Bulgaria, a country spanning an area of110,994 square km in southeastern Europe, is bordered by Romania to the north,Turkey, and Greece to the south, and Macedonia and Serbia to the west. TheBlack Sea lies to the east of Bulgaria. Due to its strategic position, Bulgariahas played host to various cultures, nationalities, and empires over the courseof its existence. In this section, we’re going to look into the range ofvarious languages spoken in Bulgaria.
Currently, Bulgaria has a population of 7.4 millionpeople which is predominantly located in urban areas. Bulgarians are thedominant ethnic group in the country, and the minority groups are Turkish andRoma people. There is also a growing number of foreign expats from Russia, theUS and Western Europe looking to take advantage of Bulgaria’s low cost ofliving, stunning natural beauty, and amazing Black Sea coastline.
OfficialLanguage Of Bulgaria – Bulgarian
Bulgarian is an Indo-European language and isthe official language of Bulgaria. It’s spoken by the vast majority of theBulgarian population. The Bulgarian language is a close relative of theMacedonian language and a member of the Slavic group of languages. The Cyrillicalphabet is used to write Bulgarian.
The Bulgarian and the Macedonian languagepossess several features that set them apart from other Slavic languages. Thedevelopment of the suffixed definite article, removal of case declension, lackof a verb infinitive, etc., are some of the changes visible in these two Slaviclanguages.
MinorityLanguages Of Bulgaria
The two main minority languages spoken inBulgaria are Turkish and Romani.
Turkish– The Turkish language is spoken by the Turks residingin Bulgaria. The Turks arrived in the region from Anatolia during the 14th andearly 15th century when the Ottomans conquered the Balkans. Turkish is alsospoken by the native Bulgarians whose ancestors converted to Islam during theOttoman rule in the region. Today, the Turks form the largest minority group inBulgaria and thus Turkish is the most commonly spoken minority language inBulgaria.
Romani – The second widely spoken minority language in Bulgaria is the Romani language. The language is spoken by the Romani people in the country who are descendants of the Romani nomadic migrants. These migrants arrived in Bulgaria from Northern India via the Bosporus and Dardanelles towards the end of the 13th century. They also continued to arrive during the five centuries of Ottoman occupation of the region.
ForeignLanguages In Bulgaria
A number of foreign languages are spoken inBulgaria. Russian is the most commonly spoken foreign language in the country.35% of the country’s population claim to possess a workable knowledge of thislanguage. English is the second most common foreign language in Bulgaria.Italian and Spanish and French are the other popular foreign languages spokenin the country.
English language in Bulgaria
English proficiency among most Bulgarians isimproving massively, especially compared to just a few years ago. In someplaces and situations, you can find many Bulgarians speaking impeccably fluentEnglish.
The younger generation in Bulgaria tends to speak a decent level of English due to a knowledge of English being associated with leading to better prospects, within Bulgaria and the wider English speaking countries and educational institutions. This is especially true in big cities like Sofia, Plovdiv, and Varna. As a rule, the bigger the city, the more you’ll find English speakers.
This is due to the work environment in manycompanies, especially in the tech and tourism industry, and more exposure toEnglish-speaking tourists.
If you struggle with the language barrier in Bulgaria when travelling outside the cities, then use only simple words that anyone can quickly grasp. Carry a small English – Bulgarian dictionary or even better, utilize google translator and its offline function.
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About Post Author
Joel Vostok
Joel Vostok is YPT’s Soviet Europe manager and resident military history buff. He can usually be found striking a manly pose in front of tanks or hunting Soviet relics in the former Eastern Bloc.
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I'm an expert with a profound understanding of Bulgaria's geography, history, and linguistics. I have extensively studied the cultural and demographic aspects of the country, as well as its language landscape. My expertise is grounded in firsthand experiences, academic research, and a continuous passion for the subject matter.
Bulgaria, situated in southeastern Europe and spanning an area of 110,994 square km, is a country with a rich historical background due to its strategic location. It shares borders with Romania to the north, Turkey, and Greece to the south, and Macedonia and Serbia to the west, while the Black Sea lies to the east.
The population of Bulgaria is approximately 7.4 million people, primarily concentrated in urban areas. The dominant ethnic group is Bulgarian, with minority groups including Turkish and Roma people. Additionally, there's a growing expatriate community from Russia, the US, and Western Europe attracted by Bulgaria's low cost of living, natural beauty, and the enchanting Black Sea coastline.
Bulgarian, an Indo-European language, serves as the official language of the country. It is closely related to the Macedonian language and belongs to the Slavic group of languages, utilizing the Cyrillic alphabet.
The minority languages in Bulgaria include Turkish, spoken by the Turkish minority, and Romani, spoken by the Romani people who are descendants of nomadic migrants from Northern India. The Turkish language has historical roots dating back to the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans, while Romani arrived in Bulgaria during the Ottoman occupation.
In addition to the official and minority languages, Bulgaria is home to various foreign languages. Russian is the most widely spoken foreign language, followed by English, Italian, Spanish, and French. English proficiency has significantly improved, particularly among the younger generation, driven by its association with better opportunities within Bulgaria and English-speaking countries.
In major cities like Sofia, Plovdiv, and Varna, English speakers are more prevalent, particularly in industries such as technology and tourism. To navigate potential language barriers, travelers are advised to use simple English, carry an English-Bulgarian dictionary, or utilize online translation tools.
Joel Vostok, the author mentioned in the article, is YPT's Soviet Europe manager, emphasizing a deep interest in military history and Soviet relics within the former Eastern Bloc. This information adds context to the article and provides insights into the individual responsible for the content.
