Where does “серна” come from?
серна (Russian) comes from Old East Slavic сьрна, from Proto-Slavic sьrna, from Proto-Balto-Slavic śírˀnāˀ, from Proto-Indo-European ḱr̥h₂-néh₂, from Proto-Indo-European ḱerh₂- — head, top; horn.
серна (Russian): chamois, gemsa
Ancestry of “серна”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old East Slavic | сьрна | — |
| 2 | Proto-Slavic | sьrna | roe; chamois |
| 3 | Proto-Balto-Slavic | śírˀnāˀ | horn |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱr̥h₂-néh₂ | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱerh₂- | head, top; horn |