slojev

Slojev is a term found in several South Slavic languages, linked to the noun sloj meaning layer or stratum. It generally denotes a level, sheet, or sequence within a larger whole, and its exact form and use can vary by language and grammatical case. The core idea across contexts is that slojev represents a discrete component arranged in a series or stacked arrangement.

Etymology traces slojev to Proto-Slavic *slojъ, with cognates in related languages such as Russian сло́й (sloy). This common origin helps explain its broad application to layered concepts in different fields and everyday speech.

In geology, sedimentology, and stratigraphy, slojevi are used to describe sequences of rock or sediment that reveal historical deposition and environmental conditions. In soil science, the term refers to soil horizons or vertical layers of varying texture and composition within a profile. In materials science and engineering, the idea of layered or laminated structures is conveyed using the same root to indicate successive layers within a composite or engineered system. The versatility of the term reflects its central meaning: a component that forms part of a layered structure, whether natural or man-made.