Macedonian
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A language of Macedonia
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Macedonian Slavic
Autonym
македонски (Makedonski), македонски јазик (makedonski jazik)
Population
1,380,000 (2015). Ethnic population: 1,300,000 (2002 census). Total users in all countries: 1,612,550.
Location
Bitola, Debar-Galchnik, Gevgelija, Kichevo, Kratovo, Kumanovo, Prilep, Strumica and Veles municipalities; Lake Dojran area.
Language Maps
Language Status
1 (National). Statutory national language (1991, Constitution, Article 7(1)).
Classification
Dialects
Northern Macedonian, Southeastern Macedonian, Western Macedonian. Standard dialect recognized in 1944.
Typology
SVO; gender (masculine/feminine/neuter); definite article suffix; verb affixes mark person, number; passives (active, middle, passive); 26 consonant and 5 vowel phonemes; non-tonal; stress on antepenultimate syllable.
Language Use
Positive attitudes.
Language Development
Newspapers. Radio. Grammar. Bible: 1990–2006.
Language Resources
Writing
Cyrillic script [Cyrl], used since 1944.

Called Slavic in Greece, considered a dialect of Bulgarian [bul] by some in Bulgaria.