Etymograph > Indo-European > Old English > Rules > oe-r-metathesis

Source: Ringe 2014:340

rVC > Vr if next sound is short vowel and second next sound is geminate consonant

Examples

FromToGlossStepsExpected
PNWGmc *hrussąhorshorsehrussą > hross > hors
PGmc *brannjan-bærnanmake burnbrannjan- > brænnjan > bærnjan > bærnan
PGmc *brannijanąbærnanmake burnbrannijaną > brænnjan > bærnjan > bærnan
PGmc *brinnan-birnanburnbrinnan- > birnan

rV > Vr if next sound is short vowel

Examples

FromToGlossStepsExpected
PGmc *baruga-beargbarrowbaruga- > barug > baurgbaurg
PGmc *brestan-berstanbreak, burstbrestan- > berstan
PGmc *fruska-forscfrogfruska- > frosk > forsc
PGmc *frusta-forstfrostfrusta- > frost > forst
PGmc *grasa-gærsgrassgrasa- > græs > gærs

Generated by yole/etymograph on Mon Oct 27 2025