Vlach etymology

Etymology

The term "Vlach" is believed to derive from the Proto-Germanic word "walhaz", which originally referred to Celtic-speaking peoples in Central and Western Europe.

Meaning

"Vlach" has been used throughout history to refer to a variety of groups, with different meanings in different contexts:

• In the Roman Empire: Vlach referred to Celtic-speaking peoples living in the Balkans and parts of Central and Western Europe.
• In the Middle Ages: Vlach was applied to Romanian-speaking populations in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.
• In modern times: Vlach has been used to refer to:
  • Romanian-speakers: A group of Romance-speaking people living primarily in Romania, Moldova, and parts of Serbia, Ukraine, and Bulgaria.
  • Aromanians: A Romance-speaking group living in Greece, Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria.
  • Megleno-Romanians: Another Romance-speaking group living in Greece and North Macedonia.
  • Istro-Romanians: A small group of Romance-speakers living in Croatia.

Origin

The word "Vlach" was first used by Germanic tribes to refer to non-Germanic peoples living to the west of their territories. It is thought to have originated from the Proto-Indo-European root "*wel-", meaning "stranger" or "foreigner."

Over time, the term "Vlach" became associated with Celtic-speaking peoples in Central and Western Europe. As the Roman Empire expanded northward, the Vlachs were brought under Roman rule, and the term began to be used to refer to them.

With the decline of the Western Roman Empire, the Vlachs were left to form their own independent communities in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. They continued to be referred to as Vlachs by neighboring peoples, and the term eventually came to be associated with Romanian-speaking populations.

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