Kunia boi

 https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BCEDQSEsV/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Proto-Slavic ǫ and Polish ą

In Old Polish, the Proto-Slavic ǫ became ą.

Polish is one of the few Slavic languages that preserve nasal sounds like ą and ę.

OCS and Proto-Slavic nasal spelling examples

The sound ǫ and ą is pronounced like a very open “on” sound, very similar to French numeral one: un or bon.

Interslavic decided to reflect the spelling used in Proto-Slavic and Old Church Slavonic, which used Cyrillic ѫ and Latin ǫ.

Nasal vowels across Slavic languages and stages

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸	Interslavic ❊	OCS ☦️ Latin / Cyrillic	Polski 🇵🇱	Русский 🇷🇺	BCMS 🇷🇸🇭🇷🇧🇦🇲🇪	Українська 🇺🇦
dog	pus	pǫsъ / пѫсъ	pies	пёс	–	піс
sun	sunce	slъncě / слънць	słońce	солнце	–	сонце
nine	devet	desębъ / десѧтъ	dziewięć	девять	–	дев'ять
heart	srce	sьrdьcě / срьдць	serce	сердце	–	серце
I am (1st person)	je	ę / ѧ	–	–	–	–
to be (future)	budę	bǫdǫ / бѫдѫ	będę	буду	–	буду
oak tree	dab	dǫbъ / дѫбъ	dąb	–	–	–
foot sole	pęta	pьtǫga / пьтѫга	pięta	–	–	–
beautiful (fem. adj.)	penkna	pěnъ / пѣнъ	piękna	–	–	–
to spin (yarn)	pęti	pьnǫ / пьнѫ	piąć	–	–	–
to ask	pętati	pьtati / пьтати	pytać	–	–	–
day (in compounds)	djenje	denь / день	dzień	–	–	–
to carry (verb)	nesti	něsti / нєсти	nieść	–	–	–
to boil (soup)	kųpěti	kǫpěti / кѫпѣти	kieprzyć	–	–	–
to dig	kopati	kopati / копати	kąpać	–	–	–
to knead (dough)	mesiti	měsiti / мѣсити	miesić	–	–	–
to wipe (dry)	myti	myti / мыти	myć	–	–	–
to move (verb)	pustiti	pǫsěti / пѫсѣти	puścić	–	–	–
to build (house)	stąpiti	stabiti / стабити	stać	–	–	–
to search (verb)	tąpiti	topiti / топити	topić	–	–	–
to throw (object)	vuntati	vǫtati / вѫтати	–	вытащить (related)	–	–
to wash (laundry)	věti	věti / вѣти	–	–	–	–

Morana

Ajde Jano

Oi, to ne vecher

DakhaBrakha – “Sho z-pod duba”

Nich yaka misyachna

Oi u luzi chervona kalyna

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸:
Oh, in the meadow, the red viburnum has bent low (2)
The red viburnum came out to the well.

Slavic ❊:
Oj, v lugu červena kalina pohylila sę (2)
Červena kalina vyšla k krynici.

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸:
Oh, it rang out, dreamy and slender, as if on strings (2)
That is not nightingales in the grove on the glade.

Slavic ❊:
Oj, zazvučalo jak drěmlivo i strojno, jak by na strunah (2)
To ne sut́ soloviji v gaju na poljaně.

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸:
Oh, it rang out, dreamy and slender, as if on strings (2)
It is my beloved who again went into the wide steppe.

Slavic ❊:
Oj, zazvučalo jak drěmlivo i strojno, jak by na strunah (2)
To je moj milyj, ktory znovu pojde v široku step.

