Știați că „servus” înseamnă „sclav”, în latină? Cum a ajuns cuvântul o formă de salut în Transilvania? • Newsweek România

The word 'servus', meaning 'slave' in Latin, has evolved into a common greeting in Transylvania, influenced by German. Its usage extends to Hungarians and Saxons in the region. The term has historical roots in Roman antiquity, where it was a polite expression among the elite. Although it fell out of use during the Middle Ages, it was revived during the Renaissance by German nobles who sought to emulate Roman customs. The greeting 'servus' has parallels with the Italian 'ciao', both deriving from Latin terms for servitude. Despite its Latin origin, 'servus' entered Romanian through German influence, maintaining its form in both languages.