Proto-Indo-European:
* *māter: This is the reconstructed form of the word in Proto-Indo-European, which means "mother." It's a very old word, dating back to at least 4,500 years.
Indo-European Languages:
* Latin: *mater: This word evolved directly from the Proto-Indo-European root and is the source of many Romance languages' words for "mother."
* Greek: *mētēr: Also derived from the Proto-Indo-European root, it influenced words in Greek and other branches of the Indo-European family.
English:
* Old English: *mōdor: This word came to English from Old Germanic languages, which themselves derived it from the Proto-Indo-European *māter.
* Modern English: "mother": This form evolved over time from the Old English word.
Other Languages:
The word "mother" has cognates (words with a common origin) in many other languages, demonstrating its ancient and widespread use:
* German: *Mutter
* **French: *mère*
* **Spanish: *madre*
* **Italian: *madre*
* **Russian: *мать (mat')*
* **Hindi: *माँ (maa)*
* **Sanskrit: *माता (māta)*
Significance:
The word "mother" has long held a central place in human language and culture, reflecting the importance of mothers in family and society. Its deep roots in Proto-Indo-European suggest that the concept of "mother" has been fundamental to human thought and social organization for millennia.