Litva
/ˈlɪt.və/noun
A historical or foreign-language name for Lithuania, especially in Slavic usage.
Did you know?The earliest known form, Litua, appears in a Latin record from 1009, where a missionary’s death helped place Lithuania on the historical map.
Etymological Timeline
1009
Medieval Latin
Litua
“The earliest recorded form of the name, appearing in the Annals of Quedlinburg.”
11th–13th Century
East Slavic
Литва (Litva)
“The name used for the Lithuanian lands and people in medieval Slavic records.”
13th Century
Old Lithuanian tradition
Lietuva
“The native Lithuanian name for Lithuania; its deeper origin remains disputed.”
Medieval Period
German
Litauen
“The German form of the country’s name, derived through medieval European naming traditions.”
Modern English
English
Litva
“A historical or foreign-language form referring to Lithuania, rather than the standard modern English name.”