Etymology Explorer › Russian

Where does “бедняга” come from?

бедняга (Russian) comes from Russian бе́дный, from Proto-Slavic bědьnъ, from Proto-Slavic běda, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeydʰ- — to compel, force; to trust.

бедняга (Russian): poor fellow, poor devil, wretch

Definitions

  1. poor fellow, poor devil, wretch

Ancestry of “бедняга”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianбе́дныйpoor
2Proto-Slavicbědьnъpoor, wretched
3Proto-Slavicbědatrouble, misery, misfortune; adversity, calamity;...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeydʰ-to compel, force; to trust
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeydʰ- →