Where does “tja” come from?

tja (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Norwegian Nynorsk ja, from Old Norse já, from Proto-Germanic ja, from Proto-Indo-European yē — already.

tja (Norwegian Nynorsk): used to express uncertainty; hm; well; compare...

Definitions

  1. used to express uncertainty; hm; well; compare...

Ancestry of “tja”, step by step

tja traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Norwegian Nynorsk ja

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorskjayes
2Old Norsejáyes
3Proto-Germanicjayes; thus, so
4Proto-Indo-Europeanyēalready

via Old Norse tjá

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsetjá—
2Proto-Germanictīhanąto show, point out; to blame, accuse
3Proto-Indo-Europeandeyḱ-to point out
Every word from Proto-Indo-European yē →Every word from Proto-Germanic ja →Every word from Old Norse já →