Here's the breakdown:
* "Slav" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*slovo*", meaning "word," "speech," or "language." This suggests that the name was originally based on their shared language.
* "Slavic" then became the term used to describe the people, languages, and cultures associated with this linguistic group.
It's important to note that:
* The term "Slavic" was likely adopted by outsiders, potentially by neighboring groups like the Byzantines or the Franks, who observed the Slavs as a distinct linguistic and cultural group.
* The Slavic people themselves have used various terms to refer to themselves throughout history, such as "Sloveni," "Srb," "Chorvati," etc. These terms were specific to individual tribes or regions.
So, while the exact origin of the term "Slavic" might be debated, it ultimately stems from the shared linguistic identity of the Slavic peoples and their use of the word "*slovo*."