Where does “slave” come from?

slave (Middle High German) comes 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, from Proto-Indo-European ḱlew- — to cover; to incline.

Ancestry of “slave”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Medieval LatinsclavusSlav, slave; slave
2Ancient GreekΣκλάβοςSlav
3Ancient GreekΣκλαβηνόςSlavic
4Proto-SlavicslověninъSlav
5Proto-Slavicslovoword
6Proto-Balto-Slavicślawas—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱléwosfame
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlew-to hear
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “slave”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱlew- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱléwos →