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Glite Dictionary
🗣️ With s for k sound 🗣️ Language with s for k
satem

satem

9.9
Describes Indo-European languages where old k sounds became s sounds
  • adjective
  • /ˈsɑːtɛm/
  • Specialized
: satem
  • Lithuanian is considered a satem language that exemplifies the sound change from 'k' to 's'.

Examples

  • Linguists use the term satem to describe certain sound changes in Indo-European languages.

  • Lithuanian is considered a satem language within the Indo-European family.

  • The satem group includes languages like Sanskrit and Persian.

  • The satem languages include Sanskrit and Avestan.

  • Many linguists study satem languages for their unique characteristics.

  • Many languages in the satem group, such as Sanskrit and Avestan, share this phonetic feature.

  • Linguists classify certain Indo-European languages as satem due to their unique pronunciation patterns.

Surface Forms

satem positive

Etymology

Satem comes from an old Iranian word satəm meaning 'hundred'. The name was chosen because in these languages an old 'k' sound changed to an 's' sound, so the word for 'hundred' begins with 's' — that's why we call them satem languages.