Comparison Table

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸	Slavic ❊	OCS ☦️ Latin / Cyrillic	Polski 🇵🇱	Русский 🇷🇺	BCMS 🇷🇸🇭🇷🇧🇦🇲🇪	Українська 🇺🇦
oh	oj	oj / ой	oj	ой	oj	ой
in	v	vŭ / въ	w	в	u	у
meadow	lug	lǫgŭ / лѫгъ	łąka	луг	lug	луг
red	červeny	črvenŭ / чръвенъ	czerwony	красный	crven	червоний
viburnum	kalina	kalina / калина	kalina	калина	kalina	калина
to bend (down)	pohyliti sę	nakloniti sę / наклонити сѧ	pochylić się	наклониться	sagnuti se	похилитися
to come out	vyjti	izyti / изыти	wyjść	выйти	izići	вийти
well (water)	krynica	krynica / криница	studnia	колодец	bunar	криниця
to sound, ring out	zazvučati	zazvučati / зазвучати	zabrzmieć	зазвучать	zazvučati	зазвучати
dreamy	drěmlivy	drěmlivŭ / дремливъ	senny	дремотный	snen	дрімливий
slender	strojny	strojenŭ / строєнъ	szczupły	стройный	vitak	стрункий
nightingale	solovij	solovijŭ / соловий	słowik	соловей	slavuj	соловей
grove	gaj	gajŭ / гай	gaj	гай	gaj	гай
glade	poljana	poljana / поляна	polana	поляна	poljana	галявина
my	moj	mojь / мой	mój	мой	moj	мій
beloved	mily	milŭ / милъ	miły	милый	mili	милий
again	znovu	opětŭ / опять	znowu	снова	opet	знову
to go	pjti (iti)	iti / ити	iść	идти	ići	йти
wide	široky	širokŭ / широкъ	szeroki	широкий	širok	широкий
steppe	step	stepĭ / степь	step	степь	step	степ
string	struna	struna / струна	struna	струна	struna	струна

Ой у лузі червона калина похилилася (2) 

Червона калина вийшла на криницю.

(Ой зазвучала мов дрімлива та струнка (2) 

*То не солов'ї у гаї на галявині.)

(Ой зазвучала мов дрімлива та струнка (2) 

*То мій милий знову пішов у широку степову.)

Language & Cultural Meaning

1. Kalyna (калина) A red-berried shrub sacred in Ukrainian folklore, symbolizing beauty and resilience. It is often associated with love (like a red blossom) or blood (a symbol of sacrifice).

2.  Solovi (солов'ї)  Nightingales, representing love songs in Slavic tradition.

3.  Step (степ) The vast Ukrainian plains, often linked to freedom and sorrow in folk songs.

4.  Krynytsia (криниця)  A spring or well, a place where people gather in Slavic tales.

This song is often performed at Ukrainian weddings and celebrations, blending sorrow with hope. The repeated bending of the kalyna (калина) can symbolize both love and farewell.

Tam v Haiu, Pry Dunaiu by Mila Jovovicz

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸
There in the grove, by the Danube, a nightingale is warbling.
He is calling his little bird to their tiny nest.

Slavic ❊
Tam v gaju, pri Dunaju, solověj ščebeta.
On svojų ptičku do gnězdečka klikaje.

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸
There in the grove, by the Danube, the music is playing.
The bass drones, the fiddle weeps, and the fine lad makes merry.

Slavic ❊
Tam v gaju, pri Dunaju, tam muzyka igraje.
Bas gudit, skripka plače, moloděc huljaje.

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸
There in the grove, by the Danube, I walk by myself.
And I cry and I sob, my dearest one, for you.

Slavic ❊
Tam v gaju, pri Dunaju, hodžu samotoju.
I plaču i rydaju, mily-mily, za toboju.

Comparison Table

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸	Interslavic ❊	OCS ☦️ Latin / Cyrillic	Polski 🇵🇱	Русский 🇷🇺	BCMS 🇷🇸🇭🇷🇧🇦🇲🇪	Українська 🇺🇦
there	tam	tamo / тамо	tam	там	tamo	там
in	v	vŭ / въ	w	в	u	в
grove	gaj	gajŭ / гай	gaj	гай	gaj	гай
by, at	pri	pri / при	przy	у, при	pri	при
Danube	Dunaj	Dunajŭ / Дунай	Dunaj	Дунай	Dunav	Дунай
nightingale	solověj	slavijŭ / славий	słowik	соловей	slavuj	соловей
to warble	ščebetati	ščebetati / щебетати	szczebiotać	щебетать	cvrkutati	щебече
he	on	onŭ / онъ	on	он	on	він
own	svoj	svojŭ / своѥ	swój	свой	svoj	свою
bird (dimin.)	ptička	ptica / птица	ptaszek	птичка	ptičica	пташиночку
nest	gnězdečko	gnězdo / гнѣздо	gniazdko	гнёздышко	gnijezdo	гніздечка
to call	klikati	kli(kati) / кликати	wołać	кликать	zvati	кличе
music	muzyka	muzyka / музика	muzyka	музыка	muzika	музика
bass	bas	—	bas	бас	bas	бас
drones	guditi	guditi / гудити	głuszyć	гудеть	guditi	гуде
fiddle	skripka	skripŭ / скрипъ	skrzypce	скрипка	skripka	скрипка
to weep	plačati	plačati / плакати	płakać	плакать	plakati	плаче
lad, youth	moloděc	mladěcŭ / младєць	młodzieniec	молодец	mladić	молодець
to make merry	huljati	—	hulać	гулять	huliti	гуляє
I	ja	azŭ / азъ	ja	я	ja	я
walk	hoditi	hoditi / ходити	chodzić	ходить	hodati	ходжу
alone	samotno	samŭ / самъ	samotnie	сам	samo	самотою
cry	plačati	plačati / плакати	płakać	плакать	plakati	плачу
sob	rydati	rydati / ридати	ryczeć	рыдать	ridati	ридаю
dearest	mily	milŭ / милъ	miły	милый	mili	милий
for (because of)	za	za / за	za	за	za	за
you	ty / tobą	ty / ты	ty	ты	ti	тобою

