Where does “жёнушка” come from?

жёнушка (Russian) comes from Russian жена́, from Old East Slavic жена, from Proto-Slavic žena, from Proto-Balto-Slavic génāˀ, from Proto-Indo-European gʷḗn, from Proto-Indo-European gʷen- — woman.

жёнушка (Russian): wife

Definitions

  1. wife

Ancestry of “жёнушка”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianжена́woman; wife
2Old East Slavicженаwoman, wife
3Proto-Slavicženawoman; wife
4Proto-Balto-Slavicgénāˀwoman
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʷḗnwoman
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʷen-woman
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷen- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷḗn →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic génāˀ →