Where does “چای” come from?

چای (Urdu) comes from Persian چای, from Hindi चाय, from Middle Chinese 茶, from Chinese 茶, from Proto-Loloish la¹, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan s-la — leaf; tea; flat object.

چای (Urdu): tea; cha; chai

Definitions

tea; cha; chai

Ancestry of “چای”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Persian	چای	tea
2	Hindi	चाय	tea; cup of tea
3	Middle Chinese	茶	—
4	Chinese	茶	tea
5	Proto-Loloish	la¹	tea
6	Proto-Sino-Tibetan	s-la	leaf; tea; flat object

Every word from Proto-Sino-Tibetan s-la →Every word from Proto-Loloish la¹ →Every word from Chinese 茶 →