Українська 🇺🇦

Там в гаю, при Дунаї, солов'ї щебече (2) Він свою пташиночку до гніздечка кличе.

(Там в гаю, при Дунаї — там музика грає (2) Бас гуде, скрипка плаче, молодець гуляє.)

(Там в гаю, при Дунаї — хожу самотою (2) І плачу, і ридаю миламилі за тобою.)

Stara Basń 1 - Józef Ignacy Kraszewski

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸:
The spring morning dawned over the dark mass of forests, encircling the horizon all around. In the air one could feel the fragrance of young leaves and grasses, fresh with dew, just unfolded from swollen buds during a few such mornings.

Slavic ❊:
Poranek viosenny svital nad črnoju lavoj lesov, okružajučih obzor vokrug. V vozduhu čutilo se vůn listjev i trav mladyh, oblitih rosoju svěžo v prěběgu nekoliko takich porankov iz nabuhlyh pupkov razvityh.

English 🇬🇺🇸:
By the streams, still swollen with the remains of the spring flood, yellow marsh marigolds shone like rich embroidery upon the green carpet.

Slavic ❊:
Nad potokami, izpolnenymi ešče ostatkom viosennej povodi, zlatisja kaluži jak bogato šitie na zelenom kobercu.

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸:
The sunrise was preceded by a solemn silence — only the birds began to awaken in the branches and restlessly fluttered from their night shelters... Soon one could hear chirps, whistles, and the calling of a small company.

Slavic ❊:
Vzhod sunca predhodela toržestvena tišina — tolko ptactvo načalo buditi se v větvjah i bezpokojno vzkakivalo iz nočnih prěbyvališč... Uže slyšalo se ščebet, svisty i pozivanja malej družiny.

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸:
High beneath the clouds glided a grey eagle, circling and seeking prey upon the earth. At times it hung motionless in the air, then again majestically sailed onward...

Slavic ❊:
Vysoko pod oblaky plaval orěl sivy, kružajuči i isčyč pastvu na zemlji. Inogda visel v vozduhu bez dviženja, a potom dalje veličestveno plaval...

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸:
In the forest something rustled and then fell silent... A herd of wild goats peered from the thicket into the clearing, looked with black eyes, and fled... Their hooves thundered after them — then silence again.

Slavic ❊:
V boru něčto zašušelo i umolklo... Stado divjih koz vyglědalo iz gąščy na polanku, poględalo črnymi očima i uběglo... Za nimi zatęknulo — tišina znovu.

Comparison Table

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸	Slavic ❊	OCS ☦️ Latin / Cyrillic	Polski 🇵🇱	Русский 🇷🇺	BCMS 🇷🇸🇭🇷🇧🇦🇲🇪
morning	jutro	jutro / ютро	jutro, poranek	утро	jutro
forest	les	lěsŭ / лєсъ	las	лес	šuma, les
eagle	orěl	orělŭ / орєлъ	orzeł	орёл	orao
goat	koza	koza / коза	koza	коза	koza
silence	tišina	tišina / тишина	cisza	тишина	tišina
stream	potok	potokŭ / потокъ	potok	поток	potok
sunrise	vzhod sunca	vъxodŭ sъlnьca / въходъ сълньца	wschód słońca	восход солнца	izlazak sunca
dew	rosa	rosa / роса	rosa	роса	rosa
flood	povod	povodĭ / поводь	powódź	половодье	poplava
thicket	gąšč	gъštĭ / гъшьтҍ	gąszcz	чаща	gusta šuma
black (črnoju)	črny	čьrnŭ / чьрнъ	czarny	чёрный	crn
mass, slab (lavoj)	lava	lava / лава	ława	лава	lava
encircling (okružajučih)	okružajuči	okrъžati / окръжати	otaczających	окружающих	okružujućih
horizon (obzor)	obzor	obzorŭ / обзоръ	obzor, widnokrąg	обзор, горизонт	obzor
marsh marigold (kaluži)	kaluža	—	kaczeniec	калужница	kalužnica
preceded (predhodela)	predhoditi	predъxoditi / предъходити	poprzedzała	предшествовала	predhodila
solemn (toržestvena)	toržestveny	toržestvo / торжество	uroczysta	торжественная	svečana
branches (větvjah)	větvь	větvĭ / вєтвь	gałęziach	ветвях	granama
chirping (ščebet)	ščebet	ščebetŭ / щебетъ	świergot	щебет	cvrkut

Smerti

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸
Preparation for a sudden death.

