Where does “может быть” come from?

может быть (Russian) comes from Russian быть, from Old East Slavic бꙑти, from Proto-Slavic *byti, from Proto-Balto-Slavic bū́ˀtei, from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH- — to become, grow, appear.

может быть (Russian): maybe, perhaps, possibly

Definitions

  1. maybe, perhaps, possibly

Ancestry of “может быть”, step by step

может быть traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Russian быть

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianбытьto be
2Old East Slavicбꙑтиto be
3Proto-Slavic*byti—
4Proto-Balto-Slavicbū́ˀteito be
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰuH-to become, grow, appear

via Russian мочь

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianмочьcan, be able to; may; power, might
2Proto-Slavicmoťito be able
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmeǵʰ-to be able
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH- →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic bū́ˀtei →Every word from Proto-Slavic *byti →