Slavic vocabulary

The following list is a comparison of basic Proto-Slavic vocabulary and the corresponding reflexes in the modern languages, for assistance in understanding the discussion in Proto-Slavic and History of the Slavic languages. The word list is based on the Swadesh word list, developed by the linguist Morris Swadesh, a tool to study the evolution of languages via comparison, containing a set of 207 basic words which can be found in every language and are rarely borrowed. However, the words given as the modern versions are not necessarily the normal words with the given meaning in the various modern languages, but the words directly descended from the corresponding Proto-Slavic word (the reflex). The list here is given both in the orthography of each language, with accent marks added as necessary to aid in pronunciation and Proto-Slavic reconstruction. See below for a capsule summary of how to pronounce each language, as well as some discussion of the conventions used.

Table

Slavic languages

Translation	Late Proto-Slavic	class	Russian		Bulgarian		Czech	Polish	Serbo-Croatian		Slovenian	Macedonian
			Cyrillic	Latin	Cyrillic	Latin			standard (Shtokavian)	Chakavian		Cyrillic	Latin
I	*(j)azъ, (j)ā	prn.	я	ja	аз	az	já	ja	jȃ	jå̃	jàz	јас	jas
thou	*ty	prn.	ты	ty	ти	ti	ty	ty	tȋ	tĩ	tȋ	ти	ti
he	*onъ	prn.	он, она, оно	on, oná, onó	((той))	((toj))	on, ona, ono		ȍn/ȏn, òna, òno	õn, onȁ, onȍ	òn, óna, onọ̑/óno	тој/оној	toj/onoj
we	*my	prn.	мы	my	ние	nie (dial.)	my	my	mȋ	mĩ	mȋ	ние	nie
ye	*vy	prn.	вы	vy	(ви́е)	(víe)	vy	wy	vȋ	vĩ	vȋ	вие	vie
they	*oni, *ony, *ona	prn.	они́	on'í	те	te	oni, ony, ona	oni, one	oni, one, ona		oni	тие/оние	tie/onie
this, that	*tъ	prn.	то	tot, ta, to	(това́)	(tová)	ten, ta, to		tȃj, tȃ, tȏ	tȁ, tȃ, tȏ/tȍ	tȃ, tȃ, tọ̑	ова/она	ova/ona
there	*tamъ		там	tam	там	tam	tam	tam	tamo		tam	таму	tamu
who	*kъto	prn.	кто	kto	((кой))	((koi))	kdo	kto	(t)kȍ; ki		kdọ́	кој	koj
what	*čьto, *čь	prn.	что	čto /što/		što	co	co	štȍ/šta	(Vrg.) ča (<*čь)	kaj	што	što
where	*kъde	prn.	где	gd'e	къде	kəde	kde	gdzie	gd(j)ȅ	kadȅ (Orb.)	kjẹ́	каде	kade
when	*kogъda; *kogъdy	adv./conj.	когда́	kogdá	кога́	kogá	(kdy); OCz. kehdy	kiedy, gdy	kàda		kdáj	кога	koga
how; what (kind of)	какъ	adv.; prn.	как	kak; kakój	как	kak	(jak) (OCz. kaký)	(jak), jaki/jaka/jakie (arch. jako, jakowy/jakowa/jakowe, kako, kaki)	kàko, kakav/kakva/kako		kakọ̑, kakšen/kakšna/kakšno	како, каков/каква/какво	kako, kakov/kakva/kakvo
not	*ne	adv.	не	n'e	не	ne	ne	nie	ne		nè	не	ne
all	*vьśь, *vьśja, vьśe	prn.	весь, вся, всё	v'es', vs'a, vs'o	(вси́чки)/вси	(vsíčki)/vsi	(všichni); OCz. veš, všě, vše	(wszyscy); OPl. wszy, wsza, wsze	sȁv, svȁ, svȅ	svȁs, svȁ, svȅ	vǝ̀s, vsà, vsè	се/сето	se/seto
many	*mъnogъ	adj. o	мно́гий	mnógij	мно́го	mnógo (adv.)	mnohý	mnogi	mnȍgī		mnọ̑gi	многу	mnogu
some	*ne + *koliko		не́сколько	n'éskol'ko	ня́колко	njákolko	několik	kilka	nekoliko		nekọ̑liko, nẹ́kaj	неколку	неколку
few	*malъ		ма́ло	málo	ма́лко	málko	málo	mało	malo		malo	малку	malku
second	*drȗgъ	adj. o (c)	друго́й	drugój	((втори))	((vtori))	druhý	drugi, (arch.. wtóry)	drȗg	drȕgī	drȗgi	втор	vtor
other	*jь̀nь	prn. (a)	ино́й	inój	((друг)), (инакъв)	((drug)), (inakǝv)	jiný	inny	drugi/ini		drȗg		друго	drugo
one	*(j)edìnъ, *(j)edьnъ	num. o	оди́н, одна́	od'ín, odná	еди́н	edín	jeden	jeden	jèdan, jȅdna	jedå̃n, jednȁ, jednȍ	eden, en, ena, eno	еден	еден
two	*d(ъ)va	num.	два	dva, dve, dva	двa	dva	dva, dvě, dvě	dwa, dwie, dwa	dvȃ, dv(ȉj)e, dvȃ	dvå̑, dvȋ, dvå̑	dvȃ, dvẹ́, dvȃ	два	dva
three	*trьje, *tri	num.	три	tr'i	три	tri	tři	trzy	trȋ	trȋ	trȋje, trȋ, trȋ	три	tri
four	*četỳre	num. (a)	четы́ре	č'etýr'e	че́ти́ри	čétíri	čtyři	cztery	čètiri	četȉri	štirje, štiri, štiri	четири	četiri
five	pę̑tь	num. i (c)	пять	p'at'	пет	pet	pět	pięć	pȇt	pȇt	pẹ̑t	пет	pet
big, great	*velìkъ; velьkъ	adj. o	вели́кий	v'el'ík'ij	((голям)), вели́к	((goljam)), velík	velký	wielki	vȅlikī, vȅlikā, vȅlikō	vȅlik, velikȁ, velikȍ	vélik, velíka	голем, велики	golem, veliki
long	*dь̀lgъ	adj. o (a)	до́лгий	dólg'ij	дъ́лъг	dǝ́lǝg	dlouhý	długi	dȕg	dȕg	dȏļg, dȏļga, dȏļgo	долг/долго	dolg/dolgo
wide	*širokъ		широ́кий	širók'ij	широ́к	širók	široký	szeroki	širok		širók	широк, широко/а/и	širok, široko/a/i
thick	*tъlstъ		то́лстый	tólstyj	((дебел)), тлъст	((debel)), tlǝst	tlustý	tłusty	debeli		debel, debẹ́l, tọ̑lst	дебел, дебело/а/и	debel, debelo/a/i
heavy	*tęžъkъ	adj. o	тя́жкий	t'ážkij	те́жък	téžǝk	těžký	ciężki	téžak, téška	tȅžak, tēškȁ	téžǝk téžka, téžko; težȃk	тежок, тешко/а/и	težok, teško/a/i
small	*màlъ	adj. o (a)	ма́лый	mályj	(ма́лък); мал	(málǝk); mal	malý	mały	mȁli	må̃lī	mȃli, majhen	малечoк/а/ки/ко, мал, мало/а/и.	malećok/a/ki/ko, mal, malo/a/i
short	*kortъ̀kъ	adj. o (b)	коро́ткий	korótk'ij	((къс)), кра́тък	((kǝs)), krátǝk	krátký	krótki	krátak, krátka	krå̑tak, krå̄tkȁ, krå̑tko; krãtak, krãtka, krãtko	krátǝk	кратко/а/и, краток	kratko/a/i, kratok
narrow	*ǫzъkъ	adj. o	у́зкий	úzk'ij; úzok, uzká, úzko	((те́сен))	((tésen))	úzký	wąski	ȕzak, ȕska/uskȁ	ȕsak, uskȁ, ȕsko	ọ́zǝk, ọ́zka	тесно/на/ни/ен	tesno/na/ni/en, teško/a/i
thin	*tь̏nъkъ	adj. o (c)	то́нкий	tónk'ij; tónok, tanká, tónko	тъ́нък	tǝ́nǝk	tenký	cienki	tȁnak, tànka/tánka	tȁnak, tankȁ, tȃnko	tǝnǝ́k, tǝnkà	тенок, тенко/а/и	tenok, tenko/a/i
husband	*mǫ̑žь	m. jo (c)	муж	muž	((съпруг)), мъж	((sǝprug)), mǝž	muž	mąż	mȗž (mȗža)		soprọ̑g, mọ̑ž (možȃ)	сопруг	soprug
