Centum and satem languages

Languages of the Indo-European family are classified as either centum languages or satem languages, according to how the dorsal consonants (sounds of "K" and "G" type) of the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European language (PIE) developed. An example of the different developments is provided by the words for "hundred" found in the early attested IE languages: in centum languages these typically began with a /k/ sound (Latin centum was pronounced with initial /k/), while in satem languages they often began with /s/ (the example satem comes from the Avestan language of Zoroastrian scripture).

The table below shows the traditional reconstruction of the PIE dorsal consonants, with three series (according to some more recent theories there may actually have been only two series, or three series with different pronunciations than those traditionally ascribed). In the centum languages the palatovelars – which include the initial consonant of the "hundred" root – merged with the plain velars, whereas in the satem languages they remained distinct, while the labiovelars merged with the plain velars.

Centum (disambiguation)

Centum denotes a class within the Indo-European language family, distinguished from the satem languages.

Centum may also refer to:

See also