おっぱい

Etymology
Generally agreed upon as originating from baby talk.

Derivation unclear. Possibilities include:


 * A shift from, as something a baby might say while breastfeeding.
 * While suggestive, the phonetic changes required seem unlikely. Moreover, the pitch accent differs, in that  has a high pitch on the ma followed by a downstep, while  has a high pitch on the initial o followed by a downstep.
 * While suggestive, the phonetic changes required seem unlikely. Moreover, the pitch accent differs, in that  has a high pitch on the ma followed by a downstep, while  has a high pitch on the initial o followed by a downstep.


 * A shift from, as something a baby might say when done breastfeeding, or when asking to do so.
 * This seems more likely, as the phonetics align better: only one vowel changes, and the pitch accent in ippai is similar with a high pitch on the initial i followed by a downstep.
 * This seems more likely, as the phonetics align better: only one vowel changes, and the pitch accent in ippai is similar with a high pitch on the initial i followed by a downstep.

Noun

 * 1)  milk, breastmilk
 * 2)  boobies, titties
 * 1)  boobies, titties
 * 1)  boobies, titties

Descendants

 * Chinese: