noun
slava
SLAH-vuh
noun
1
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
1
An informal, affectionate short form of the Russian or Ukrainian given name Slava (from Vyacheslav or Yaroslav).
How to Use Slava
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA saint's-day family celebration in Serbian tradition, or a Slavic nickname.
Word Forms
slavas plural, Slavas plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “slava”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.