A Comprehensive Guide to the Most Common Balkan Languages
There are many different languages spoken in the Balkan region of Europe. This can make things a bit confusing for visitors or immigrants who are trying to learn one of these languages. These Bosnian Translators will tell you more about it!
The Balkan languages are mainly descended from the Romance and Slavic language families. The most common of these languages include Albanian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Romanian, Serbian and Slovene. Each language is spoken in different parts of the region but share some similarities in terms of pronunciation and structure.
Albanian is a unique language that does not have many close relatives. It is thought to be related to the Illyrian languages which were spoken by ancient tribes in the area before Roman occupation began. Albanian has two main dialects: Gheg and Tosk. Gheg is spoken mainly in northern Albania while Tosk is spoken in the south. Some key phrases you might want to remember when speaking Albanian are “Mirëmbrëma” (Hello), “Faleminderit” (Thank you) and “Fatmirësisht” (Goodbye).
Bulgarian is a Slavic language that has been influenced by both Greek and Turkic languages. It is spoken mainly in Bulgaria but also in parts of Romania, Serbia and Turkey. Bulgarian dialects vary depending on the region, with some having distinct Turkish influences. The most common words to know when speaking Bulgarian are “Zdravei!” (Hello), “Mnogo blagodarya” (Thank you) and “Dovijdane” (Goodbye).
Croatian is another Slavic language spoken mainly in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its dialects are mainly divided along the former Yugoslavia borders, with western dialects having more influence from Italian and eastern dialects being more like Serbian or Bosnian. Some important Croatian phrases you should know include “Bok!” (Hello), “Hvala” (Thank you) and “Do viđenja” (Goodbye).
Romanian is a Romance language that is related to French, Spanish and Italian. It is spoken in Romania and Moldova and has some key words of its own. These include “Salut” (Hello), “Mulțumesc” (Thank you) and “Pa” (Goodbye).
Serbian is yet another Slavic language, closely related to Croatian and Bosnian. It is spoken in Serbia and other former Yugoslavian countries. While Serbian dialects have some similarities with those of Croatian and Bosnian, they also have unique features distinguishing them from each other. Key phrases when speaking Serbian include “Zdravo” (Hello), “Hvala” (Thank you) and “Ćao” (Goodbye).
Finally, Slovene is a Slavic language that is spoken mainly in Slovenia but can also be found in parts of Austria, Hungary and Italy. Its dialects are divided along the country’s old borders. Key words to know when speaking Slovene are “Živjo!” (Hello), “Hvala” (Thank you) and “Nasvidenje” (Goodbye).
We hope that this blog post has given you a better understanding of the most common Balkan languages. Whether you are visiting the region or planning to stay, it’s important to have some knowledge of these languages so that you can communicate effectively with the locals. Knowing some key phrases will also help make your trip more enjoyable! Good luck on your language journey!