Where does “zato” come from?

zato (Serbo-Croatian) comes from Serbo-Croatian taj, from Proto-Slavic jь, from Proto-Balto-Slavic iś, from Old Polish ić, from Proto-Slavic jьti, from Proto-Balto-Slavic eitei, from Proto-Indo-European h₁éyti, from Proto-Indo-European h₁ey- — to go.

zato (Serbo-Croatian): so, therefore, for that/this reason, ergo

Definitions

  1. so, therefore, for that/this reason, ergo

Ancestry of “zato”, step by step

zato traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Serbo-Croatian taj

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Serbo-Croatiantajthat (one), the aforementioned (one)
2Proto-Slavicjьthis; he
3Proto-Balto-Slaviciśthis
4Old Polishićto go
5Proto-Slavicjьtito go
6Proto-Balto-Slaviceiteito go
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁éytito go, to be going
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ey-to go

via Serbo-Croatian za

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Serbo-Croatianzafor; behind, in back of, at; during
2Proto-Slaviczabehind, after (stationary)
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁ey- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁éyti →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic eitei →