Where does “малак” come from?
малак (Bulgarian) comes from Ottoman Turkish معلق, from Greek μαλακός, from Ancient Greek μαλακός, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.
Ancestry of “малак”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Ottoman Turkish | معلق | — |
| 2 | Greek | μαλακός | soft; meek, compliant; gentle, mild, mild... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | μαλακός | soft, tender; gentle; soft, mild, gentle |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |