Σλάβους, or the Slavs, are a group of ethnolinguistic peoples primarily found in Eastern Europe, Central Europe, and Southeast Europe. They speak Slavic languages, which are part of the larger Indo-European language family. The Slavs are divided into three main branches: West Slavs, East Slavs, and South Slavs, each with distinct cultures and histories. Historically, the Slavs began to emerge as a distinct group around the 6th century AD. They played a significant role in the formation of various states and empires, such as the Kievan Rus and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Today, Slavic nations include Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, and Croatia, among others.