Bulgarian

A language of Bulgaria

ISO 639-3

bul

Autonym

български език‎ (bălgarski ezik)

Population

6,840,000 in Bulgaria (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 8,144,880.

Language Maps

Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1991, Constitution, Article 3).

Classification

Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern

Dialects

Palityan (Bogomil, Palitiani). Palityan dialect is functionally intelligible with standard Bulgarian. The Pomak dialect spoken in Greece is reportedly similar to Serbian [srp] and Bulgarian; geographical dialect variation toward each.

Typology

SVO; prepositions; noun head final; gender (masculine/feminine/neuter); vestiges of dual number; definite article affix; verb affixes mark person, number; tense and aspect; comparatives; 35 consonants, 6 vowels, 2 diphthongs; non-tonal; free stress.

Language Use

The Sopa are of Petecheneg origin and speak Bulgarian. Some also use English [eng] (European Commission 2006), Standard German [deu] (European Commission 2006).

Language Development

Fully developed. Bible: 1864–1923.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Bulgarian

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

Other Comments

Christian.

Also spoken in:

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Greece

Language nameBulgarian

Population Full

75,900 in Greece (2011 census). Based on nationality.

Location

Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region: Xanthi and 2 other departments.

Dialects

Pomak (Pomakci, Pomakika).

Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Spoken by Muslim Pomaks. Home. Also use Greek [ell], Turkish [tur].

Other Comments

Also referred to locally as Macedonian and Vlach. Vlach refers variously to varieties of Bulgarian, Romani, and Romanian in Romania, Greece, Albania, and Serbia. Many Greek [ell] loanwords from ancient Thracean and Illyrian. Viewed as Turks in Greece. Muslim.

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Hungary

Language nameBulgarian

Population Full

2,900 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 3,560 (2011 census).

Location

Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Budapest counties; Miskolc area.

Dialects

Palityan.

Status

4 (Educational).

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Moldova

Language nameBulgarian

Population Full

41,800 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 51,900 (2014 census).

Location

Cahul, Cantemir, Chisinau city, Gagauzia, Leova, and Taraclia districts.

Status

5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)).

Language Use

68% speak it as L1.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Romania

Language nameBulgarian

Population Full

6,520 in Romania (2014 UNSD).

Location

Arad and Timis counties: Banat region.

Dialects

Palityan (Bogomil, Palitiani).

Status

5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2007, Law No. 282, Ratification, European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Serbia

Language nameBulgarian

Population Full

13,300 in Serbia (2013 UNSD).

Location

Pčinja district: Bosiljgrad; Pirot district: Dmitrovgrad.

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Novi Pazar, Sjenica, Tutin (1991, Official Language Use Law No. 45, Article 3).

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Turkey

Language nameBulgarian

Population Full

358,000 in Turkey (Leclerc 2014c). 98% Pomak (Leclerc 2014c).

Location

Edirne and other western provinces: scattered.

Alternate Names

Pomak

Dialects

Pomak.

Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Spoken by Muslim Pomaks. Also use Turkish [tur].

Other Comments

Muslim.

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Ukraine

Language nameBulgarian

Population Full

131,000 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 205,000 (2001 census).

Location

Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Odessa, and Zaporizhia regions.

Status

5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Ethnologue

Bulgarian

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A language of Bulgaria

Also spoken in:

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