How to Pronounce Slobodan Milošević

Meaning and Context

Slobodan Milošević, born on August 20, 1941, in Požarevac, Serbia, was a Serbian and Yugoslav politician whose rise to power and nationalist policies fundamentally shaped the violent dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. As President of Serbia from 1989 and later President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Milošević's promotion of Serbian nationalism, often termed "Greater Serbia," and his control over state media and security apparatus were central catalysts for the Yugoslav Wars, including the conflicts in Croatia, the Bosnian War, and the Kosovo War. His regime's actions, characterized by ethnic cleansing and widespread atrocities, led to his historic indictment for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague. The trial of Slobodan Milošević, which began in 2002, was a landmark in international law, though it ended without a verdict following his death in his prison cell in 2006. His legacy remains a deeply polarizing and critical chapter in modern Balkan history, symbolizing both the destructive power of ethno-nationalist rhetoric and the enduring challenges of achieving justice and reconciliation in the region.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The name "Slobodan Milošević" contains several diacritical marks that are often omitted or mistaken in non-Serbian contexts, leading to common misspellings. The correct Serbian spelling is "Слободан Милошевић," with the Latin alphabet version using a caron (háček) over the 's' and 'c' in "Milošević." Frequent errors include writing "Milosevic" (dropping all diacritics), "Miloshevich," or "Milosevich," which incorrectly apply a Russian-style "-vich" ending. The first name is sometimes misspelled as "Slobodon" or "Slabodan." In official and academic writing, the diacritics are often respected, but in common English-language media, the simplified "Milosevic" is widely accepted. It is also important to note the correct pronunciation: mee-LOH-sheh-vich, with the stress on the second syllable.

Example Sentences

Slobodan Milošević's trial at the ICTY was the first of a sitting former head of state by an international tribunal since the Nuremberg trials.

Historians often debate whether Milošević was a calculating architect of the Balkan conflicts or merely an opportunist who harnessed rising nationalist sentiments.

The policies enacted during Milošević's presidency led to severe international sanctions that crippled Yugoslavia's economy throughout the 1990s.

Despite his death before a verdict could be reached, the extensive evidence presented at The Hague meticulously documented the atrocities committed under his regime.

Many of Milošević's political tactics, including his iconic 1989 speech on the Field of Blackbirds, are studied as pivotal moments in the escalation of ethnic tensions.

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