hrvatsko sCroatian villages face serious challenges, including demographic decline, economic difficulties, and a general loss of interest from both the authorities and local residents in preserving and revitalizing rural communities. This paper was created out of the need for a deeper understanding of the cultural and linguistic characteristics of the small Slavonian village of Srednji Lipovac, and as an incentive for a broader discussion on the importance of preserving the identity of Croatian villages. The paper presents the rich cultural and traditional heritage of Srednji Lipovac, with a special emphasis on the specific dialect spoken by the villagers. Through qualitative research based on semi-structured interviews, the attitudes and experiences of the local population were examined. The sample of participants included six people divided into three groups: young people who studied outside Srednji Lipovac, long-time residents who have spent their entire lives in the village, and individuals who moved to or returned to the village after living elsewhere for a longer period. The general aim of the paper was to explore the cultural identity of Srednji Lipovac, with a particular focus on the linguistic features of the Slavonian dialect, in order to understand its historical, social, and cultural determinants. Furthermore, the specific objectives were to investigate the history of Srednji Lipovac and its cultural tradition, analyze the social and cultural factors that contributed to the cultural identity of Srednji Lipovac, identify the linguistic features of the Slavonian dialect in Srednji Lipovac, present the customs unique to Srednji Lipovac, and examine the perception of the local population regarding aspects of the 21st century that are affecting changes in culture and cultural identity.elo, identitet, jezik, kultura, tradicija