Slovaks

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of people belonging to a Slavic ethnic community primarily residing in central Europe ; citizens or natives of a central European country ; speakers of a specific West Slavic language
2. Individuals identified with a particular Slavic nation in central Europe ; people holding citizenship of a designated European state ; members of a group distinguished by use of a certain native tongue
3. Members of a central European ethnic population with shared Slavic heritage ; inhabitants or nationals of a country in central Europe ; persons who communicate using a particular Slavic language

Etymology: "Slovaks" is the plural of "Slovak," and it is a case where the word's root is the people's own name for themselves rather than a label from outsiders. The singular "Slovak" comes from Slovak "Slovák," a shortening of the Proto-Slavic word "slověninъ," meaning "Slav," with the suffix "-ák" added. In other words, the name is essentially "Slav" in a local form, which ties Slovaks directly to the wider Slavic peoples. The word is closely related to "Slovene," the name of the people and language of neighbouring Slovenia. Both names descend from the same ancient Slavic root, so the two peoples share a linguistic ancestor in their names, even though they became separate nations with distinct languages.

Synonyms: Slovak people