Slavic ❊
Pripravljanje k jednój srežnoj smerti.

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸
A daily meditation on death.

Slavic ❊
Vśakodnevno myšljenje o smrti.

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸
I know well that I must die, though I do not know when, where, or how.

Slavic ❊
Dobro vȯm, že ja budu umreti, no ne vȯm kogda, kde ani kako.

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸
I am earth and shall return to dust. This body of mine, this flesh, will be changed back to earth.

Slavic ❊
Jestem zemja i v prah obratim se; se tělo zemno, se moje měso, obratit se bude v zemju.

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸
Yet my soul is immortal; this I know, for the faith teaches me that when my soul is separated from the body it enters the house of eternity.

Slavic ❊
No duša moja je nevěčna; to dobro vȯm, jako věra uči, že kogda duša moja bude razděljena od těla, vchádi v dom věčnosti.

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸
O eternity, endless and measureless. O last hour of death, on which my eternity depends.

Slavic ❊
O věčnost, bezkonečna i neměrima! O poslednja časa smerti, od kogo zavisi moja věčnosť.

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸
A daily prayer for a sudden death.

Slavic ❊
Molitev vśakodnevna za srežnu smert.

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸
Almighty and eternal God, I fall before you and bow low. You alone are the Lord of my life. If I live, let me live to your will; if I die, receive my soul in mercy and grant me a blessed eternity.

Slavic ❊
Vse-mogųći, věčny Bože, padaju pred toboju i nízko se klanjam. Ty jediny jesi Gospod žitja mojego. Ako žiju, da budem žiti po tvojej voli; ako umru, priji̋mi dušu moju v milosti i daruj mi blaženu věčnost.

Nouns

Polish language has (or used to have) main noun types:

1. Masculine animate personal (męskoosobowy ożywiony) – men, persons (e.g., brat, król). 
2. Masculine animate non-personal (męskożywotny nieosobowy) – animals, sometimes higher beings (e.g., koń, pies). 
3. Masculine inanimate (męskonieżywotny) – objects, tools, abstract things (e.g., kamień, stół). 
4. Feminine (żeński) – most female beings and many abstract nouns (e.g., kobieta, miłość). 
5. Feminine collective (żeński grupowy) – plural-like collectives, often ending in -i, -e (e.g., dziatki ‘children’, zwierzęta). 
6. Neuter (nijaki) – things, substances, young beings (e.g., dziecko, jajo, pole). 

Examples:

• Dwaj bracia idą ulicą, oni się nie spieszą.
• Dwaj królowie idą ulicą, oni się nie spieszą.
• Dwa psy idą ulicą, one się nie spieszą.
• Dwa konie idą ulicą, one się nie spieszą.
• Dwa kamienie się toczą.

Sanskrit

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸	Slavic ❊	OCS ☦️ (Latin / Cyrillic)	Polski 🇵🇱	Русский 🇷🇺	BCMS 🇷🇸🇭🇷🇧🇦🇲🇪	Sanskrit 🇮🇳
awake	buditi sę	buditi sę / будити сѧ	budzić się	будиться	buditi se	buddha (awakened)
god / shining one	divъ	divŭ / дивъ	dziwy (wonders)	диво (marvel)	div	deva
knowledge	věděti	věděti / вѣдѣти	wiedza	ведать	vedeti	veda
wise	mǫdrъ	mǫdrъ / мѫдръ	mądry	мудрый	mudar	medhá (wisdom)
mother	mati	mati / мати	matka	мать	mati	mātṛ
brother	bratъ	bratŭ / братъ	brat	брат	brat	bhrātṛ
daughter	dъťi	dъťi / дътьи	córka	дочь	kći	duhitar
paradise	rajь	rajь / рай	raj	рай	raj	rajas (heaven, realm)
word / speech	slovo	slovo / слово	słowo	слово	slovo	śravas (fame, word)
horse	konjь	konjь / конь	koń	конь	konj	aśva
name	imę	imenŭ / имѧ	imię	имя	ime	nāman

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸	PIE ☸️ (Interslavic letters)	Slavic ❊	OCS ☦️ (Latin / Cyrillic)	Polski 🇵🇱	Русский 🇷🇺	BCMS 🇷🇸🇭🇷🇧🇦🇲🇪	Sanskrit 🇮🇳	Sanskrit (Interslavic)
Kinship & People
mother	mater	mati	mati / мати	matka	мать	mati	mātṛ	matrь
father	pater	otьcь	otьcь / отьць	ojciec	отец	otac	pitṛ	pitrь
brother	brater	bratъ	bratŭ / братъ	brat	брат	brat	bhrātṛ	bratrь
daughter	dhugater	děťi	dъťi / дътьи	córka	дочь	kći	duhitar	duhitar
son	sunus	synъ	synŭ / сынъ	syn	сын	sin	sunu	sunu
wife	gena	žena	žena / жена	żona	жена	žena	jani	jani
widow	widhwa	vdova	vdova / вдова	wdowa	вдова	udovica	vidhwā	vidhva
daughter-in-law	snusa	snъxa	snъxa / сноха	snocha	сноха	snaha	snusā	snusa
brother-in-law	dewer	děverь	děverĭ / деверь	dewer	деверь	dever	devar	devar
son-in-law	genetos	zětь	zětĭ / зѣть	zięć	зять	zet	jāta	jata
Nature & Elements
fire	ogni	ognjь	ognь / огнь	ogień	огонь	ognj	agni	agni
sky	nebo	nebo	nebo / небо	niebo	небо	nebo	nabh	nabho
wind, air	weturos	větrъ	větrŭ / вѣтръ	wiatr	ветер	vjetar	vāyu	vaju
smoke	dhumos	dymъ	dymŭ / дымъ	dym	дым	dim	dhūma	duma
honey	medu	medъ	medŭ / медъ	miód	мёд	med	madhu	medu
foam	pena	pena	pena / пена	piana	пена	pjena	pena	pena
milk	melko	mlěko	mlěko / млеко	mleko	молоко	mlijeko	kṣira	ksira
star	steros	zvězda	zvězda / звѣзда	gwiazda	звезда	zvijezda	tārā	tara
night	noktis	noť	noť / ночь	noc	ночь	noć	nakta	nakta
Body & Life
neck / mane	griva	griva	griva / грива	grzywa	грива	griva	grīva	griva
blood	kru	krovь	krovĭ / кровь	krew	кровь	krv	kravya	kravja
flesh	manso	męso	męso / мѧсо	mięso	мясо	meso	mānsa	mansa
heart	kord	serdce	srьdьce / срьдьце	serce	сердце	srce	hṛd	hrd
life	gʷih	žiznь	žiti / жити	życie	жизнь	život	jīvana	živana
House & Society
house	domos	domъ	domŭ / домъ	dom	дом	dom	dhāman	dhaman
traveler	pathos	putьnikъ	putĭnikŭ / путьникъ	podróżnik	путник	putnik	pathika	patika
hunter	oketos	ohotnikъ	ohotnikŭ / охотникъ	łowca	охотник	lovac	akhetika	ahetika
Abstract & Spiritual
god	bhagos	bogъ	bogŭ / богъ	Bóg	бог	bog	bhaga	bhaga
bright / holy	swet	světъ	světŭ / свѣтъ	światło	свет	svijet	svetá	sveta
darkness	temos	tьma	tьma / тьма	ciemność	тьма	tama	tamas	tamas
knowledge	weid	věděti	věděti / вѣдѣти	wiedza	ведать	vedeti	veda / jñāna	veda / znana
wisdom	medha	mǫdrъ	mǫdrъ / мѫдръ	mądry	мудрый	mudar	medhā	medha
word, fame	slovo	slovo	slovo / слово	słowo	слово	slovo	śravas	sravas
paradise	raj	rajь	rajŭ / рай	raj	рай	raj	rajas	rajas
awake	bhudh	buditi	buditi / будити	budzić	будить	buditi	buddha	budha
to live	gʷei	živěti	žiti / жити	żyć	жить	živjeti	jīvati	živati
Numbers
two	dwo	dva	dъva / двꙑ	dwa	два	dva	dvi	dvi
three	tri	tri	tri / три	trzy	три	tri	tri	tri
four	kwetwores	četyri	četyri / четыри	cztery	четыре	četiri	catur	čatur
five	penkwe	pętь	pętĭ / пѧть	pięć	пять	pet	pañca	panca
six	swekse	šestь	šestĭ / шесть	sześć	шесть	šest	ṣaṣ	šas
ten	dekem	desętь	desętĭ / десѧть	dziesięć	десять	deset	daśa	dasa
hundred	kentos	sto	sto / сто	sto	сто	sto	śata	šata
both	obho	oba	oba / оба	oba	оба	oba	ubhe	ubhe
Pronouns & Small Words
ours	nos	naš	našь / нашь	nasz	наш	naš	nas	nas
one’s own	swo	svojь	svojĭ / свой	swój	свой	svoj	sva	sva
thou	tu	ty	ty / ты	ty	ты	ti	tvam	tvam
that	to	to	to / то	to	тот	to	tat	tat
when	kwo	kogda	kogda / когъда	kiedy	когда	kada	kadā	kada
then	to	togda	togda / тогъда	wtedy	тогда	tada	tadā	tada
both	obho	oba	oba / оба	oba	оба	oba	ubhe	ubhe
Verbs & Actions
to be	es	byti	byti / быти	być	быть	biti	bhavati	bhavati
to drink	piti	piti	piti / пити	pić	пить	piti	pibati	pibati
to die	mer	mrěti	mrěti / мрѣти	mrzeć	умереть	mreti	marati	marati
to fall	pad	padati	padati / падати	padać	падать	padati	padyate	padyate
to dry	sus	sušiti	sušiti / сушити	suszyć	сушить	sušiti	śuṣyati	sušyati
to burn	gher	goreti	goreti / горѣти	gorzeć	гореть	gorjeti	gharati	gharati
to carry	wegh	voziti	voziti / возити	wozić	возить	voziti	vahati	vahati
to seize, grab	grab	grabiťi	grabiťi / грабити	grabić	грабить	grabiti	grabhati	grabhati
to ask	prek	prositi	prositi / просити	prosić	просить	prositi	prachati	prachati
to speak	gʷe	govoriti	govoriti / говорити	mówić	говорить	govoriti	gavati	gavati
to shine	swet	světiti	světiti / свѣтити	świecić	светить	svijetliti	śvetate	svetati
to bake	pek	peći	peći / пещи	piec	печь	peći	pacati	pacati

