Etymology The Russian word is inherited from the Proto-Slavic word *duma which is of disputed origin. Its origin has many proposed theories that provide convincing evidence to support each proposed origin. Mladenov, Stender-Petersen: From Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“to smoke”), akin to Proto-Slavic *duti (“to blow, to inflate”), *dymъ (“smoke”), perhaps originally meaning “breath, spirit”. Compare Ancient Greek θῡμός (thūmós, “soul, emotion”), occasionally also “thought, mind”. Vaillant: Contracted from hypothetical *douma < *do- + *umъ (“mind”) + *-a. Compare *douměti (“to comprehend”) (whence Russian надоу́мить (nadoúmitʹ, “to advise”)). Machek: From an inversion of root *mewHdʰ-, otherwise yielding Proto-Slavic *myslь (“thought”), Ancient Greek μῦθος (mûthos, “word, fable”). Also thought to be derived from Proto-Germanic *dōmaz. The word is also related to the Russian verb dumat′ (думать) meaning "to think".
etymology the russian word is inherited from the proto-slavic word *duma which is of disputed origin its origin has many proposed theories that provide convincing evidence to support each proposed origin mladenov stender-petersen from proto-indo-european *dʰewh₂- (“to smoke”) akin to proto-slavic *duti (“to blow to inflate”) *dymъ (“smoke”) perhaps originally meaning “breath spirit” compare ancient greek θῡμός (thūmós “soul emotion”) occasionally also “thought mind” vaillant contracted from hypothetical *douma < *do- + *umъ (“mind”) + *-a compare *douměti (“to comprehend”) (whence russian надоу́мить (nadoúmitʹ “to advise”)) machek from an inversion of root *mewhdʰ- otherwise yielding proto-slavic *myslь (“thought”) ancient greek μῦθος (mûthos “word fable”) also thought to be derived from proto-germanic *dōmaz the word is also related to the russian verb dumat′ (думать) meaning "to think"