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'''Primer:'''  '''Who’s who''' in Eastern Europe – a quick guide to all the nationalities and cultures found in Eastern Europe.

''Note: This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.''



==People==
===Ashkenazi Jews===
'''[[Ashkenazi Jews]]''', also known as '''Ashkenazic Jews''' or '''Ashkenazim''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: '''אַשְׁכֲּנָזִים''', [{{IPA|ˌaʃkəˈnazim}}] sing. [{{IPA|ˌaʃkəˈnazi}}]; also '''יְהוּדֵי אַשְׁכֲּנָז''', ''Yehudei Ashkenaz'', "the Jews of Ashkenaz"), are descended from the [[medieval]] Jewish communities of the [[Rhineland]].  ''Ashkenaz'' is the [[Medieval Hebrew]] name for the region which later formed the country of [[Germany]].  Thus Ashkenazi Jews are literally "German Jews."  The word "Ashkenazi" is pronounced with a [z] sound.

Many later migrated, largely eastward, forming communities in [[Germany]], [[Hungary]], [[Poland]], [[Russia]], [[Eastern Europe]] and elsewhere between the 10th and 19th centuries. From medieval times the [[lingua franca]] among Ashkenazi Jews was [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]] or, to a much lesser extent, the Judæo-French language [[Zarphatic]], the [[Slavic Languages|Slavic]]-based [[Knaanic language|Knaanic]] (Judæo-Czech), and to some speakers of the recently [[extinct language|extinct]] (since 1977) Judæo-Provençal language, [[Shuadit]], (all three no longer spoken).  The Ashkenazi Jews developed a distinct culture and liturgy influenced, to varying degrees, by interaction with surrounding peoples, predominantly [[Germans]], [[Poles]], [[Czechs]], [[Slovaks]], [[Kashubians]], [[Hungarian people|Hungarians]], [[Ukrainians]], [[Lithuanians]], [[Latvians|Letts]], [[Belarusians]], and [[Russians]].

'''[[Yiddish]]''' ({{lang|yi|ייִדיש}} ''yidish'' or {{lang|yi|אידיש}} ''idish'', literally: "Jewish") is a non-territorial [[Germanic languages|Germanic language]], spoken throughout the world and written with the [[Hebrew alphabet]]. It originated in the [[Ashkenazi Jews|Ashkenazi culture]] that developed from about the [[10th century]] in the [[Rhineland]], and then spread to [[Central Europe|central]] and [[Eastern Europe|eastern]] [[Europe]], and eventually to other continents. In the earliest surviving references to it, the language is called {{lang|yi|לשון ־ אַשכּנז}} (''loshn-ashkenaz'' = "language of Ashkenaz") and {{lang|yi|טײַטש}} (''taytsh'', a variant of ''tiutsch'', the contemporary name for the language otherwise spoken in the region of origin, now called [[Middle High German]]; compare the modern [[New High German]] or ''Deutsch''). In common usage, the language is called {{lang|yi|מאַמע־לשון}} (''mame-loshn'' = "[[First language|mother tongue]]"), distinguishing it from biblical [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] which are collectively termed {{lang|yi|לשון־קודש}} (''loshn-koydesh'' = "holy tongue"). The term ''Yiddish'' did not become the most frequently used designation in the literature of the language until the [[18th century]].

{| width="100%" border="0" style="padding: 0; margin:0; background:transparent;"
| style="text-align:left;margin-right:10px;margin-bottom:-4px;" | '''''[[Ashkenazi Jews|...More about Ashkenazi Jews]]'''''
| style="text-align:right;margin-right:10px;margin-bottom:-4px;" | '''''[[Yiddish|More about Yiddish...]]'''''
|}

==={{flagcountry|Albania}}===

'''[[Albanians]]''' ([[Albanian language|Albanian]]: ''Shqiptarët'') are defined  as an [[ethnic group]], in the sense of sharing a common Albanian culture, speaking the [[Albanian language]] as a mother tongue and being of Albanian descent. 
Albanian popular tradition traces its historical heritage to the [[Illyrian]] people that once inhabited the western parts of the [[Balkans|Balkan Peninsula]]. Scholars are divided on the matter, some supporting the Illyrian-Albanian connection.

