lima (Tagalog)

Where does "lima" come from?

The Tagalog word 'lima,' meaning five, descends directly from the Proto-Philippine, Proto-Malayo-Polynesian, and eventually the ancient Proto-Austronesian word '*lima.' This term serves as a foundational linguistic link connecting numerous Austronesian languages, including Maori, Tongan, and Malagasy, illustrating their shared ancestral vocabulary.

Full etymology tree

• lima (Tagalog), 'five'
  • inherited *lima (Proto-Philippine), 'five'
    • inherited *lima (Proto-Malayo-Polynesian), 'five'
      • inherited *lima (Proto-Austronesian), 'five'

Ancestors

• *lima (Proto-Philippine)
• *lima (Proto-Malayo-Polynesian)
• *lima (Proto-Austronesian)

Cognates and doublets

• zima' (Atayal)
• rima (Kanakanabu)
• lema (Madurese)
• dimy (Malagasy)
• rima (Maori)
• limo (Minangkabau)
• rima (Rapa Nui)
• rima (Thao)
• limo (Tiruray)
• nima (Tongan)
• ลีมา (Urak Lawoi')

Descendants and derived words

• animnapu't lima (Tagalog)
• apatnapu't lima (Tagalog)
• ikalabinlima (Tagalog)
• ikalabinlima (Tagalog)
• ikalima (Tagalog)
• ikalima (Tagalog)
• kalima (Tagalog)
• labinlima (Tagalog)
• limampu (Tagalog)
• limang daan (Tagalog)
• limang haligi (Tagalog)
• limanlaksa (Tagalog)

Updated July 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris