noun

slava

SLAH-vuh

Slava (noun) means a family feast day held in honor of a household's patron saint, a tradition kept mainly by Serbian families and also observed by some of their Balkan neighbors. Example: “Every January the family gathers to celebrate their slava with a special bread and a candle for the saint.”

noun

A family feast day held in honor of a household's patron saint, a tradition kept mainly by Serbian families and also observed by some of their Balkan neighbors.

"Every January the family gathers to celebrate their slava with a special bread and a candle for the saint."

"She had never heard of a slava until her Serbian in-laws invited her to one."

name

An informal, affectionate short form of the Russian or Ukrainian given name Slava (from Vyacheslav or Yaroslav).

How to use slava

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA saint's-day family celebration in Serbian tradition, or a Slavic nickname.

Word forms

slavas plural, Slavas plural

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Every January the family gathers to celebrate their _____ with a special bread and a candle for the saint.

Etymology

From the South Slavic word slava, meaning "fame" or "glory" — the same root used in Slavic toasts and blessings wishing someone honor.

Rhymes for slava

Ava lava Java Cava Sava Nava guava brava baklava balaclava Bratislava

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Frequently asked questions

What does “slava” mean?

The word “slava” means a family feast day held in honor of a household's patron saint, a tradition kept mainly by Serbian families and also observed by some of their Balkan neighbors. In plain terms, a saint's-day family celebration in Serbian tradition, or a Slavic nickname.

How do you pronounce “slava”?

“Slava” is pronounced SLAH-vuh (/ˈslɑːvə/ in IPA).

How do you use “slava” in a sentence?

Here is “slava” used in a sentence: “Every January the family gathers to celebrate their slava with a special bread and a candle for the saint.”

What part of speech is “slava”?

Depending on how it is used, “slava” can be a noun and a name.

How many meanings does “slava” have?

“Slava” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a family feast day held in honor of a household's patron saint, a tradition kept mainly by Serbian families and also observed by some of their Balkan neighbors.