Where does “ян” come from?

ян (Nogai) comes from Persian جان, from Middle Persian yʾn', from Proto-Iranian *wyaHnáH, from Proto-Indo-Iranian wyaHnás, from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁‑ — to breathe.

ян (Nogai): side

Definitions

  1. side

Ancestry of “ян”, step by step

ян traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Persian جان

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Persianجانsoul; being; life
2Middle Persianyʾn'
3Proto-Iranian*wyaHnáH
4Proto-Indo-IranianwyaHnás
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enh₁‑to breathe

via Proto-Turkic yān

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Turkicyānside
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁‑Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian wyaHnásEvery word from Proto-Iranian *wyaHnáH