Slawen

Slawen is the German exonym for Slavs, the Indo-European peoples who form the Slavic language family and historically inhabited large parts of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. The term appears in medieval and early modern German sources as a broad designation for the various Slavic-speaking communities east of the German-speaking lands.

Etymology and scope: Slawen derives from the Proto-Slavic ethnonym Slavъ, typically linked to the root sláv- meaning “glory” or “fame” in Slavic languages, though the precise historical formation of the exonym is debated. In modern German, Slawen is mainly used in historical, ethnographic, or literary contexts; contemporary terms for the Slavic peoples are more specific (for example, Polish, Russian, Croatian, etc.).

Geography and demographics: Historically, the Slawen encompassed populations across present-day Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Balkan Peninsula, and parts of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. The distribution and political organization varied from early medieval tribes to medieval principalities and later nation-states. Today, Slavic peoples form distinct national identities and speak the Slavic languages, which are divided into West Slavic, East Slavic, and South Slavic branches.

Culture and language: The Slavs share linguistic roots in the Slavic branch of the Indo-European family, with diverse cultures shaped by religion, empire, and modern nation-states. Notable contemporary Slavic nations include Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Czechia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and others.