C G. Vlassis

The term 'Vlach' and its variants historically referred to speakers of Eastern Romance languages in Southeast Europe, encompassing regions both north and south of the Danube. While sometimes used for present-day Romanians, it primarily designates groups like the Aromanians, Megleno-Romanians, and Timok Romanians living south of the Danube in areas such as Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The term also evolved to denote shepherds and, in some regions, was used derogatorily for rural populations or non-Romance speakers.

The etymology of 'Vlach' traces back to a Celtic tribal name, adopted into Proto-Germanic as a word for 'stranger.' This evolved through Latin and Gothic to signify 'foreigner' or 'Romance-speaker,' and later 'shepherd.' The term spread across various languages, including Greek, Albanian, Slavic, and Hungarian, with cognates appearing in names for Wales, Wallonia, and even as an exonym for Italians in some cultures. Medieval sources used 'Vlach' as an exonym for Eastern Romance speakers, who themselves used endonyms like 'rumân' or 'român' (meaning 'Roman') and 'armãn' (for Aromanians).

Historically, the term 'Vlach' served as an exonym for speakers of Eastern Romance languages, appearing in medieval texts. Initially associated with agriculture and pastoralism, the practice of transhumant pastoralism became more prominent between the 14th and 19th centuries. Despite being known by terms like 'olah' (Hungarian), 'Vláchoi' (Greek), and 'Walachen' (German) in various European languages, the people themselves used endonyms such as 'rumân' or 'român,' derived from the Latin 'Romanus.' The Aromanians, for instance, identified as 'armãn' or 'rãmãn,' also stemming from the Latin term for Roman. The term 'Vlach' could also encompass a broader social category, sometimes referring to shepherds, or even non-Romance speaking groups, particularly in the western Balkans where it developed derogatory connotations related to rural inhabitants.

The word 'Vlach' and its numerous variations (Vlah, Valah, Wallachian, etc.) originate from the ethnonym of a Celtic tribe. This term was adopted into Proto-Germanic as '*Walhaz,' meaning 'stranger.' Through Latin and Gothic, it evolved to signify 'foreigner' or 'Romance-speaker,' and subsequently 'shepherd' or 'nomad.' This linguistic root spread widely, appearing in Greek as 'Vláhoi,' in Albanian as 'vllah,' and in Slavic languages as 'Vlah.' It also influenced Hungarian ('olah') and German ('Welsch'). Notably, variations of this root became exonyms for Italians in Polish ('Włochy') and Hungarian ('olasz'). Medieval Western sources also used terms like 'Blaci' and 'Balachi,' while Balkan groups were referred to by names such as 'Rumer,' 'Tzintzars,' and 'Morlachs.'

In contemporary scholarship, 'Vlachs' is used to identify Eastern Romance-speaking communities across the Balkans, particularly in Greece, Albania, and North Macedonia. In Serbia, the term 'Vlach' (Vlah, plural Vlasi) specifically refers to Romanian speakers, especially those residing in eastern Serbia. The term's association with pastoralism persists in modern Slovak, where 'Valasi' can denote shepherds. In the Czech Republic, the region of Moravian Wallachia ('Valašsko') and its inhabitants ('Valaši') bear names derived from this historical term. The term has also been applied to diverse groups, including the Moravian Vlachs (who speak a Slavic language but have Romanian origins), Morlachs, and Istro-Romanians, reflecting its broad and sometimes ambiguous historical application.