Phrygian Vocabulary

Verbs

αββερετ

abberet

brings, carries toward. Related to Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- "to carry, to bear." Cognate with Greek φέρω and Latin ferō.

βερετ

beret

brings, carries. From Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- "to carry."

βρειτ

breit

breaks, shatters. The etymology is uncertain; a connection has been proposed with the Indo-European root *breH- / *briH- "to cut, to shatter."

δακετ

daket

does, acts. Related to Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- "to place, to put."

δοκετ

doket

does, acts. Variant of δακετ (daket).

εδαις / edaes

edais / edaes

dedicated, placed, set. Attested in the Midas inscription. Related to the root *dʰeh₁- "to place, to put."

ειτου

eitou

let him go, let it be. Related to Proto-Indo-European *h₁ey- "to go."

εσταες

estaes

set up, stood. Third person singular aorist/perfect form. Related to Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- "to stand, to set up."

Nouns

ακαλα

akala

water. An alternative Phrygian word recorded for the meaning "water."

αναρ

anar

man, husband. From Proto-Indo-European *h₂nḗr. Cognate with Ancient Greek ἀνήρ.

βέδυ

bedu

water; also glossed as "river." Most likely a single lexeme meaning "water," with "river" as a natural contextual extension (a body of water). Related to the Indo-European root *wed- "water, liquid."

βέκος

bekos

bread. The famous Phrygian word bekos. The older etymology from "to bake" is disputed.

βράτερε

bratere

to the brother. Dative singular. From Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr "brother." Cognate with Greek φράτηρ and Latin frāter.

δεως

deōs

god / gods, and in certain analyses "to the gods." Cognate with Greek θεός.

ζεμελως

zemelōs

human, humans; more specifically attested as dative plural. Related to the Indo-European root *dʰǵʰem- "earth."

θρι

thri

three. Cognate with Greek τρία and Proto-Indo-European *tréyes.

κναις

knais

woman, wife. Nominative singular.

κναικαν

knaikan

woman, wife. Accusative singular. Compare with Ancient Greek γυναῖκα.

λαϝαγτης / lavagtaei

lawagtēs / lavagtaei

leader of the people, chief. Attested in the Midas inscription. Morphologically compared with Greek λαο- and ἄγω as to its components.

ματαρ

matar

mother. From Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr. Cognate with Greek μήτηρ, Latin māter, and English mother.

μεκας

mekas

great, big. From Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s. Cognate with Greek μέγας.

μροτις

mrotis

death / dead. Related to the Indo-European root *mer- "to die."

νώρικον

nōrikon

skin. The form is recorded as a Phrygian entry with the meaning "skin."

όνομαν

onoman

name. Accusative singular. From Proto-Indo-European *h₁nómn̥. Cognate with Greek ὄνομα and Latin nōmen.

ορουαν

orouan

guardian, protector. The interpretation of the word is considered less certain than the basic lexical attestations.

πατερης

pateres

fathers. Nominative plural. From Proto-Indo-European *ph₂tḗr. Cognate with Greek πατήρ and Latin pater.

πινκε

pinke

five. From Proto-Indo-European *pénkʷe. Cognate with Greek πέντε, Latin quinque, and English five.

ϝανακτει / vanaktei

wanaktei / vanaktei

to the ruler, to the king. Dative. Compared with Greek ἄναξ and Mycenaean wa-na-ka.

Pronouns and small words

αβ-

ab-

near, toward. The form is recorded with the meaning "near" and is probably related to a prepositional formation.

αυτος

autos

he, the same. Directly compared with Greek αὐτός.

ετι

eti

and, also, still. Occurs as a connective/adverbial element.

ιος

ios

whoever, the one who.

κε

ke

and. Compared with Greek καί.

κιν

kin

whom, who. Attested as accusative.

με

me

not, no. Negative particle.

νι

ni

that, which, the one who.

σεμου

semou

this, that. Variant of σεμουν (semoun).

σεμουν

semoun

this, that.

Adjectives

βαγο-

bago-

good / favorable, according to one lexicographic interpretation. The form is also connected with religious vocabulary and bago- "god." The meaning depends on the specific context.

ευ- / εϝ-

eu- / ew-

good. The form is recorded in the Phrygian tradition with the meaning "good."

κακο-

kako-

bad, evil. Compared with Greek κακός.

μεκας

mekas

great, big. From *méǵh₂s.

ϝασο

waso

good. The meaning is recorded in the Phrygian Swadesh list, but the exact etymological analysis is not certain.

Religious vocabulary

βαγο- / bago-

bago-

god, deity. Compared with Old Persian baga- "god" and Slavic bogъ "god."

τι / Ti

ti

to Zeus. Dative variant.

τιαν / Tian

tian

Zeus. Accusative form of the theonym.

τιβεγια / tiveja

tibegia / tiveja

goddess. The interpretation is less certain than that of the basic theonyms.

τιε / Tie

tie

to Zeus. Dative form.

τιη / Tīē

tiē

to Zeus. Dative variant.

τιος / Tios

tios

of Zeus. The form corresponds to the Phrygian theonym cognate with Greek Ζεύς / Διός.

Words with uncertain or debated meaning

βαγο- / bago-

bago-

god or good/favorable, depending on the context and analysis.

ορουαν / orouan

orouan

guardian, protector; possible interpretation.

τεαμας / teamas

teamas

tomb, monument; possible interpretation.

ϝασο / waso

waso

good; the interpretation is recorded, but the etymology is uncertain.