DNA

Helmold

 Helmold of Bosau (c. 1120–1177), a Saxon priest, wrote the Chronica Slavorum in Latin around 1167–1172. It is one of the most important medieval sources about the western Slavs, especially the Wendowie (Wends), the Polabian Slavs living between the Elbe and the Oder rivers. Helmold described their pagan beliefs, political organization, and wars with the Saxons and Danes during the Christianization of the region.

The tribes he mentioned include:

• Obodrites (Obodriti), around Mecklenburg.
• Veleti / Lutici, a federation in what is today Mecklenburg and Brandenburg.
• Rani (Rujani) on the island of Rügen, known for their temple of Svantovit.
• Hevelli (Stodorane) near Brandenburg.
• Pomorzanie (Pomeranians) along the Baltic coast.
• Smaller groups such as the Drevani, Warnabi, and Linonen.

Helmold often portrays them from the Christian missionary viewpoint, sometimes hostile, sometimes admiring their bravery and customs. His chronicle is one of the few surviving accounts of Slavic pagan religion in the Baltic region before conversion.

Razumejemo

Tatiana

Slovianka

Words

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸:
In Polish 🇵🇱, a single lemma can create many surface forms. A noun can have about 14 forms (7 cases × 2 numbers). An adjective can reach 30–60 forms, depending on gender, case, number, and degree. A verb can surpass 100 forms across person, number, tense, aspect, mood, and participles. This means that from a dictionary of about 100,000 lemmas, the total number of distinct forms easily rises into several millions.

Slavic ❊:
V poljskom jezyku 🇵🇱 jedno lema može tvoriti mnogo povrhnyh form. Substantiv može iměti okolo 14 form (7 padežev × 2 čisla). Adjektiv može dosěgnuti 30–60 form, v zavisimosti od roda, padeža, čisla i stupnja. Glagol može prevysiti 100 form črěz osobu, čislo, čas, vid, naklonjenosť i participy. To znači, že iz slovnika s oko 100 000 lemat obče čislo povrhnyh form lěgko idě v několik milionov.

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸:
By comparison, English nouns usually have only 2 forms (singular/plural), adjectives change little, and verbs have 4–5 forms (go, goes, went, gone, going). So even with a larger base vocabulary, the total number of distinct forms in English is smaller. By lemmas, English may be among the biggest; by forms, Polish and other Slavic languages (and Latin, Greek, Sanskrit) can surpass it.

