Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/minato

This Proto-Japonic 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.

The traditional etymology that Japanese sources trace back to is a compound of mi- ("water") + -na- (genitive particle) + to ("place").^{[1][2][3][4][5]} However, this does not correlate cleanly with *mentu (“water”).

Vovin, on the other hand suggests mi- was an honorific prefix, while -na- was the word for "water", possibly from Proto-Tai *C̬.namꟲ (“water”).^[6] Compare *namita (“tears”), Old Japanese 菜葱, 水葱 (nagi, “Monochoria vaginalis”), Old Japanese 漬く (naduku, “soak in water”).

*minato

1. sluice
2. port

• Old Japanese: 港, 湊, 水門 (mi₁nato₁)
  • Japanese: 港, 湊, 水門 (minato)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *minato
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kikai: 港, 湊, 水門 (minatu)
    • Kunigami: 港, 湊, 水門 (nātu)
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: 港, 湊, 水門 (myāθo)
    • Okinawan: 港, 湊, 水門 (nnatu)
    • Southern Amami Ōshima: 港, 湊, 水門 (mïnyāto)
    • Yoron: 港, 湊, 水門 (minatu)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 港, 湊, 水門 (mnatu)
    • Yaeyama: 港, 湊, 水門 (minatu)
    • Yonaguni: 港, 湊, 水門 (nnatu)