woman/wife	*ženà	f. ā (b)	жена́	ž'ená /žená/	жена́/съпруга	žená/sǝpruga	žena	żona	žèna (acc. žènu)	ženȁ (acc. ženȕ)	soprọ̑ga, žéna (wife), žẹ́nska (woman)	жена/сопруга	žená/sopruga
man (human)	*čelověkъ	m. o	челове́к	č'elov'ék	чове́к	čovék	člověk	człowiek	čòv(j)ek (čòv(j)eka); čȍv(j)ek (čov(j)èka)	čovȉk (čovȉka)	člóvek (človẹ́ka)	човек	čovek
child	*dětę		дитя́	d'it'á	дете́	deté	dítě	dziecko, dziecię	d(ij)ete		otrók, dẹ́te	дете	dete
mother	*mati		мать	mat'	ма́йка	májka	matka	matka (arch. mać)	majka, mater, mati		mati	мајка	majka
father	*otьcь		оте́ц	ot'éc	баща́, та́тко, отец	baštá, tátko, otec	otec	ojciec	otac		oče	татко, отец	tatko, otec
wild animal	*zvě̑rь	m. i (c)	зверь	zv'er'	звяр	zvjar	zvěř	zwierz, zwierzę	zv(ȉj)er f. (i)	zvȋr (zvȋri) f. (i)	zvẹ̑r (zverȋ)	ѕвер	dzver
fish	*ryba		ры́ба	rýba	ри́ба	ríba	ryba	ryba	riba		riba	риба	riba
bird	*pъtica, *pъtъka		пти́ца	pt'íca	пти́ца	ptíca	pták	ptak	ptica		ptič, ptica	птица	ptica
dog	*pьsъ		соба́ка, пёс	sobáka, p'os	пес, ку́че	pes, kúče	pes	pies	pas		pəs	куче, пес	kuče, pes
louse	*vъ̏šь	f. i (c)	вошь	voš' /voš/ (vš'i)	въ́шка	vǝ́ška	veš	wesz	vȃš (vȁši); ȗš (ȕši)		ùš (ušȋ); ȗš	вошка	voška
snake	*zmьjà	f. iā	змея́	zm'ejá	змия́	zmijá	zmije[table 1]	żmija[table 2]	zmìja	zmijȁ	kača	змија	zmija
worm	*čьrvь		червь	č'erv'	че́рвей	čérvej	červ	czerw, robak	crv		črv	црв	crv
tree	*dervo, *dьrvo		де́рево	d'ér'evo	дърво́	dǝrvó	strom	drzewo	drvo		drevọ̑	дрво	drvo
forest	*lěsъ		лес	l'es	гора́, лес	gorá, les	les	las	šuma, dubrava		gozd, lẹ́s, šuma, họ̑sta, mẹ́ja	шума	šuma
stick	*palica, *palъka		па́лка	pálka	пръ́чка, палка	prǝ́čka, palka	hůl	laska / pałka / kij	štap, palica		palica	стап, стапче	stap, stapče
fruit	*plodъ		плод	plod	плод, овошка	plod, ovoška	ovoce (plod)	owoc (płód)	voće, plod		sadež, plọ̑d	oвошје	ovošje
seed	*sěmę		се́мя	s'ém'a	се́ме	séme	semeno	nasiono/nasienie, ziarno, siemię	s(j)eme		sẹ́me	семе, семенка	seme, semenka
leaf	*listъ		лист	l'ist	листо́, лист	listó, list	list	liść	list		list	лист	list
root	*korenь		ко́рень	kór'en'	ко́рен	kóren	kořen	korzeń	kor(ij)en		korẹ́n, korenína	корен	koren
bark (of a tree)	*kora		кора́	korá	кора́	korá	kůra	kora	kora		skọ̑rja	кора	kora
flower	*květъ		цвето́к	cv'etók	цве́те	cvéte	květ	kwiat, kwiecie	cv(ij)et		rọ̑ža, cvẹ́t, cvetlíca	цвеќе	cvekje
grass	*trava		трава́	travá	трева́	trevá	tráva	trawa	trava		trava	трева	treva
rope	*ǫže		верёвка	v'er'óvka	въже́, връв, шнур	vǝžé, vrǝ́v, šnur	provaz, houžev	sznur, lina, powróz	uže		vrv, konópec	јаже, ортома	jaže, ortoma
skin	*koža		ко́жа	kóža	ко́жа	kóža	kůže	kożuch[table 3], skóra	koža		kọ̑ža	кожа	koža
meat	*męso		мя́со	m'áso	ме́со	méso	maso	mięso	meso		mesọ̑	месо	meso
blood	*kry		кровь	krov'	кръв	krǝv	krev	krew	krv		kri	крв	krv
bone	*kostь		кость	kost'	кост, ко́кал	kost, kókal	kost	kość, kostka(deminutive)	kost		kọ̑st	коска	koska
fat (noun)	*sadlo		са́ло	sálo	слани́на, мас, мазнина	slanína, mas, maznina	tuk	tłuszcz, sadło	masnoća, mast, salo		mast, tọ̑lšča, maščóba, salo	маст, сало	mast, salo
egg	*ȃje; *ajьce	n. jo (c); n. jo	яйцо́	jajcó	яйце́	jajcé	vejce	jajo; jajko, jajco	jáje; jájce	jå̑je	jájce	јајце	jajce
horn	*rȍgъ m. o (c)		рог	rog	рог	rog	roh	róg (rogu)	rȏg (rȍga)		rọ̑g (rọ̑ga/rogȃ)	рог	rog
feather	*però	n. o (b)	перо́	p'eró	перо́	peró	péro	pióro	pèro	perȍ	perọ̑ (perẹ́sa)	пердув	perduv
hair	*vȏlsъ	m. o (c)	во́лос	vólos (vólosa)	влакно, косъм	vlakno, kosǝm	vlas	włos, kosmyk[table 4]	vlȃs (vlȃsa)	vlå̑s (vlå̑sa)	lȃs (lȃsa/lasȗ)	влакно	vlakno
hair, braided hair	*kosà	f. ā (c)		kosá (kósu)[table 5]	коса́	kosá	OCz. kosa	OPl. kosa[table 6]	kòsa (acc. kȍsu)	(Novi) kosȁ (acc. kosȕ/kȍsu)	lasjẹ́	косa	kosa
head	*golvà	f. ā (c)	голова́	golová (acc. gólovu)	глава́	glavá	hlava	głowa	gláva (acc. glȃvu)	glå̄vȁ (acc. glå̑vu)	gláva	глава	glava
ear	*ȗxo	n. o (c)	у́хо	úxo, pl. úš'i /úšy/	ухо́	uxó, pl. uší	ucho	ucho	ȕho/ȕvo, pl. f. ȕši	ȕho (ȕha), pl. m. ȕši	uhọ̑ (ušẹ̑sa)	уво, уше	uvo, uše
eye	*ȍko	n. o (c)	глаз, о́ко	óko (poet.)	око́	okó	oko	oko	ȍko		okọ̑ (očẹ̑sa)	око	oko
nose	*nȍsъ	m. o (c)	нос	nos	нос	nos	nos	nos	nȏs (nȍsa)		nọ̑s (nọ̑sa/nosȃ/nosȗ)	нос	nos
mouth	*ūstà	pl. n. o (b)	уста́	ustá (poet.)	уста́	ustá	ústa	usta	ústa	ũstå̄; ũsta	ústa	уста	usta
tooth	*zǫ̑bъ	m. o (c)	зуб	zub	зъб	zǝb	zub	ząb	zȗb (zȗba)		zọ̑b (zọ̑ba)	заб	zab
tongue/language	*ęzỳkъ	m. o (a)	язы́к	jazýk	ези́к	ezík	jazyk	język	jèzik	jazȉk	jézik (jezíka)	јазик	jazik
nail (of finger/toe), claw	*nȍgъtь	m. i/io (c)	но́готь	nógot' (nógt'a)	но́кът	nókǝt	nehet	paznokieć (OPl. paznogiedź), pazur	nȍkat (nȍkta); nogat (nokta)	nȍhat (nȍhta)	nọ̑ht (nọ̑hta)	нокт, канџа	nokt, kandža
foot, leg	*noga	f. ā (c)	нога́	nogá (nógu)	крак, нога	krak, nogá	noha	noga	nòga (nȍgu)	nogȁ (nȍgu)	nóga	стапало, нога	stapalo, noga
knee	*kolě̀no	n. o (a)	коле́но	kol'éno	коля́но	kol'áno	koleno	kolano	kòl(j)eno	kolȉno	kolẹ́no	колено/ница	koleno/nica
hand	*rǭkà	f. ā (c)	рука́	ruká	ръка́	rǝká	ruka	ręka	rúka (rȗku)	rūkȁ (rȗku)	róka	рака	raka
wing	*krīdlò	n. o (b)	крыло́	kryló	крило́	kriló	křídlo	skrzydło	krílo	(Orb.) krīlȍ	krílo	крило	krilo
belly	*bŗȗxo, *bŗȗxъ	m./n. o (c)	брю́хо	br'úxo	корем, стомах, търбух	korem, stomah, tǝrbuh	břicho	brzuch	trbuh	---	trẹ́buh (trebúha)	стомак, желудник	stomak, želudnik
guts	*červo		вну́тренности, кишки́	vnútr'ennost'i, k'išk'í	въ́трешности, черва́	vǝ́trešnosti, červá	vnitřnosti, střeva	wnętrzności, trzewia (ścierwo[table 7])	cr(ij)evo		črevo, črevẹ́sje, drobọ̑vje	црева	creva
