Where does “Slavia” come from?
Slavia (English) comes from English Slavs, from English Slav, from Middle English sclave, from French esclave, from Medieval Latin sclavus, from Ancient Greek Σκλάβος, from Ancient Greek Σκλαβηνός, from Proto-Slavic slověninъ — to cover; to incline.
Ancestry of “Slavia”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | Slavs | plural of Slav |
| 2 | English | Slav | A member of any of the peoples from Eastern... |
| 3 | Middle English | sclave | — |
| 4 | French | esclave | slave |
| 5 | Medieval Latin | sclavus | Slav, slave; slave |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Σκλάβος | Slav |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | Σκλαβηνός | — |
| 8 | Proto-Slavic | slověninъ | Slav |
| 9 | Proto-Slavic | slovo | word |
| 10 | Proto-Balto-Slavic | ślawas | — |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱléwos | fame |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱlew- | to hear |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱel- | to cover; to incline |