Two etymologies have been presented: one considers the word cognate to Komi-Zyrian кор (kor, “leaf”), Udmurt кўар (kwar, “leaf”) and Hungarian dialectal harap (“dry grass”), from Proto-Uralic *korwa (“leaf”). The second compares the word with Proto-Samoyedic *kåw (“ear”), and derives the word by metathesis from earlier *kowra (compare e.g. *karva (“hair”) from earlier *kawra), analyzed as *kow- + *-ra and derived from Proto-Uralic *kawe.
In any case, the word is an innovation replacing Proto-Uralic *peljä (“ear”).
*korva[1]
Note: The Proto-Finnic declension system is yet to be reconstructed in detail. What is presented here is only one possibility. | |||
singular | plural | ||
---|---|---|---|
nominative | *korva | *korvat | |
accusative | *korvan | *korvat | |
genitive | *korvan | *korvadën *korvëidën | |
partitive | *korvada | *korvëida | |
inessive | *korvassa *korvahna |
*korvëissa *korvëihna | |
elative | *korvasta | *korvëista | |
illative | *korvahën | *korvëihën | |
adessive | *korvalla | *korvëilla | |
ablative | *korvalta | *korvëilta | |
allative | *korvalën *korvalëk |
*korvëilën *korvëilëk | |
essive | *korvana | *korvëina | |
translative | *korvaksi | *korvëiksi | |
instructive | *korvan | *korvëin | |
comitative | *korvanëk | *korvëinëk | |
abessive | *korvatta | *korvëitta |