neck	*šija, *šьja		ше́я	š'éja /šéja/	врат, ши́я	vrat, šíja	krk	szyja, kark	vrat, šija		vrat	врат	vrat
shoulder	*pletjè	n. jo (b)	плечó	plečó	рамо, плещи (pl.)	ramo, pleští pl.	plec	plecy pl.[table 8], ramię [table 9]	pléće, rame	(Novi) plećȅ	rama, plẹ́ča	рамо	ramo
breast	*grǫ̑dь	f. i (c)	грудь	grud'	гръд	grǝd	prsa, hruď	pierś; OPl. grędzi (pl.)	grȗd, prsa		prsi, grudi, nẹ́drje	града	grada
heart	*sь̏rdьce	n. jo (c)	се́рдце	s'érdc'e /s'érce/	сърце́	sǝrcé	srdce	serce (OPl. serdce)	sȑce (sȑca)		srcẹ̑ (srcá)	срце	srce
liver	*ę̄trò	n. o (b)		játro/jatró[table 10]	черен дроб, джигер	cheren drob, džiger	játra (pl.)	(wątroba)	jȅtra (pl.)	(Orb.) j^iẽtra (pl.)	jẹ́tra (pl.)	џигер, црн дроб	džiger, crn drob
to drink	*pìti	v.	пить	p'it'	да пи́я	da píja	píti	pić	pȉti (pȉjēm)	pȉti (pījȅš)	píti (píjem)	да пие	da pie
to eat	*ě̀sti	v.	есть	jest'	да ям	da jam	jísti	jeść	jȅsti (jȅdem)	ȉsti/ĩsti (3sg. idẽ)	jẹ́sti (jẹ́m)	да јаде	da jade
to gnaw	*grỳzti	v. (c)	грызть	gryzt'	да гризя	da grize	hryzat	gryźć	grȉsti (grízēm)	grȉsti (2sg. grīzȅš)	grísti (grízem)	да гризе	da grize
to suck	*sъsàti	v.	соса́ть	sosát' (sosú, sos'ót)	(су́ча)	(súča)	sát (saji)	ssać (ssę)	sisati		sesáti (sesȃm)	да цица	da cica
to spit	*pjь̀vati	v. (a)	плева́ть	pl'evát' (pljujú, plujót)	плю́я	pljúja; pljúvam	plivat (plivu)	pluć (pluję), (arch. plwać)	pljùvati (pljȕjēm)		pljúvati (pljúvam)	да плука	da pluka
to vomit	*bljьvàti	v.	блева́ть	bl'evát' (bljujú, bljujót)	повръщам, бълвам	povrǝ́shtam, bǝ́lvam	blít (bliju)	wymiotować, zwracać, rzygać; OPl. bluć (bluj̨ę)	bljùvati (bljȕjēm), povraćati	(Orb.) bljȕvat (3sg. bljȗje/bljȕva)	brùhati, bljuváti (bljúvam/bljújem)	да повраќа	da povrakja
to breathe	*dyxati	v.	дышать	dyshat' (dial.)	ди́шам	díšam	dýchat (dýchám)	oddychać; dychać (colloq.), dyszeć[table 11]	dísati (dȋšēm/dȋhām)	dȉhati (2sg. dȉšeš)	díhati (dȋham)	да дише	da diše
to laugh	*smьjàti sę	v. (c)	смея́ться	sm'eját's'a (smejús', smejóts'a)	сме́я се	sméja se	smát se (směju se)	śmiać się (śmieję się)	smìjati se (smìjēm se)	(Vrg.) smījȁti se (smijȅš se)	smejáti se (smẹ́jem se/smejím se)	да се смее	da se smee
to see	*vìděti	v. (a)	ви́деть	v'íd'et' (1sg. v'ížu, 3sg. v'íd'it)	ви́ждам	vídja, víždam	vidět (vidím)	widzieć	vȉd(j)eti (vȉdīm)	vìti (2sg. vȉdīš)	vídeti (vȋdim)	да види	da vidi
to hear	*slušati		слу́шать	slúšat'	слу́шам, чу́вам	slúšam, čúvam	slyšet (slyším)	słyszeć	slušati		slišati (slišim)	да слушне	da slušne
to know, be familiar with	*znàti	v. (a)	знать	znat' (znáju)	зна́я; знам	znája; znam	znát (znám)	znać	znȁti (znȃm)	znȁti (2sg. znå̑š)	poznáti (poznȃm)	да знае, да познава	da znae, da poznava
to know, understand	*věděti	v.	ведать	v'édat'[table 12]	знам, разбирам	znam, razbiram	vědět (vím)	wiedzieć (wiem)	znati		vẹ́deti (vẹ́m)	да разбере	da razbere
to think	*mysliti		мы́слить	mýsl'it'	ми́сля	míslja	myslet (myslím)	myśleć	misliti		misliti (mislim)	да мисли	da misli
to smell	*čuti		ню́хать, чу́ять	n'úkhat', čújat'	мири́ша, ду́ша	miríša, dúša	vonět (voním), čichat (čichám)	czuć, wąchać[table 13], wonieć[table 14]	mirisati		vọ̑hati, vọ̑njati, duhati	да мирисне	da mirisne
to fear	*bojati sę		боя́ться	boját's'a	страху́вам се, боя се	straxúvam se, boja se	bát se	bać się (boję się), płoszyć się, strachać się(arch.), lękać się	bojati se		bati se	да се плаши	da se plaši
to sleep	*sъpati		спать	spat'	спя	spja	spát	spać	spavati		spati	да спие	da spie
to live	*žìti	v. (c)	жить	ž'it' /žyt'/	живе́я	živéja	žít	żyć	žív(j)eti, 1sg. žívīm	žīvȉti, 2sg. žīvȅš	živẹ́ti	да живее	da živee
to die	*merti		умира́ть	um'irát'	уми́рам	umíram	umírat	umierać, mrzeć	umr(ij)eti, umriti		umrẹ́ti	да умре	da umre
to kill	*ubiti		убива́ть	ub'ivát'	уби́вам	ubívam	zabíjet	zabijać, ubijać	ubiti		ubíti	да убие	da ubie
to fight	*boriti sę		боро́ться	borót's'a	бо́ря се, би́я се	bórja se, bíja se	bojovat	walczyć, bić się, wojować, zmagać się	boriti se, tući se		boríti se, bojeváti se	да се бори, да се тепа	da se bori, da se tepa
to hunt	*loviti		охо́титься	oxót'it's'a	лову́вам, ловя	lovúvam, lovja	lovit	polować,[table 15] łowić[table 16]	loviti		lovíti	да лови	da lovi
to hit	*udariti	v.	ударя́ть	udar'át'	у́дрям	údrjam	udeřit	uderzać	ùdariti, 1sg. ùdarīm		udáriti	да удри	da udri
to cut	*sěkti, *strigti, *rězati		ре́зать, руби́ть	r'ézat', rub'ít'	ре́жа, сека́	réža, seká	řezat	ciąć,[table 17] strzyc,[table 18], siec OPl. rzezać (arch.)	rezati		rẹ́zati	да сече	da seće
to split			разделя́ть	razd'el'át'	разде́лям	razdéljam	rozdělit	podzielić,[table 19] rozdzielić[table 20]	pod(ij)eliti, razd(ij)eliti		razdelíti	да подели, да раздели	da podeli, da razdeli
to stab	*bosti, *kolti		коло́ть	kolót'	буча́, прому́швам, пробо́ждам	bučá, promúšvam, probóždam	píchnout	pchnąć,[table 21] bóść[table 22] (coll. kolnąć)	bosti, ubosti		zabósti, prebósti	да убоде	da ubode
to scratch	*česati, *drapati		цара́пать	carápat'	че́ша, дра́скам	čéša, dráskam	škrábat	drapać,[table 23] skrobać,[table 24] czesać[table 25], grzebać[table 26]	češati, grebati, drapati		praskati	да гребе, драска, чеша, драпа	da grebe, draska, ćeša, drapa
to dig	*kopati		копа́ть	kopát'	копа́я	kopája	kopat	kopać	kopati		kopáti	да копа	da kopa
to swim, sail	*pluti; *plỳti	v.; v. (a)	плыть	plyt' (plyvú, plyv'ót)	плу́вам	plúvam	plout (pluju)	(pływać), pluć[table 27]	plȉvati		plúti (plújem/plóvem)	да плива, да едри	da pliva, da edri
