Yao (South America)

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Etymology

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From Proto-Cariban *wôrɨti; compare Apalaí (w)oryxi, Kari'na woryi, Trió wëri, Wayana wëlïi, Akawaio wuri, Macushi wîri, Pemon wörü, Ye'kwana wodi.

Noun

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waryee

  1. sister

Usage notes

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Kinship terminology in Cariban languages functions very differently from that in Indo-European languages. For this reason, it is unclear if the recorded meaning of this word ‘sister’ accurately reflects the meaning in the original language.

Further reading

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  • de Laet, Johannes (1633) Novus orbis seu descriptionis Indiæ occidentalis, Libri XVIII, page 643