Where does “џан” come from?

џан (Serbo-Croatian) comes from Ottoman Turkish جان, from Old Anatolian Turkish جان, from Persian جان, from Middle Persian yʾn', from Proto-Iranian *wyaHnáH, from Proto-Indo-Iranian wyaHnás, from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁‑ — to breathe.

џан (Serbo-Croatian): dear, darling

Definitions

  1. dear, darling

Ancestry of “џан”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ottoman Turkishجانsoul; being; life
2Old Anatolian Turkishجانsoul, spirit
3Persianجانsoul; being; life
4Middle Persianyʾn'—
5Proto-Iranian*wyaHnáH—
6Proto-Indo-IranianwyaHnás—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enh₁‑to breathe
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁‑ →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian wyaHnás →Every word from Proto-Iranian *wyaHnáH →