Slavic ❊:
V sravnanju, anglijske substantivy obično imajut tolko 2 formy (jednina/množina), adjektivy malo se měnjajut, a glagoly imajut 4–5 form (go, goes, went, gone, going). Zato daže s většim osnovnym slovnikom obče čislo raznyh form v anglijskoj jezyku je menše. Po lemah anglijski može byti medžu najvěčšimi; po formah poljsky i drugy slovjanske jezyky (takože latinsky, grčsky, sanskritsky) mogut prevysiti go.

Comparison Table

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸	Slavic ❊	OCS ☦️ Latin / Cyrillic	Polski 🇵🇱	Русский 🇷🇺	BCMS 🇷🇸🇭🇷🇧🇦🇲🇪
noun	imenje	imenŭ / имѧнъ	rzeczownik	существительное	imenica
adjective	prilȯžnik	prilagatelьno / прилагатєльно	przymiotnik	прилагательное	pridjev
verb	glagol	glagolŭ / глаголъ	czasownik	глагол	glagol
form	oblik	forma / форма	forma	форма	forma
case	padoba	padežŭ / падежъ	przypadek	падеж	padež
lemma	korȯnno slovo	lemma / лемма	lemma	лемма	lema
language	jezyk	językŭ / ѩзыкъ	język	язык	jezik
people	ljudi	ľudě / людє	ludzie	люди	ljudi
heritage	naslědstvo	naslědstvo / наслѣдьство	dziedzictwo	наследие	naslijeđe

A Forgotten Slavic Chapter in Early Romanian History

Introduction

English:
Slavic languages, including Proto-Slavic, left a deep imprint on Romanian and Moldovan. This influence came in several waves: first, early contact between Proto-Slavs and the ancestors of Romanians in the 5th–6th centuries AD; then South Slavic and Old Church Slavonic (9th–10th c.) during the medieval period; and finally Russian loans in Moldova during the 20th century. The Slavic heritage is visible not only in common words but also in place names across the Carpathian–Danube lands. In the 18th and 19th centuries, intellectuals of the Transylvanian School attempted a “re-Latinization” of Romanian, replacing some Slavic terms with Latin and French neologisms, but the deepest Slavic layer remained untouched.

Slavic (Latin):
Slovjanske jezyky, vključno s Proto-Slovjanskim, ostavili glęboki znak v romun’skom i moldavskom jezyku. To vplyvanje prišlo v nekoliko hvòljah: ranno kontakt meždu Proto-Slavi i předki Rumunov v ranno sredněvěku; potèm južno-slavjanski i staro-cerkovno-slavjanski vplyv v sredněvèkovom časě; i v XX věku ruski sloj v Moldaviji. Slovjanska dědičstvo je vidlivo ne tolko v obično slovah, no i v toponymiji Karpat’sko-Dunajskogo kraja. V XVIII i XIX věku učenici Transilvanskej školy naměrili “re-latinizaciju” romun’skogo jezyka, zaměnjajųči čest slov s latinskymi i francuzskymi neologizmami, no najglębši sloj slovjanski ostal nedotknuty.

Slavic (Cyrillic):
Словианскыє єзыкы, включно съ Прото-Словианскимъ, оставили глѫбокыи знакъ въ румуньскомъ и молдавьскомъ єзыку. То вліянїє пришло въ нѣсколько хволѧхъ: ранныи контактъ межю Прото-Славы и предкы Румуновъ въ ранно-среднѣвѣку; потомъ южно-славианскыи и староцерковно-славианскыи вліянїє въ среднѣвѣковомъ часѣ; и въ XX вѣцѣ русскыи слой въ Молдавіи. Словианско дѣдићство є видливо не тольно въ обыкновенныхъ словахъ, но и въ топонимиї Карпатско-Дунайскога края. Въ XVIII и XIX вѣцѣ ученици Трансильванскои школы намѣрили “ре-латинизацїю” румуньскога єзыка, замѣняющи часть словъ съ латиньскыми и францужьскыми неологизмами, но наиглѫбшии слой словианскыи осталъ недотркнуты.

Words of Proto-Slavic origin

English:
Many everyday Romanian and Moldovan words go back directly to Proto-Slavic.