to swim, sail	*plàvati	v. (a)	пла́вать	plávat'	пла́вам	plávam	plavat	pływać, pławić się,[table 28] OPl. pławać	plȉvati		plávati (plȃvam)	да плива, да едри	da pliva, da edri
to fly	*letěti		лета́ть	l'etát'	летя́	letjá	létat	latać, lecieć	let(j)eti		letẹ́ti (letím)	да лета	da leta
to walk	*xoditi	v.	ходи́ть	xod'ít'	хо́дя	xódja	chodit	chodzić	hòdati	hodȉti	hodíti (hǫ́dim)	да оди	da odi
to go	*jьti	v.	идти́	idt'í (idú, id'ót)	вървя, отивам	vǝ́rvja, otivam	jít (jdu)	iść (idę)	ìći (ȉdēm)		íti (grem)	да замине	da замине
to come			приходи́ть, прийти́	pr'ixod'ít', pr'ijt'í	и́двам, ида, дохождам	ídvam, ida, dohoždam	přicházet, přijít	przychodzić, przyjść, dojść	doći, prići		priti	да дојде	da dojde
to lie (as in a bed)	*ležati		лежа́ть	l'ežát'	лежа́	ležá	ležet	leżeć	ležati, lijegati		ležáti (ležím)	лежам	ležam
to sit	*sěsti		сиде́ть	s'id'ét'	седя́	sedjá	sedět	siedzieć	s(j)esti		sedẹ́ti (sedím)	да седне	da sedne
to stand	*stati		стоя́ть	stoját'	стоя́, ставам	stojá, stavam	stát	stać, stawać, stojeć(arch./dial.)	stati, stajati		vstáti	да стане	da stane
to turn	*vьrtě̀ti	v. (c)	верте́ть	v'ert'ét' (1sg. v'erčú, 3sg. v'ért'it)	въртя́	vǝrtjá	vrtět	(obracać), wiercić	vŕt(j)eti (vŕtīm)	vrtȉti (2sg. vrtĩš)	vrtẹ́ti (vrtím)	да врти, да заврти	da vrti, da zavrti
to turn, return	*vortìti	v. (b)	воротить, вернуть	vorot'ít' (1sg. voročú, 3sg. vorót'it)[table 29] vernut'	връщам	vrǝshtam	vrátit	wrócić	vrátiti (1sg. vrȃtīm)	vrå̄tȉti (2sg. vrå̃tīš)	vrníti	да се врати	da se vrati
to fall	*pasti		па́дать	pádat'	па́дам	pádam	padat	spadać/padać, paść/spaść	pasti		pasti	да падне	da padne
to give	*dati		дава́ть	davát'	да́вам	dávam	dávat	dawać, dać	dati		dati	да даде	da dade
to hold	*dьržati		держа́ть	d'eržát'	държа́	dǝržá	držet	trzymać, dzierżyć	držati		držáti (držím)	да држи	da drži
to squeeze	*tiskati; *žęti	v. (b)	сжима́ть	sž'imát' /žžymát'/	сти́скам, ма́чкам	stískam, máčkam	mačkat	ściskać, wyżymać[table 30]	stiskati		stiskati	да стеска, да стега	da steska, da stega
to rub	*terti		тере́ть	t'er'ét'	три́я, тъ́ркам	tríja, tǝ́rkam	třít	trzeć	trljati		drgniti, trẹ́ti	да трие	da trie
to wash	*myti		мыть	myt'	ми́я, пера́	míja, perá	mýt	myć, prać[table 31]	oprati, umiti		umíti, opráti	да мие, да пере	da mie, da pere
to wipe			вытира́ть	vyt'irát'	бъ́рша, три́я	bǝ́rša, tríja	vytírat	wycierać, otrzeć	obrisati, brisati		brisati, otrẹ́ti	да бриши	da briši
to pull	*pьxati		тяну́ть	t'anút'	дъ́рпам, те́гля, вла́ча	dǝ́rpam, téglja, vláča	táhnout	ciągnąć, wlec[table 32]	potegnuti, vući		vlẹ́či, potegníti	да влече, да тегне	da vleće, da tegne
to push			толка́ть, пиха́ть	tolkát', p'ixát'	нати́скам, бу́там	natískam, bútam	tlačit	pchać, wcisnąć[table 33], tłoczyć[table 34]	gurnuti		potisniti, poriniti	да турка	da turka
to throw	*kydati, *mesti, *vergti v.		броса́ть, кида́ть	brosát', k'idát'	хвъ́рлям	xvǝ́rljam	házet; OCz. vrci (1sg. vrhu)	rzucać, miotać	|v^eȑć, 2sg. v^eȑžeš	vrẹ́či	да фрли	da frli
to tie	*vę̄zàti	v. (b)	вяза́ть	v'azát'	връ́звам	vrǝ́zvam	vázat	wiązać	vézati, 1sg. véžēm	vēzȁti, 2sg. vēžeš	vẹ́zati	да врзе	da vrze
to sew	*šiti		шить	š'it' /šyt'/	ши́я	šíja	šít	szyć	šiti		sejati	да сошие	da sošie
to read, count	*čitati	v.	чита́ть	č'itát'	чета	cheta	číst (čtu)	czytać	čìtati (čìtām)	čȉtati (2sg. čȉtå̄š)	brati (berem), čítati (čítam)	да чита, да рачуна	da čita, da računa
to speak, talk	*govorìti	v.	говори́ть	govor'ít'	говоря	govórja	mluvit, hovořit	rozmawiać, mówić, gwarzyć OPl. goworzyć; gaworzyć[table 35]	govòriti (gòvorīm)	govȍrīti (2sg. govȍrīš)	govoríti (govorím)	да говори, да зборува	da govori, da zboruva
to show	*kāzàti	v.	каза́ть	kazát'	показвам	pokazvam	ukázat	pokazać	kázati (kȃžēm)	kå̄zȁti (2sg. kå̃žeš)	kázati (kážem)	да покаже	da pokaže
to sing	*pěti	v. (c)	петь	p'et' (pojú, pojót)	пе́я	péja (2sg. péeš)	zpívat (zpívám), pět (pěji)	śpiewać (śpiewam), piać (pieję)[table 36]	p(j)evati		pẹ́ti (pójem)	да пее	da pee
to play	*jьgrati		игра́ть	igrát'	игра́я	igrája	hrát	grać, igrać	igrati		igráti, igráti se	да игра	da igra
to flow	*tekti		течь	t'eč'	тече	teče	téct	ciec, cieknąć	teći		teči	да тече	da teče
to freeze	*mьrznǫti		замерзáть	zam'erzát'	замръ́звам	zamrǝ́zvam	zamrznout	marznąć, zamarzać	mrznuti		zamrzniti	да замрзне	da zamrzne
to swell	*puxnǫti		пу́хнуть	púxnut'	подпу́хвам, оти́чам, поду́вам се	podpúxvam, otíčam, podúvam se	opuchnout, otéct	puchnąć, rozdąć (się)	oteknuti, oteći		oteči	да потечи	da poteči
sun	*sъlnьce		со́лнце	sólnc'e /sónce/	слъ́нце	slǝ́nce	slunce	słońce	sunce		sọ̑nce	сонце	sonce
moon	*luna, *měsęcь		луна́, ме́сяц	luná, m'és'ac	луна́, месец, месечина	luná, mesec, mesečina	měsíc	księżyc, OPl. miesiąc	m(j)esec		mẹ́sec	месечина	mesečina
star	*gvězda		звезда́	zv'ezdá	звезда́	zvezdá	hvězda	gwiazda	zv(ij)ezda		zvẹ́zda	ѕвезда	dzvezda
water	*vodà	f. ā (c)	вода́	vodá (acc. vódu)	вода́	vodá	voda	woda	vòda (acc. vȍdu)	vodȁ (acc. vȍdu)	vóda	вода	voda
rain	*dъždь		дождь	dožd' /došš', došt'/	дъжд	dǝžd	déšť	deszcz, OPl. deżdż (gen. deszczu/dżdżu)	kiša, dažd		dǝž	дожд	dožd
river	*rěka		река́	r'eká	река́	reká	řeka	rzeka	r(ij)eka		rẹ́ka	река	reka
lake	*(j)ezero		о́зеро	óz'ero	е́зеро	ézero	jezero	jezioro	jezero		jẹ́zero	езеро	ezero
sea	*more, *morě		мо́ре	mór'e	море́	moré	moře	morze	more		mọ̑rje	море	more
salt	*solь		соль	sol'	сол	sol	sůl	sól	so(l)		sọ̑l	сол	sol
stone	*kamy		ка́мень	kám'en'	ка́мък, камъни (pl.)	kámǝk, kamǝni (pl.)	kámen	kamień (dim. kamyk)	kamen		kamen	камен	kamen
sand	*pěsъkъ		песо́к	p'esók	пя́сък	pjásǝk	písek	piasek	p(ij)esak		pẹ́sek	песок	pesok
dust	*porxъ		пыль	pyl'	прах	prax	prach	pył, kurz, proch	prašina, prah		prah	прав, прашина	prav, prašina
earth	*zemľà	f. jā (b/c)	земля́	z'eml'á (acc. z'éml'u)	земя́	zemjá	země	ziemia	zèmlja (acc. zȅmlju)	zemļȁ (acc. zȅmļu)	zémlja	земја	zemja
cloud	*tǫča		ту́ча, о́блако	túča, óblako	о́блак	óblak	oblak	chmura, obłok	oblak		oblák	облак	oblak
fog	*mьglà		мгла, туман	mgla, tuman	мъгла́	mǝglá	mlha	mgła	magla		megla	магла	magla
sky	*nȅbo		нёбо	n'óbo	небе́	nebé	nebe	niebo	nebo		nebọ̑	небо	nebo
wind	*vě̀trъ	m. o (a)	ве́тер	v'ét'er	вя́тър	vjátǝr	vítr	wiatr	v(j)ȅtar (v(j)ȅtra)	vȉtar (vȉtra)	vệtǝr	ветер	veter
snow	*sněgъ		снег	sn'eg	сняг	snjag	sníh	śnieg	sn(ij)eg		snẹ́g	снег	sneg
ice	*ledъ		лёд	l'od	лед	led	led	lód	led		lẹ́d	мраз, лед	mraz, led
smoke	*dymъ		дым	dym	дим, пу́шек	dim, púšek	dým	dym	dim		dim	чад, дим	čad, dim
fire	*ognь		ого́нь	ogón'	о́гън	ógǝn	oheň	ogień (ognia)	vatra, oganj		ogenj	оган	ogan
ash	*pepelъ		пе́пел	p'ép'el	пе́пел	pépel	popel	popiół	pepeo		pepẹ́l	пепел	pepel
to burn	*gorěti, *paliti		горе́ть, пыла́ть	gor'ét', pylát'	горя́, паля́	gorjá, paljá	hořet	palić, arch. gorzeć	goreti/goriti		gorẹ́ti	да гори	da gori
way	*pǫ̃tь	m. i (b)	путь	put'	път	pǝt	pout' (fem.)[table 37]	droga, (arch. pątnik [table 38]) OPl. pąć	pȗt (púta)	pũt (pũta)	pǫ́t	пат	pat
mountain	*gorà	fem. ā (c)	гора́	gorá	гора́, планина	gorá[table 39], planina	hora	góra	gòra (gȍru), planina	gorȁ (gȍru)	góra	гора, планина	gora, planina
red	*čьrmьnъ	adj. o		č'er'emnój/č'er'ómnyj (dial.)[table 40]	червено	červeno	čermný/črmný (Kott)	(dial. czermny)	crveno		črmljen	црвено	crveno
red	*čьrv(j)enъ	adj. o		č'er'evl'onyj (obs.)[table 41]	черве́н	červén	červený	czerwony, czerwień	cr̀ven		rdeč	црвен/но/на/ни	crven/no/na/ni
green	*zelènъ	adj. o (b)	зелёный	z'el'ónyj	зеле́н	zelén	zelený	zielony, zieleń	zèlen, zelèna, zelèno	zelẽn, zelenȁ, zelenȍ	zelèn, zeléna	зелен/но/на/ни	zelen/no/na/ni
yellow	*žьltъ	adj. o	жёлтый	ž'óltyj /žóltyj/	жълт	žǝlt	žlutý	żółty, żółć, żółcień	žȗt, f. žúta	žȗt, f. žūtȁ, n. žȗto	rumén, žȏłt, žółta	жолт/то/та/ти	żolt/то/та/ти
white	*bělъ		бе́лый	b'élyj	бял	bjal	bílý	biały, biel	b(ij)eli		bẹ́l	бел/о/а/и	bel/о/а/и
black	*čьrnъ		чёрный	č'órnyj	че́рен	čéren	černý	czarny, czerń	crn		črn	црн/о/а/и	crn/о/а/и
night	*noktь		ночь	noč'	нощ	nošt	noc	noc	noć		nọ̑č	ноќ	nokj
day	*dьnь		день	d'en'	ден	den	den	dzień	dan (dana)		dan (dnẹ́, dnẹ́va)	ден	den
year	*godъ, *rokъ		год	god	годи́на	godína	rok	rok(pl.lata), godzina[table 42]	godina		lẹ́to	година	godina
warm	*teplъ, *toplъ		тёплый	t'óplyj	то́пло	tóplo	teplý	ciepły	topao		toplo	топло	toplo
cool, cold	*xoldьnъ	adj. o (c)	холо́дный	xolódnyj	хла́д/ен(но/на/ни), студен(о/а/и)	xlád/en (no/na/ni), studen(o/a/i)	chladný	chłodny	hládan	hlå̑dan	hládǝn	ладно	ladno
full	*pьlnъ		по́лный	pólnyj	пъ́лен	pǝ́len	plný	pełny, pełen	pun		pọ̑łn	полн	poln
new	*novъ		но́вый	nóvyj	нов	nov	nový	nowy	nov		nov	нов	nov
old	*starъ		ста́рый	stáryj	стар	star	starý	stary	star		star	стар	star
good	*dobrъ		хоро́ший, добрый	xoróš'ij, dobryj	добъ́р	dobǝ́r	dobrý	dobry	dobar		dọ̑ber	добар, добро	dobar, dobro
bad	*zъlъ	adj. o	злой	zloj; zol, zla, zlo[table 43]	лош, зъл	loš, зǝ́л	zlý	zły	zȁo, zlȁ, zlȍ		zli, zlà, zlo	лош, зол, зла	loš, zol, zla
rotten	*gnjilъ		гнило́й	gn'ilój	гнил	gnil	shnilý	zgniły	truo		gnil	гнил	gnil
dirty			гря́зный	gr'áznyj	мръ́сен	mrǝ́sen	špinavý	brudny	prljav		umázan	валкано	valkan
straight	*prostъ, *pravъ		прямо́й	pr'amój	прав	prav	přímý	prosty; prawy[table 44], równy[table 45]	prav		raven	прав, рамен	prav, ramen
round	*krǫglъ		кру́глый	krúglyj	кръ́гъл	krǝ́gǝl	kulatý / okrouhlý	krągły/okrągły	okrugao		okrọ̑gel	кружно, округло	kružno, okruglo
sharp	*ostrъ		о́стрый	óstryj	о́стър	óstǝr	ostrý	ostry	oštar		ọ̑stǝr	остро	ostro
dull	*tǫpъ		тупо́й	tupój	тъп	tup	tupý	tępy	tup		tọ̑p	тапо	tapo
smooth	*gladъkъ		гла́дкий, ро́вный	gládk'ij, róvnyj	гла́дък, ра́вен	gládǝk, ráven	hladký	gładki	gladak		gladek	мазно	mazno
wet	*mokrъ		мо́крый	mókryj	мо́кър	mókǝr	mokrý	mokry	mokar		mọ̑ker	мокро	mokro
dry	*suxъ		сухо́й	suxój	сух	sux	suchý	suchy	suh/suv		suh	суво	suvo
correct			пра́вильный	práv'il'nyj	пра́вилен	právilen	správný	poprawny, właściwy, prawilny(slang)	pravilan		pravílen	правилно, точно	pravilno, točno
near	*blizъ		бли́зкий	bl'ízk'ij	бли́зък	blízǝk	blízký	bliski	blizak		blizu	близу, блиско	blizu, blisko
far	*dalekъ		далёкий	dal'ók'ij	дале́чен	daléčen	daleký	daleki	dalek		daleč, daljen	далеку	daleku
right	*pravъ		пра́вый	právyj	де́сен	désen	pravý	prawy	desni		dẹ́sǝn	десно	desno
left	*lěvъ		ле́вый	lévyj	ляв	ljav	levý	lewy	l(ij)evi		lẹ́vi	лево	levo
at	*po, *u	prep./pref.	при, у	pr'i, u	при, у, на	pri, u, na	při, u	przy, u	u; u-		pri	кaj	kaj
in(to)	*vъ(n)	prep.	в	v; vn-	в	v	v; v(n)-	w(e); wn-	u; va-		v	в	v
with	*sъ(n)		с	s	с(със)	s(sǝs)	s	z	s(a)		s, z	со	so
and	(j)ь, *a		и, а	i, a	и, а	i, a	a, i	i, a	i, a		in	и, а	i, a
if	*(j)ako		е́сли	jésl'i	ако́	akó	jestli	jeśli, jeżeli, jak(coll.)	ako, ukoliko		če, ko	ако	ako
because	*dělja, *dьlja, děljьma		потому́ что	potomú čto /što/	защо́то	zaštóto	protože	bo, dlatego że, ponieważ, za to[table 46], temu, że(coll. or dial.), przeto, że(arch.	zato (što, jer)		zatọ̑, zatọ̑ ker	затоа што, зашто	zatoa što, zašto
name	*(j)ьmę		и́мя	ím'a	и́ме	íme	jméno	imię, arch. miano	ime		imẹ́	име	ime

1. "adder"
2. "venomous snake, adder"
3. "sheepskin coat"
4. "tuft of hair"
5. "braid, plait"
6. "braid, mane"
7. "carcass"
8. "back"
9. "arm(limb)"
10. "entrails, eggs"
11. "pant, gasp"
12. "manage"; "know" (obs.)
13. "to smell", transitive
14. "to smell, intransitive"
15. "hunt, chase, prowl, course"
16. "hunt, fish, catch, snare"
17. "cut, slice, chop"
18. "cut, mow, trim, shear"
19. "split, divide, separate, share, distribute"
20. "split (up), (divide up), disunite, pull apart, separate, parcel, give away, share, distribute, provide, disperse"
21. "push"
22. "stab, spike, prick, butt"
23. "scratch, scrape, irritate, rub"
24. "scratch, scrape, rasp, scrub, grate, scribble"
25. "comb, brush"
26. "to rummage, to dig"
27. "spit, sputter"
28. "wallow"
29. "bring back"
30. "to squeeze(mainly clothes)from water"
31. "to wash clothes"
32. "to drag"
33. "to push f.ex. a button"
34. "to push f.ex. steam"
35. "babble, coo"
36. "to crow, to sound like a rooster"
37. "pilgrimage, journey"
38. "pilgrim"
39. "woods"
40. "red-haired, ginger"
41. "dark red"
42. "hour"
43. "angry"
44. "righteous"
45. "even"
46. "for that")

Conventions in the table

• Common Slavic accents follow Chakavian conventions: ã (long rising), à (short rising), ȃ (long falling), ȁ (short falling), ā (length in unstressed syllable).
• The accent pattern (a, b or c) of Common Slavic nouns, verbs and adjectives is indicated. These patterns are as follows: a = consistent root accent; b = predominant suffix accent; c = mobile accent.
• Nouns are given in the nominative singular; a form in parentheses is genitive singular except as indicated (acc. = accusative singular, pl. = nominative plural).
• Verbs are given in the infinitive (but the first singular present in Bulgarian, which has no infinitives). A form in parentheses is first singular present except as indicated (2sg. = second singular, 3sg. = third singular). A second form in parentheses is third singular present.
• When multiple forms of an adjective are given, the order is masculine, feminine, neuter.
• Chakavian forms are given in the Vrgada dialect except as indicated (Novi = Novi dialect, Orb. = Orbanići dialect).

Transcription of Russian and Bulgarian

Transcription of Bulgarian follows the standard conventions for academic transliteration of Cyrillic, with the exception that Cyrillic ъ is represented as ǝ instead of ă for ease of reading, particularly when combined with a stress mark (ǝ́ instead of ắ). This is a one-to-one transliteration that directly represents the spelling of Cyrillic. This transliteration also represents Bulgarian phonology quite well (unlike the situation in Russian).

Transcription of Russian is based on the same standard, but deviates from it in order to consistently represent palatalization (always written with a following apostrophe, e.g. l', n', t', v') and the phoneme /j/ (always written j), both of which are spelled in multiple ways in Cyrillic. The following indicates how to convert between the two:

Cyrillic letters	Letter class	Academic transliteration	This article's transcription
а э ы о у	Non-palatal vowels	a è y o u	a e y o u
я е и ё ю	Palatal vowels	ja e i ë ju	If following a consonant letter, a e i o u with preceding apostrophe ('); elsewhere, ja je ji jo ju.
й ў	Semivowels	j ŭ	same
ь	Soft sign	'	same
ъ	Hard sign	''	not written
щ	A consonant sign	šč	šš'

The result is that this article's transcription is almost directly phonemic, making it significantly easier for readers not familiar with the complications of Cyrillic spelling. Note that the transcription used here continues the standard practice of representing the Cyrillic letters ы и as y i, although they are normally considered allophones of each other. This is because the pronunciation of the two letters is significantly different, and Russian ы normally continues Common Slavic *y [ɨ], which was a separate phoneme.

The letter щ is conventionally written št in Bulgarian, šč in Russian. This article writes šš' in Russian to reflect the modern pronunciation [ɕɕ].

Both transcriptions indicate stress with an acute accent (á é í ó ú ý ǝ́). Stress is indicated in Cyrillic in the same fashion, except with the letter ё, which is always stressed.

Pronunciation

Capsule summary of Russian pronunciation

The transcription used in this article is morphophonemic rather than strictly phonemic, i.e. it writes the underlying phonemes rather than the phonemes actually heard when pronounced. The difference occurs particularly in the representation of unstressed vowels, where multiple underlying phonemes merge. For example, underlying e and i merge into the same sound when unstressed, but the difference is revealed in related forms based on the same root: e.g. z'eml'á [zʲɪmˈlʲæ] "land" has accusative z'éml'u [ˈzʲemlʲʉ], but z'imá [zʲɪˈma] "winter" has accusative z'ímu [ˈzʲimu]. When the transcription (which is derived from the spelling) disagrees with the actual morphophonemic pronunciation, the latter is indicated specially, e.g. čto /što/; š'it' /šyt'/; ž'óltyj /žóltyj/; ž'ená /žená/ [ʐɨˈna]; sólnc'e /sónce/ [ˈsont͡sə]. This occurs mostly with the letters š, ž, c, which are normally written palatal but pronounced non-palatal; but it is also due to occasional assimilations. Note that the rules for unstressed vowels still need to be applied (see below).

• á, é, í etc. indicates stress.
• š [ʂ], ž [ʐ] and c [t͡s] are never palatal, while č [t͡ɕ] and šš [ɕɕ] are always palatal, regardless of spelling.
• y [ɨ]: allophone of i [i] after non-palatal consonants, but written differently by convention. Written i sounds as y after š, ž, c, regardless of whether indicated as palatal in the spelling: ž'it [ʐɨtʲ] "to live".
• Vowel mergers in unstressed syllables are extensive, but not written.
  • After palatal, vowels a, o, e, i all merge as [ɪ]: t'až'ólyj [tʲɪˈʐolɨj] "heavy", v'el'ík'ij [vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj] "big".
  • After non-palatal, vowels a and o merge as [ɐ] directly before the stress and absolutely word-initially, [ə] elsewhere: molokó [məlɐˈko] "milk", sobáka [sɐˈbakə] "dog", č'elov'ék [t͡ɕɪlɐˈvʲek] "man (human)".
  • After non-palatal, vowels e and i/y merge as [ɨ]: ž'ená [ʐɨˈna].
  • Exception: Absolutely word-finally after a palatal, e, i merge as [ɪ] but a, o merge as [ə]: s'ém'a [ˈsʲemʲə] "seed".
• Obstruents are devoiced word-finally, and agree in voicing in a cluster before another obstruent: muž [muʂ] "husband", vs'o [fsʲɵ] "everything", vokzál [vɐɡˈzal] "railway station". But v does not trigger voicing of preceding obstruent, nor is it devoiced.
• The reflexive suffix -s'a and reflexive infinitive -t'-s'a are pronounced without palatalization, i.e. as if written -sa and -t-sa.

