Where does “об” come from?

об (Russian) comes from Russian у́м, from Old East Slavic умъ, from Proto-Slavic umъ, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ew-m-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ew- — to enjoy; to consume; to perceive, see, to be...

об (Russian): about, of, on; against, upon

Definitions

  1. about, of, on; against, upon

Ancestry of “об”, step by step

об traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Russian у́м

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianу́мmind
2Old East Slavicумъmind, intellect
3Proto-Slavicumъmind
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ew-m-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ew-to enjoy; to consume; to perceive, see, to be...

via Proto-Slavic o(b)

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Slavico(b)around, about; concerning; against, on
2Proto-Balto-Slavicab—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ebʰi—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ew- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ew-m- →Every word from Proto-Slavic umъ →