From Proto-Algonquian *name·ʔsa (“fish”).
namas (animate, plural namasak)
From Proto-Balto-Slavic *damús (“house”), from Proto-Indo-European *domos, from *dṓm. Cognate with Latvian nams, Proto-Slavic *dȍmъ, Latin domus, Ancient Greek δόμος (dómos), Sanskrit दम (dáma).
The etymology seems rather secure despite the irregular sound change from *d- to *n-. The original d may be seen in dialectal apìdėmė (“landplot between two homesteads”); compare the more recently formed apýnamė (“area surrounding a house”).
The assimilation is most frequently explained as from the zero-grade *dm- > *nm-, with subsequent generalization onto the full-grade stem. Compare Avestan 𐬥𐬨𐬁𐬥𐬀 (nmāna, “house, quarters”). However, the only zero-grade derivative actually attested in Lithuanian, dimstis (“village, estate”) < *dm̥-st-i-, lacks this particular sound change.
nãmas m (plural namaĩ) stress pattern 4
| singular (vienaskaita) | plural (daugiskaita) | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative (vardininkas) | nãmas | namaĩ |
| genitive (kilmininkas) | nãmo | namų̃ |
| dative (naudininkas) | nãmui | namáms |
| accusative (galininkas) | nãmą | namùs |
| instrumental (įnagininkas) | namù | namaĩs |
| locative (vietininkas) | namè | namuosè |
| vocative (šauksmininkas) | nãme | namaĩ |
namas