Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Slavi” come from?

Slavi (English) comes from Latin Sclavī, from Medieval Latin sclavus, from Ancient Greek Σκλάβος, from Ancient Greek Σκλαβηνός, from Proto-Slavic slověninъ, from Proto-Slavic slovo, from Proto-Balto-Slavic ślawas, from Proto-Indo-European ḱléwos — to cover; to incline.

Slavi (English): plural of Slav

Definitions

  1. plural of Slav

Ancestry of “Slavi”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatinSclavī—
2Medieval LatinsclavusSlav, slave; slave
3Ancient GreekΣκλάβοςSlav
4Ancient GreekΣκλαβηνός—
5Proto-SlavicslověninъSlav
6Proto-Slavicslovoword
7Proto-Balto-Slavicślawas—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱléwosfame
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlew-to hear
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →