Where does “рак” come from?
рак (Macedonian) comes from Proto-Slavic rakъ, from Proto-Balto-Slavic rṓˀkas, from Proto-Indo-European wreh₃kʷos — looking backwards.
рак (Macedonian): crab; cancer; Cancer
Ancestry of “рак”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-Slavic | rakъ | crayfish |
| 2 | Proto-Balto-Slavic | rṓˀkas | — |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | wreh₃kʷos | looking backwards |