-ovo/-evo

-ovo/-evo is a widespread Slavic suffix indicating a placename. It is the neuter form of the Slavic possessive suffix -ov/-ev (meaning "belonging to") which is declined this way after selo (village), mesto (place or town) or another neutral noun, usually omitted in the toponym itself. The form -evo is used after palatal or palatalized consonants.

The suffix is spelt in a different manner in various Slavic scripts — it is -ово/-ево in Cyrillic and -owo/-ewo in Polish. In Romanian, Albanian and Turkish placenames of Slavic origin bearing the suffix are usually adapted as -ova. In Greek, borrowed placenames have either an -ovo or an -ova suffix.

Besides the placename use, the suffix is also featured in some Russian family names, such as those of Vladimir Nedobrovo, Ivan Durnovo and Bogdan Khitrovo.

Examples