Where does “zagonetka” come from?

zagonetka (Serbo-Croatian) comes from Serbo-Croatian zagonétati, from Serbo-Croatian za, from Proto-Slavic za — behind, after (stationary).

zagonetka (Serbo-Croatian): riddle, puzzle

Definitions

  1. riddle, puzzle

Ancestry of “zagonetka”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Serbo-Croatianzagonétatito pose a riddle
2Serbo-Croatianzafor; behind, in back of, at; during
3Proto-Slaviczabehind, after (stationary)
Every word from Proto-Slavic za →Every word from Serbo-Croatian za →Every word from Serbo-Croatian zagonétati →
zagonetka — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer