lEPA

Lepa is a term with multiple uses in language and onomastics. In South Slavic languages such as Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian, lepa is the feminine singular form of the adjective lep, meaning beautiful, nice, or pleasant. It is used to describe feminine nouns and must agree in gender and case, as in lepa žena (beautiful woman) or lepa kuća (beautiful house). The root lep is cognate with related forms across Slavic languages and traces back to Proto-Slavic.

The word also appears in toponyms in parts of the Balkan region, where it can be part of the name of villages or settlements. In such uses, the meaning is often linked to the notion of beauty or pleasant surroundings, though the exact origin and significance can vary by locale.

In onomastics and everyday speech, lepa can show up as a descriptive element in personal names or nicknames within Slavic-speaking communities, typically conveying a sense of beauty or charm rather than functioning as a standalone given name. Capitalization and usage depend on the language context and whether the word is used descriptively or as part of a proper name.

Because lepa is an adjective rather than a fixed noun, its meaning is determined by the noun it modifies. In translations to English, it is generally rendered as “beautiful” or “pretty,” with the feminine form aligning with the corresponding feminine noun.