Etymology Explorer › Russian

Where does “жёлтый” come from?

жёлтый (Russian) comes from Old East Slavic жьлтъ, from Proto-Slavic žьltъ, from Proto-Balto-Slavic gilˀtas, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰelh₃- — to flourish; green, yellow.

жёлтый (Russian): yellow

Definitions

  1. yellow

Ancestry of “жёлтый”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old East Slavicжьлтъ—
2Proto-Slavicžьltъyellow
3Proto-Balto-Slavicgilˀtas—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰelh₃-to flourish; green, yellow

Words derived from “жёлтый”

  • желтеть
  • желтоватый
  • желтогрудый
  • желток
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰelh₃- →