E 0998          (TO)  WHINE

The verb " to whine " is of Germanic origin .

H 0794             ן נ ו ק , ן י ק

Concept of root : whining

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

; ן י * ק

ן נ ו ק

*qin;

qonen

to lament

to lament

Related English words

to whine

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

; י ן * ק

ן נ ו ק

* qin;

qonen

to lament

q (i) n;

q (o) n

Old English

hwinan

to lament

h w (i) n

English

whine

to whine

wh (i) n

Greek

κινυρομαι

kinüromai

to lament, whine

k (i) n .

 

 

Proto-Semitic *QIN --- *KĪN- Indo-European

 

 

The first idea upon hearing a word like English "to whine" is that of sound-imitation. But if whining describes a sound that is common to perhaps all humanity, each group of languages has its own solution and those solutions are far from identical. Thus the similarity of the solutions remains a valid exercise for the establishment of kinship.

 

In this specific case we refer to the hypothetical Indo-European root "*kwei", that finds its support in Old English "hwinan". This initial K corresponds with the Hebrew Q and the following combination "WI" is in harmony with the Hebrew "O" respectively later "I".

 

Note:
  • Hebrew gives us two different pictures : "qin" and "qon". Usually the form with "I" is newer than that with "O". The confirmation of the form "qin" is given by a word " ק י נ ה , qinà" that stands for "lamentation".

 

Note:
  • Greek "kinüromai" is a long word, but the basic root is only as indicated in the table. The revealing thing is that it tallies with the Hebrew root of this entry. Interesting is that the Greeks called with the name "kinüra" also some kinds of Asian music they apparently found having whining sounds. That view refers in fact to a frequent impression of Westerners.

     

    This same noun "kinüra" also means "citter", like Biblical Hebrew "kinnor", but a citter certainly is not an instrument with a wailing or whining sound. As to that it is certain that "kinnor" and "kinüra" are of common origin, but it is hard to say if, when and where loaning has taken place. In modern Hebrew a "kinnor" is a violin, and that is something quite different from a citter.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Germanic. English "to whine" has sisterwords in German "weinen" and Dutch "wenen" that has shifted more towards "to weep", though "wenen", together with a composed verb "bewenen" in Dutch still says as well "to bewail". These verbs are not, as many think, derivations from a word "wee" or in German "Wehe" that says "pain". Pain may be a reason for whining, but the etymology lies in the definition of the action, not in one of its many possible causes. It is probable Proto-Germanic had a form beginning with "HW-", a vowel " I " and a second consonant "-N-": "*HW Ī N-".

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. A root "Q Y N" is used in Hebrew also to express the concept of "to fit together, fabricate, forge" and Arabic has "qayn = craftsman" . Further such a root may indicate "singing" and also a "spear". And naturally the funeral lament or elegy of this entry.

     

    No information from other Semitic languages helps us to confirm the use mentioned in the table, but if the funeral lament was accompanied by singing and the use of instruments, the use of this root "*ק י נ , Q Y N" becomes convincing for Proto-Semitic.

 

Note:
  • Indo-European. The proposed Indo-European form "*KW E I -" is uncertain. The presence of an initial " H " before a "" W " in older Germanic languages does not mean that Indo-European had a similar beginning. But an initial " K " can very well correspond with a Germanic "HW-" or " W-" . Thus, and seeing a similar form "KIN" in Greek, an Indo-European "*K Ī N-" can be hypothesized.

 

 

 

 

 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 24/11/2012 at 17.15.08