Where does “جَان” come from?

جَان (Classical Persian) comes from Middle Persian 𐫃𐫏𐫀𐫗, from Proto-Iranian *wyaHnáH, from Proto-Indo-Iranian wyaHnás, from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁‑ — to breathe.

Ancestry of “جَان”, step by step

جَان traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle Persian 𐫃𐫏𐫀𐫗

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Persian𐫃𐫏𐫀𐫗
2Proto-Iranian*wyaHnáH
3Proto-Indo-IranianwyaHnás
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enh₁‑to breathe

via Arabic سلطان

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Arabicسلطانpower, strength; rule, dominion; authority
2Aramaicשׁוּלְטָנָא

Words derived from “جَان

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁‑Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian wyaHnásEvery word from Proto-Iranian *wyaHnáH