Where does “воля” come from?

воля (Belarusian) comes from Ukrainian воля, from Old East Slavic волꙗ, from Proto-Slavic *voľà, from Proto-Balto-Slavic wáljāˀ, from Proto-Indo-European welh₁- — to choose; to want.

воля (Belarusian): will, willpower

Definitions

  1. will, willpower

Ancestry of “воля”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ukrainianволяwill; freedom, liberty
2Old East Slavicволꙗ—
3Proto-Slavic*voľàwill
4Proto-Balto-Slavicwáljāˀwill
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwelh₁-to choose; to want
Every word from Proto-Indo-European welh₁- →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic wáljāˀ →Every word from Proto-Slavic *voľà →