The reconstructed autonym '''' is usually derived from the word ''slovo'' ("word"), originally denoting "people who speak (the same language)," i. e. people who understand each other. This is in contrast to the Slavic word denoting German people, namely , meaning "silent, mute people" (from Slavic  "mute, mumbling"). The word ''slovo'' ("word") and the related ''slava'' ("glory, fame") and ''slukh'' ("hearing") originate from the Proto-Indo-European root  ("be spoken of, glory"), cognate with Ancient Greek  ( "fame"), as in the name Pericles, Latin  ("be called"), and English .