Serboi

The term "Serboi" is a proposed reconstructed Proto-Slavic ethnonym. It is often used in theories attempting to explain the origin and etymology of the name "Serb" (and related variants such as "Sorbs").

Theories connecting "Serb" to "Serboi" generally posit that the name derives from a Proto-Slavic root, but the exact meaning and reconstruction of *serb- and its possible extensions like *serb-oi remain debated among linguists and historians. These theories often rely on comparative linguistics, historical sources, and archaeological evidence to suggest connections between ancient populations and the modern-day Serbs and Sorbs.

Some hypotheses connect "Serboi" to words meaning "kinship," "alliance," or "relation" within the Proto-Slavic language family. Other hypotheses suggest links to Iranian or Sarmatian origins for the ethnonym, claiming "Serb-" derives from an older language that was later adopted by Proto-Slavic speakers. It is important to note that these theories are often contested and lack definitive proof.

The reconstruction of Proto-Slavic terms is inherently speculative, as there are no written records from the Proto-Slavic period. Therefore, the existence and meaning of "Serboi," as a direct ancestral ethnonym, remain a matter of scholarly debate and linguistic reconstruction. The term primarily appears in historical and linguistic discussions related to the origin of the ethnonym "Serb."