From Proto-Japonic *sawo (“pole”).
*sao
- pole
- Northern Ryukyuan:
- Kikai: 竿, 棹, 桿 (sō)
- Kunigami: 竿, 棹, 桿 (sō)
- Northern Amami Ōshima: 竿, 棹, 桿 (sō)
- Okinawan: 竿, 棹, 桿 (sō)
- Okinoerabu: 竿, 棹, 桿 (sō)
- Southern Amami Ōshima: 竿, 棹, 桿 (so, sō)
- Tokunoshima: 竿, 棹, 桿 (sau)
- Yoron: 竿, 棹, 桿 (sō)
- Southern Ryukyuan:
- Miyako: 竿, 棹, 桿 (sau, sō)
- Yaeyama: 竿, 棹, 桿 (sō)
- Yonaguni: 竿, 棹, 桿 (sū)
- Thorpe, Maner Lawton (1983) Ryūkyūan Language History[1], Doctoral dissertation. University of Southern California, page 318