About half of Albanians live in [[Albania]], with the second largest group living in the now independent [[Serbia]]n province of [[Kosovo]] and the [[Republic of Macedonia]]. There are also Albanian minorities and immigrant communities in a number of other countries. 

'''[[Albanian language]]''' ({{lang|sq|''Gjuha shqipe''}} {{IPA-all|ˈɟuha ˈʃcipɛ/}}) is an [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European language]] spoken by nearly 6 million people,<ref name="Ethnologue2005"/> primarily in [[Albania]] and [[Kosovo]], but also in other areas of the [[Balkans]] in which there is an Albanian population, including the west of [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], [[Montenegro]], and southern [[Serbia]]. Albanian is also spoken by communities in [[Greece]], along the eastern coast of [[Italy]], and on the island of [[Sicily]]. Additionally, speakers of Albanian can be found elsewhere throughout the latter two countries resulting from a modern diaspora, originating from the Balkans, that also includes [[Scandinavia]], [[Germany]], the [[United Kingdom]], the [[Low Countries]], [[Australia]], [[Turkey]] and the [[United States]].

==={{flagcountry|Austria}}===
'''[[Austrians]]''' (''[[German language|German]]: Österreicher'') are defined as the people of the [[Austria|Republic of Austria]] and its historical predecessor states ([[March of Austria]], [[Archduchy of Austria]], [[Austrian Empire]], [[Austria-Hungary]]), and to this extent share a common [[Austrian culture]] and being of Austrian [[Kinship and descent|descent]]. Common definitions also include speaking [[Austrian German]] as a [[First language|mother tongue]]. Due to their belonging to the [[Holy Roman Empire]] till 1806, [[German language|German-speaking]] Austrians were historically regarded as [[Germans]], but after the founding of a German [[nation]]al state, (the [[German Empire]] in 1871), and after the events of [[World War II]] and [[Nazism]], this has fallen out of fashion and is generally considered offensive.

Austrians are also often defined by their ''national'' [[citizenship]], which had, in the course of [[Austrian history]], varying relations to the above, for example referring to a native German-speaker of the one-time [[Habsburg]] empire, or in a wider sense to any citizen of any of the various lands of that empire that did not form the [[Transleithania|Hungarian half]] of [[Austria-Hungary]]. In the latter sense, the definition included speakers of up to twelve different languages. Today there are approximately 8.4 million Austrians world wide (roughly 8.2m of which are living in Austria),<ref>Idem.</ref> even though ethnic identification of who is Austrian is almost impossible, as it is mainly a question of national identity and self-definition.

[[Austrian German]] is a variety of the [[German language]] spoken in Austria. There is no unitary Austrian [[language]], but a variety of [[High German languages|High German]] [[dialect]]s are spoken. Besides the Germanic languages discussed here, [[minority language]]s such as [[Slovenian language|Slovenian]], [[Croatian language|Croatian]], and [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] are spoken in parts of the country.

Ordinarily, the latter dialects are considered to belong either to the [[Central Austro-Bavarian]] or [[Southern Austro-Bavarian]] subgroups, with the latter encompassing the languages of the [[Tyrol]], [[Carinthia (state)|Carinthia]], and [[Styria (state)|Styria]] and the former including the dialects of [[Vienna]], [[Upper Austria]], and [[Lower Austria]]. The dialect spoken in Vorarlberg is more closely related to [[Swiss German]] than it is to other Austrian dialects, so Austrians from outside Vorarlberg can have difficulties understanding it.

==={{flagcountry|Belarus}}===
'''[[Belarus]]'''  ([[Belarusian language|Belarusian]] and [[Russian language|Russian]]: Беларусь, [[BGN/PCGN romanization of Belarusian|transliteration]]: ''Byelarus’'', [[Turkish language|Turkish]]: ''Beyaz Rusya'' (namely, ''White Russia'')) that borders [[Russia]] to the north and east, [[Ukraine]] to the south, [[Poland]] to the west, and [[Lithuania]] and [[Latvia]] to the north. Its capital is [[Minsk]]; other major cities include [[Brest, Belarus|Brest]], [[Hrodna|Grodno]], [[Homyel|Gomel]], [[Mogilev]], [[Vitebsk]] and [[Babruysk|Bobruisk]]. A third of the country is forested, and agriculture and manufacturing are its strongest economic sectors.