Romanian 🇷🇴	English	Proto-Slavic Root
a iubi	to love	*ljubiti
dragă	dear	*dorgŭ
nevastă	wife	*nevěsta
prieten	friend	*prijateljĭ
slab	weak	*slabŭ
a trăi	to live	*trajati
nevoie	need	*nevolja
boală	sickness	*bolь
bolnav	sick	*bolьnavъ
sută	one hundred	*sъto
hrană	food	*xrana
a plăti	to pay	*platiti
gard	fence	*gordъ
a sfârși	to finish	*sъvъršiti
duh	spirit	*duxъ
rai	paradise	*rajь

Agricultural and Environmental Terms

Romanian 🇷🇴	English	Proto-Slavic Root
baltă	pond, swamp	*bolto
brazdă	furrow	*bōrzdà
ogor	field	*ogorъ
măgură	hillock	*magula
stână	sheepfold	*stanъ
smântână	sour cream	*smьntana
cocostârc	stork	*kokostьrkъ
mac	poppy	*makъ
zăpadă	snow	*zapada

Place Names with Slavic Roots

English:
Ancient place names usually last the longest. Rivers, towns, and counties preserve Slavic etymologies that tell of early settlement and cultural blending.

Place	Region	Origin
Bistrița	Romania	bystrica, bystrъ = fast, clear river
Cernavodă	Romania	čьrnъ + vodâ = black water
Craiova	Romania	kraljev = royal
Dâmbovița	Romania	dǫbŭ = oak
Dolj	Romania	dol + Jiu = lower Jiu valley
Gorj	Romania	gora + Jiu = mountain Jiu
Ialomița	Romania	jalov = barren
Prahova	Romania	prahŭ = dust, ash
Reșița	Romania	rečica = little river
Slatina	Romania	slatina = salty spring
Slobozia	Romania	slobozia = free village
Snagov	Romania	snegŭ = snow
Moldova	Moldova	see below
Dubăsari	Moldova	*dǫbъ* (oak) + *-sarъ* (maker)
Ialoveni	Moldova	jalov = barren
Rîbnița	Moldova	ribnica = fish pond
Soroca	Moldova	sroka = magpie
Slobozia	Moldova	slobozia, sloboda = free settlement

Clarification: Etymology of Moldova

English:
The name Moldova comes from the Moldova River. The river’s own etymology is disputed. Some scholars propose a hydronym meaning “dark/soiled” as a typical river descriptor, while others suggest a Slavic-shaped formation with the common toponymic suffix -ova. The base mold- remains uncertain and is falsely attested as “spruce/fir” in Slavic. A careful wording is: the name is from the river; the river’s etymology is debated; several proposals exist, none universally accepted.

Slavic (Latin):
Ime Moldova pridojde od rěky Moldova. Sama etimologija rěky je sporna. Někto predklada hydronim s smyslom “temna/zbrydžena voda”, drugi vidęt slovjansku formaciju s običnoju toponymičnoju sufiksu -ova. Osnova mold- ostava nejistna i ne jest dobro svidočena kako “smrěka/jel’” v slovjanskih jezykah. Zato bezpečna formulacija glasi: ime od rěky; etimologija rěky je predmet sporov; su razne teorije bez všeobčego prijetja.

Slavic (Cyrillic):
Име Молдова происходи от рѣкы Молдова. Сама етимологїя рѣкы єсть спорна. Нѣктори предкладаютъ гидронимъ со смыслом “тёмна/загрязнена вода”, други видѧтъ славианску формацїю съ обычнымъ топонимичьнымъ суффиксомъ -ова. Основа молд- остава неясна и не єсть добро свидочена яко “смрѣка/єль” въ славианскихъ єзыкахъ. Безопасно формуловати так: име от рѣкы; етимологїя рѣкы спорна; сушчєствуютъ разны теорїи без общаго принятїя.

Placename Slavic parallels to Moldova:

• Bucovina ← Slavic buk “beech” + -ovina “land, area” → “beech land”.
• Dubrava / Dobrava / Dąbrowa ← Proto-Slavic dǫb “oak” → “oak grove”, widely attested across Slavic regions.

Conclusion

English:
The early Slavs, starting after the 5th century A.D., and later South Slavic and Old Church Slavonic influences, gave Romania and Moldova one of the richest layers of Slavic vocabulary outside the Slavic world itself. The movement (18th–19th c.) aimed to "purify" Romanian from perceived Slavic and Hungarian influences by replacing loanwords with neologisms (e.g., pământ "land" instead of Slavic-derived zemă). The 19th-century re-Latinization could not erase the deep Proto-Slavic words or the place names still spoken by the land. Even today, Romanians say a iubi, prieten, nevoie, walk along rivers called Bistrița and Prahova, and live with a cultural heritage where Latin and Slavic intertwine.