Where does “kdyby” come from?

kdyby (Czech) comes from Old Czech kdyby, from Old Czech by, from Proto-Slavic *by.

kdyby (Czech): Denotes desire or wish; if only; had better

Definitions

  1. Denotes desire or wish; if only; had better

Ancestry of “kdyby”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old CzechkdybyDenotes desire or wish; if only; had better
2Old CzechbyIntroduces a clause two which the speaker has reservations or uncertainty
3Proto-Slavic*by—
Every word from Proto-Slavic *by →Every word from Old Czech by →Every word from Old Czech kdyby →