Gedaged: anut
- Gitua: anutu
- Mbula: kon