Where does “mahalaga” come from?

mahalaga (Bikol Central) comes from Bikol Central halaga, from Malay harga, from Sanskrit अर्घ, from Proto-Indo-Iranian Hargʰás, from Proto-Indo-European h₂elgʷʰ-ós, from Proto-Indo-European h₂elgʷʰ- — to be worth; value; gain; to cost, have value.

Ancestry of “mahalaga”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Bikol Centralhalaga—
2Malayhargaprice; price, value; personal honor
3Sanskritअर्घworth, value, price
4Proto-Indo-IranianHargʰásprice, worth, value
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂elgʷʰ-ós—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂elgʷʰ-to be worth; value; gain; to cost, have value
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂elgʷʰ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂elgʷʰ-ós →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian Hargʰás →