The Gothic word for "mother"

joe changingmoon at YAHOO.COM
Tue Aug 5 16:29:28 UTC 2008


I have a question about the Gothic word for "mother", "aithei". The 
general Indo-European pattern for "mother" is 
m + vowel +T + vowel +/-r, where T = [t], [d], voiced [th], or voicless 
[th]. This pattern is shown, for example in Latin "mater', and 
German "Mutter". The Gothic word "aithei" does not conform to the 
general Indo-European pattern, nor does it conform to the Germanic 
patter (exemplified by "Mutter"). Could anyone explain this? Did the 
m + vowel + T + vowel +/-r undergo a change to produce "aithei"? Was 
the Gothic word botrrowed from some other language? 

Thank you.

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