Where does “только” come from?
только (Russian) comes from Old East Slavic толико, from Proto-Slavic toliko, from Proto-Slavic -liko, from Albanian lik, from Proto-Albanian lika, from Proto-Indo-European leikʷ — to leave, to remain.
только (Russian): only, but
Ancestry of “только”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old East Slavic | толико | — |
| 2 | Proto-Slavic | toliko | this much/many; neuter of *tolikъ |
| 3 | Proto-Slavic | -liko | — |
| 4 | Albanian | lik | — |
| 5 | Proto-Albanian | lika | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | leikʷ | to leave, to remain |