Etymology Explorer › Old East Slavic

Where does “робъ” come from?

робъ (Old East Slavic) comes from Proto-Slavic orbъ, from Proto-Indo-European h₃órbʰos, from Proto-Indo-European h₃erbʰ- — to change allegiance, status, ownership;...

робъ (Old East Slavic): serf; slave

Definitions

  1. serf; slave

Ancestry of “робъ”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Slavicorbъservant, slave
2Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃órbʰosorphan; servant, slave, worker
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃erbʰ-to change allegiance, status, ownership;...

Words derived from “робъ”

  • парубок
  • ребёнок
  • парубок
  • робя
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃erbʰ- →