mit (Tocharian B)
Where does "mit" come from?
The Tocharian B word 'mit', meaning honey, descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *médʰu, which also gave us the word 'mead'. This ancient term for sweetness likely traveled across linguistic borders, potentially even influencing the Old Chinese word 'mì' for honey. It stands as a fascinating linguistic bridge connecting ancient Indo-European roots to broader East Asian vocabulary.
Full etymology tree
- mit (Tocharian B), 'honey'
- inherited *ḿət(ə) (Proto-Tocharian)
- inherited *médʰu (Proto-Indo-European), 'honey'
- borrowed *miʒʒV (Proto-Northeast Caucasian)
- borrowed *matḳ- (Proto-Semitic), 'sweetness'
- borrowed *miʒʒV (Proto-Northeast Caucasian)
- inherited *médʰu (Proto-Indo-European), 'honey'
- inherited *ḿət(ə) (Proto-Tocharian)
Ancestors
- *médʰu (Proto-Indo-European)
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris