Proto-Slavic

Proto-Slavic is the ancient, common ancestor language of all Slavic languages, spoken roughly between 500 and 1000 AD. It was a reconstructed language, meaning linguists deduced its features based on similarities among later Slavic languages like Russian, Polish, and Croatian. Proto-Slavic served as the linguistic foundation from which these languages evolved, carrying shared vocabulary, grammar, and sounds. Understanding it helps linguists trace how different Slavic languages developed their unique features over time, providing insight into the history, culture, and migrations of the Slavic peoples.