씨앗

Etymology

First attested in the Dongmun yuhae (同文類解 / 동문유해), 1748, as Early Modern Korean 씨앗.

The first syllable is likely related to 씨 (ssi, “seed, kernel”).

Dialectal forms such as 시갓 (sigat) and 씨갓 (ssigat) show that this word may be a compound consisting of 씨 (ssi, “seed, kernel”) + a cranberry morpheme 갓 (gat). If this is the case, the standard Korean term must have undergone lenition from /k/ -> */ɣ/ -> /Ø/ after /i/. Compare a similar development in 벌레 (beolle) and dialectal 벌게 (beolge), 벌거지 (beolgeoji), 벌기 (beolgi).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɕ͈ia̠t̚]
• Phonetic hangul: [씨앋]

Noun

씨앗 • (ssiat)

1. seed, grain