How Do You Spell EKAVIAN?

Pronunciation: [ɛkˈe͡ɪvi͡ən] (IPA)

"Ekavian" is a term used to describe a pronunciation system used in the Serbian language. The correct IPA spelling for this word is /ɛˈkaːvɪjɑn/. The word comes from the Serbian word "ekavica", which refers to the pronunciation of the letter "e" as "e" (as in "met") instead of "je" (as in "yet"). This pronunciation is found in some regions of Serbia and Montenegro. In contrast, the "ijekavian" system replaces "e" with "ije" (as in "field") and is more common in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

EKAVIAN Meaning and Definition

1. Ekavian is a linguistic term used to describe a specific dialectical variant of the Serbian language. It refers to the pronunciation and orthographic system of Serbian that primarily employs the "e" sound, rather than the "i" sound, in words where other dialects would use "i" or "i" mixed with "e". The term "ekavian" is derived from the Serbian word "ekavica," which means "the sound 'e'".

   In ekavian, the vowel "i" is pronounced as "e" in all positions, including both initial and medial sound positions. For example, in ekavian, the word "jelo" (meaning food) would be pronounced as "jelo," whereas in other dialects, such as the "ijekavian" dialect, it would be pronounced as "jelo". This distinction in pronunciation is also reflected in actual writing, where words are spelled with an "e" instead of an "i" corresponding to the pronunciation in ekavian dialects.

   The ekavian dialect is predominantly spoken in Serbia, Montenegro, and parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the official dialect of Serbia and has its roots in the Old Serbian language. The ekavian dialect has played a significant role in shaping the cultural and literary heritage of Serbia.

   Overall, ekavian refers to the dialect and pronunciation of the Serbian language that favors the "e" sound over the "i" sound, manifested both in spoken and written forms.

Common Misspellings for EKAVIAN

• wkavian
• skavian
• dkavian
• rkavian
• 4kavian
• 3kavian
• ejavian
• emavian
• elavian
• eoavian
• eiavian
• ekzvian
• eksvian
• ekwvian
• ekqvian
• ekacian
• ekabian
• ekagian
• ekafian
• ekavuan

Etymology of EKAVIAN

The word "ekavian" comes from the Serbian language. It is derived from the word "ekavština", which refers to the dialect or pronunciation pattern in which the vowel "ѣ" or "e" stayed unchanged, while it evolved into "je" in other dialects. The word "ekavian" is formed by adding the suffix "-an" to "ekav-" to turn it into an adjective, thus meaning "related to Ekavština".