The current city's name dates to the 7th century with the arrival of the Slavs. It is thought to derive from the phrase в (v) лес (les, “in the forest”) referencing the dense woods that once surrounded the area. However, some Slavists derive the name directly from the god Veles, protector of herds and commerce, reflecting the region's pastoral landscape of grassy hills and its proximity to the Vardar River.
Велес • (Veles) m (relational adjective велешки)
Велес • (Veles) m
Inherited from Old East Slavic Велесъ (Velesŭ). Likely cognate with вели́кий (velíkij) (compare бе́лый (bélyj) → беле́сый (belésyj)), thus ultimately deriving from Proto-Slavic *velь (“great”).
Ве́лес or Веле́с • (Véles or Velés) m anim (genitive Ве́леса or Веле́са, nominative plural Ве́лесы or Веле́сы, genitive plural Ве́лесов or Веле́сов)
singular | plural | |
---|---|---|
nominative | Ве́лес, Веле́с Véles, Velés |
Ве́лесы, Веле́сы Vélesy, Velésy |
genitive | Ве́леса, Веле́са Vélesa, Velésa |
Ве́лесов, Веле́сов Vélesov, Velésov |
dative | Ве́лесу, Веле́су Vélesu, Velésu |
Ве́лесам, Веле́сам Vélesam, Velésam |
accusative | Ве́леса, Веле́са Vélesa, Velésa |
Ве́лесов, Веле́сов Vélesov, Velésov |
instrumental | Ве́лесом, Веле́сом Vélesom, Velésom |
Ве́лесами, Веле́сами Vélesami, Velésami |
prepositional | Ве́лесе, Веле́се Vélese, Velése |
Ве́лесах, Веле́сах Vélesax, Velésax |