Hungarian Historical Phonology ifjú

i-

in

ifjú 'jung, Jüngling'

First attestation/Old Hungarian data

[coming]

Important dialectal forms

[coming]

Uralic/Ugric/Pre-Hungarian reconstruction

(Disputed:)

UEW: ? *äjɜ ‘little, small, young; klein, jung‘

Status of the Ugric etymology

Improbable

Loan etymology

None suggested

Cognates suggested in earlier research

UEW:

Khanty: East (V) äj 'klein, niedrig, eng', South (DN) ȧj 'klein, jung, niedrig, unbeträchtlich', North (O) ȧj 'klein, jung' < PKh *ǟj

Commentary

The etymology is considered unlikely by the UEW: as the alleged Hungarian reflex of the Ugric word occurs only in compounds like ifjú, it is difficult to assess the possible connection with Khanty *ǟj. It should be noted also that the different vocalism of the Hungarian dialectal forms (é-, ë, i) makes it almost impossible to determine what should be considered the original. Khanty *ǟ points to Proto-Ugric *ä, but this does not fit any of the Hungarian forms regularly. It is possible that the resemblance of the Hungarian and Khanty words is only accidental.

Conclusion

[coming]

References

UEW: ? PUg Uralonet