Where does “či” come from?

či (Slovak) comes from Slovak že, from Proto-Slavic že, from Proto-Balto-Slavic ge, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰe — Postpositional intensifying particle: indeed, at any rate, in fact.

či (Slovak): if, whether

Definitions

  1. if, whether

Ancestry of “či”, step by step

či traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Slovak že

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Slovakžethat; right; isn't it, aren't we, can we, don't...
2Proto-Slavicžeso that, since; "emphatic enclitic"
3Proto-Balto-Slavicge—
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanǵʰePostpositional intensifying particle: indeed, at any rate, in fact

via Proto-Slavic či

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Slavicčiif, whether; or
2Proto-Indo-European*kʷís—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰe →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic ge →Every word from Proto-Slavic že →