jazero

Jazero is a term found in several South Slavic languages that refers to a natural hollow, cavity, or opening in the landscape. In modern usage it occurs primarily in toponymy, where it appears in place names describing local geographic features. The precise sense of jazero varies by dialect and region; in some locales it denotes a sinkhole or cave rather than a lake, and it is distinct from jezero, the common word for lake in many Slavic languages.

Linguistic notes: The form is linked to historical Slavic vocabulary for terrain features related to openings or hollows. Etymologists reconstruct related roots in Proto-Slavic that point to openings or hollows, with cognates appearing across neighboring languages.

Toponymy and geography: In Balkan and adjacent regions, jazero appears as a component in local place names that describe notable landscape depressions, karst features, or cave mouths. The specific feature referenced by a given name depends on local language and history, so there is no single universal definition attached to the term.

Because jazero is primarily a toponymic element rather than a common noun in standard language, it is most commonly encountered in maps, gazetteers, and regional histories rather than in everyday conversation.