Where does “Rojava” come from?
Rojava (English) comes from Northern Kurdish rojava, from Northern Kurdish roj, from Proto-Iranian ráwčah, from Proto-Indo-Iranian ráwčas, from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European lewk- — bright; to shine; to see.
Ancestry of “Rojava”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Northern Kurdish | rojava | west , direction in which the sun sets; occident |
| 2 | Northern Kurdish | roj | Sun; day |
| 3 | Proto-Iranian | ráwčah | light; day |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | ráwčas | day; light |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | lewḱ- | lynx |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lewk- | bright; to shine; to see |