slav: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Historical, Ethnic/Ethnographic
Quick answer
What does “slav” mean?
A person who is ethnically or linguistically Slavic.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who is ethnically or linguistically Slavic.
Historically, also refers to a person in a condition of servitude (a slave), deriving from the same root, as many Slavs were enslaved in the medieval period.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling of related words follows regional conventions (e.g., BrE 'Slavonic', AmE 'Slavic' is more common).
Connotations
Neutral in academic/ethnic contexts. The historical link to 'slave' is equally known in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, appearing primarily in historical, linguistic, or political-geographical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “slav” in a Sentence
[be] + a Slav[identify as] + a Slav[of] + Slav descent/originVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slav” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Slav peoples have a rich folklore tradition.
- He studied Slav linguistics at university.
American English
- The Slavic peoples have a rich folklore tradition.
- He studied Slavic linguistics at university.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific regional market analysis.
Academic
Common in history, linguistics, anthropology, and political science discussing ethnic groups of Central and Eastern Europe.
Everyday
Very rare. More likely in discussions of heritage, history, or geography.
Technical
Used in ethnography, historical demography, and philology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “slav”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “slav”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slav”
- Incorrectly capitalizing in all contexts (e.g., 'the slav nations') or failing to capitalize when referring to the ethnicity (e.g., 'He is a slav').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when referring to the ethnic group (a Slav, the Slavs). The related adjective is usually 'Slavic' (AmE) or 'Slavonic' (BrE).
The English word 'slave' derives from Medieval Latin 'sclavus', as many Slavs were taken as slaves during conflicts in Central Europe. They became so synonymous with servitude that their ethnic name gave rise to the general term.
Not inherently. It is a standard ethnonym. However, like any ethnic label, its acceptability depends on context and intent. Using it respectfully in factual contexts is fine; using it as a crude identifier might not be.
'Slav' is the noun for a person. 'Slavic' (preferred in AmE) and 'Slavonic' (more traditional in BrE, especially for languages) are adjectives. 'Slavonic' can also refer more specifically to the Old Church Slavonic language.
A person who is ethnically or linguistically Slavic.
Slav is usually formal, historical, ethnic/ethnographic in register.
Slav: in British English it is pronounced /slɑːv/, and in American English it is pronounced /slɑːv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SLAVic' – remove the '-ic' to get the core noun for a person.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A. The word is a concrete ethnonym.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'Slav' most appropriately used?