Capsule summary of Bulgarian pronunciation

• á, é, í etc. indicates stress.
• Stressed ǝ is actually [ɤ]; unstressed a and ǝ tend to merge as [ɐ].
• Obstruent voicing/devoicing as in Russian.

Capsule summary of Czech pronunciation

• á, é, í etc. indicates vowel length.
• ů [uː] < *ó. ou [oʊ̯] < *ú.
• h [ɦ], ch [x].
• č [tʃ], š [ʃ], ž [ʒ], ř [r̝] (a palatal fricative trill, sounding a bit like [rʑ]).
• ď [ɟ], ť [c], ň [ɲ]. Also indicated by d, t, n before i, í or ě.
• y = i but indicates normal rather than palatal pronunciation after d t n.
• ě = short e but signals palatal nature of previous consonant: dě, tě, ně = ďe, ťe, ňe; vě, fě, bě, pě = vje, fje, bje, pje; mě = mňe.
• Obstruent voicing/devoicing as in Russian. ř after obstruent is itself devoiced rather than trigger voicing: přímý [pr̝̊iːmiː] "straight".

Capsule summary of Slovak pronunciation

Capsule summary of Polish pronunciation

• Retroflex consonants: sz [ʂ], cz [t͡ʂ], ż [ʐ], rz [ʐ] < *ř (as in Czech), dż [d͡ʐ].
• Alveolopalatal consonants: ś or si [ɕ], ć or ci [t͡ɕ], ź or zi [ʑ], dź or dzi [d͡ʑ], ń or ni [ɲ].
• All consonants are palatalized before i. Note that alveolar s, z, n become alveolopalatal when palatalized, absorbing the i before another vowel: chodzić [ˈxɔd͡ʑit͡ɕ] "to walk", siedzieć [ˈɕɛd͡ʑɛt͡ɕ] "to sit".
• h or ch [x], w [v], ł [w].
• y [ɨ], ó [u] < *oː, ę [ɛ̃], ą [ɔ̃].
• Obstruent voicing/devoicing as in Russian and Czech. However, w and rz do not voice a preceding voiceless obstruent, but instead are devoiced: kwiat [kfʲat] "flower", przyjść [pʂɨjɕt͡ɕ] "to come" < *prʲijtʲ (cf. Russian pr'ijt'í).

Capsule summary of Serbo-Croatian pronunciation

• Accents: á (long rising), à (short rising), ȃ (long falling), ȁ (short falling), ā (length in unstressed syllable), ã (long rising in Chakavian dialect = Common Slavic neoacute).
• š [ʃ], č [tʃ], ž [ʒ], dž [dʒ], ć [tɕ], đ [dʑ], nj [ɲ], lj [ʎ].
• Russian-style obstruent voicing/devoicing does not occur.

Dialectal differentiation

After the three palatalizations of Proto-Slavic, dialectal variation became more apparent. Some dialects (such as Proto-East Slavic), applied the second regressive palatalization across an intervening *v.[1]

• Russian: *gwojzda > *gwězda > zvězda > [zʲvʲɪˈzda] ('star')
• Polish: *gwojzda > *gwězda > gwiazda > [ˈɡvʲazda] ('star')

Also, the realization of the palatalizations' sibilants varied a little amongst dialects. Belić (1921) argues that the phonetic character of the palatalizations was uniform throughout Common Slavic and that West Slavic languages developed *š later on by analogy.[2] In all dialects (except for Lechitic), [dz] was deaffricated to [z]:[1]

• Ukrainian: *zvizda> z'vizda; and zyrka/z'irka> Cf. Pol.: gwiazda-> GV/ZV + I + ZD; Z'/Z + Y/I + R + K +A ( zIr > vision).

The final cutoff point for the Proto-Slavic period was the change of *ě to *a after palatal consonants and *j, which then created *ča/*ka contrasts.[3] This, and the shortening and elision of weak yers (*ь/ĭ and *ъ/ŭ) (see Havlík's law) that created newly formed closed syllables[4] ended the period of syllabic synharmony characteristic of Common Slavic.

For many Common Slavic dialects—including most of West Slavic, all but the northernmost portions of East Slavic, and some western parts of South Slavic— *g lenited from a voiced velar plosive to a voiced velar fricative ([ɡ] > [ɣ]). Because this change was not universal and because it did not occur in a number of East Slavic dialects (such as Belarusian and South Russian) until after the application of Havlík's law, Shevelov (1977) calls into question early projections of this change and postulates three independent instigations of lenition, dating the earliest to before 900 AD and the latest to the early thirteenth century.[5]

Because the reflexes for the nasal vowels *ę and *ǫ differ so widely, it's very likely that their phonetic value in Late Proto-Slavic was not uniform.[6]

See also

• Slavic languages
• History of the Slavic languages
• Proto-Slavic language
• Indo-European vocabulary
• Wiktionary:Appendix:Swadesh lists for Slavic languages
• Slavic studies

References

1. Channon (1971:9) harvcoltxt error: no target: CITEREFChannon1971 (help)
2. Belić (1921:31)
3. Channon (1971:12) harvcoltxt error: no target: CITEREFChannon1971 (help)
4. Bethin (1997:13) harvcoltxt error: no target: CITEREFBethin1997 (help)
5. Shevelov (1977:137, 145)
6. Schenkdar (2002:74) harvcoltxt error: no target: CITEREFSchenkdar2002 (help)

Bibliography

• Belić, Aleksandar (1921), "Најмлађа (Трећа) Промена Задњенепчаних Сугласника k, g и h у Прасловенском Језику", Јужнословенски Филолог, II: 18–39
• Bethin, Christina Yurkiw (1998), Slavic Prosody: Language Change and Phonological Theory, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-59148-1
• Channon, Robert (1972), On the Place of the Progressive Palatalization of Velars in the Relative Chronology of Slavic, The Hague: Mouton
• Lehr-Spławiński, Tadeusz (1957), "Z dziejów języka prasłowiańskiego (Urywek z większej całości)", Езиковедски Изследвания В Чест На Академик Стефан Младенов, Sofia
• Schenkar, Alexander M. (2002), "Proto-Slavonic", in Comrie, Bernard; Corbett, Greville. G. (eds.), The Slavonic Languages, London: Routledge, pp. 60–124, ISBN 0-415-28078-8
• Shevelov, George Y. (1977), "On the Chronology of h and the New g in Ukrainian", Harvard Ukrainian Studies (PDF), vol 1, Cambridge: Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute, pp. 137–52, archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-31