Where does “зло” come from?

зло (Ukrainian) comes from Ukrainian злий, from Proto-Slavic zъlъ, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *źulas, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰwel- — to bend; to lie, deceive.

зло (Ukrainian): evil

Definitions

  1. evil

Ancestry of “зло”, step by step

зло traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Ukrainian злий

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ukrainianзлийbad, evil
2Proto-Slaviczъlъbad
3Proto-Balto-Slavic*źulas—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰwel-to bend; to lie, deceive

via Old East Slavic зъло

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old East Slavicзъло—
2Proto-Slavic*zъloevil

Words derived from “зло”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰwel- →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic *źulas →Every word from Proto-Slavic zъlъ →