Where does “же” come from?

же (Russian) comes from Proto-Slavic že, from Proto-Balto-Slavic ge, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰe — Postpositional intensifying particle: indeed, at any rate, in fact.

же (Russian): and, but; on the other hand, whereas, as for, as...

Definitions

and, but; on the other hand, whereas, as for, as...

Ancestry of “же”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Proto-Slavic	že	so that, since; "emphatic enclitic"
2	Proto-Balto-Slavic	ge	—
3	Proto-Indo-European	ǵʰe	Postpositional intensifying particle: indeed, at any rate, in fact

Words derived from “же”

а как же
лийже
такоже
zhe
že

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰe →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic ge →Every word from Proto-Slavic že →