drevna

Drevna is a feminine adjective used in several South Slavic languages to denote antiquity or age. It agrees with feminine nouns, as in drevna kultura (ancient culture) or drevna istorija (ancient history). The corresponding masculine form is drevni, and the neuter form is drevno; there is also an adverbial usage as drevno in some contexts. The term is common in academic, archaeological, and cultural discourse, and can appear in historical toponyms and literary titles.

Etymology and cognates: drevna derives from a Proto-Slavic root meaning old or ancient, reflected in related forms across Slavic languages. For example, Russian древний (drevnyj) and Ukrainian древній (drevnyi) share the same heritage. In Serbo-Croatian, the root appears as drev- with gendered endings, producing drevni, drevna, and related derivatives.

Usage: In contemporary standard Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian, drevna conveys a clear sense of antiquity and is common in formal or historical writing. In everyday speech, speakers might opt for more general terms like stari or staro, depending on register. Phrases such as drevna Evropa or drevna civilizacija are widespread in discussions of ancient times and broader historical topics.

See also: antiquity, prehistoric, ancient civilizations.