The Žitava (Hungarian: Zsitva) is a river in southern Slovakia. It is the left tributary of the river Nitra. It flows into the Nitra near Šurany. It is 65.6 km (40.8 mi) long and its basin size is 907 km2 (350 sq mi).[1]: 72 The old branch of the Žitava, Stará Žitava, branches off near Dolný Ohaj and flows into the old branch of the Nitra near Martovce.[1]: 85
The name comes from Slavic žito: grain, corn. Žitava: probably "the river flowing through the grain fields".[2]
