Taos

Noun

p’ǫ́yna I.2 (duoplural p’ǫ́ynemą, stem p’ǫ́y-)

1. younger brother, younger brother-in-law, half-brother, stepbrother
2. friendly greeting to younger male

Usage notes

When referring to a non-relative younger male, only the possessed form is used as a vocative (direct address). The expected (non-possessed) stem-vocative *p’ǫ́y is never used as a vocative referring to a relative (younger brother, brother-in-law, etc.). The form ȕsú is used instead as the corresponding vocative of relative p’ǫ́yna.