Until the 20th century, the [[Belarusians]] lacked the opportunity to form their national policy<!--do you mean "evolve a distinctive national identity, since the lands of modern-day Belarus had been occupied by ..."?-->, as the lands of modern-day Belarus belonged to several countries, including the [[Duchy of Polatsk]], the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]], the [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]], and the [[Russian Empire]]. After the short-lived [[Belarusian People's Republic]] (1918–19), Belarus became a [[Republics of the Soviet Union|constituent republic of the Soviet Union]], the [[Byelorussian SSR]].

The '''Belarusian language'''  (беларуская мова, [[BGN/PCGN romanization of Belarusian|BGN/PCGN]]: byelaruskaya mova, [[Scientific transliteration|Scientific]]: bielaruskaja mova) is the language of the [[Belarusians|Belarusian people]] and is spoken in [[Belarus]] and abroad, chiefly in [[Russia]], [[Ukraine]], [[Poland]].<ref>Also spoken in [[Azerbaijan]], [[Canada]], [[Estonia]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Moldova]], [[Tajikistan]], [[Turkmenistan]], [[USA]], [[Uzbekistan]], per [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=bel Ethnologue].</ref> It also used to be called "Belorussian". It belongs to the group of the [[East Slavonic languages]], and shares many grammatical and lexical features with other members of the group. Its predecessor was the [[Old Belarusian language]] (up to the 19th cent., conventionally).

==={{flagcountry|Bosnia}}===

'''[[Bosnians]]''' ([[Bosnian language|Bosnian]], [[Serbian language|Serbian]], and [[Croatian language|Croatian]]: ''Bosanci'' / ''Босанци''; sing. ''Bosanac'' / ''Босанац'') are people who live in, or come from, [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. By the modern state definition a Bosnian can be anyone who holds a [[citizenship]] in the state including members of the constituent ethnic groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina: [[Bosniaks]], [[Serbs]] and [[Croats]]. Additionally, ethnic minorities such as [[Bosnian Jews|Jews]], [[Roma people|Roma]], [[Albanians]], [[Montenegrins]], and others may consider ''Bosnian'' to be attached to their ethnicity (eg. ''Bosnian Albanian''). Some individuals choose to identify soley as Bosnian at a national level. These are not confined to [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], as over 8,000 Slavic Muslims or migrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina in [[Slovenia]] declare Bosnian ethnicity.

In addition, there is a sizable population in Bosnia and Herzegovina who believe that Bosnians are a nation holding a distinct collective [[cultural identity]]. By this usage, a Bosnian would be an individual who belonged to this culture. They assert that this collective identity is capable of diminishing or overcoming existing political and ethnic divisions <ref>[http://www.zabih.ba/izbori2006/nacrt_ustava_bih.pdf], from [[Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina]] website</ref>.

'''[[Bosnian language]]''' ([[Latin script]]: ''bosanski jezik'') is a [[South Slavic languages|South Slavic language]] native to the [[Bosniaks|Bosniak people]] and [[Ethnic Bosnians]]. The language is notably spoken in the areas of [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]], the [[Bosniaks|Bosniak]]-dominated region of [[Sandžak]] (in [[Serbia]] and [[Montenegro]]) and elsewhere. It is one of the standard versions of the Central-South Slavic [[diasystem]] which covers the region that was once known as [[Serbo-Croat]] from the 19th century until the early 1990s. It should be noted, however, that the Serbian, Croatian, and Bosniak languages are all mutally understandable.

The [[Bosnian alphabet]] is based on the [[Latin alphabet]]. The [[Cyrillic alphabet]] is accepted (chiefly to accommodate for its usage in Bosnia in the past, especially in [[former Yugoslavia]]), but seldom used in today's practice. The name ''Bosnian language'' is the commonly accepted name among Bosniak linguists.

==={{flagcountry|Bulgaria}}===
'''Bulgaria''' ({{langx|bg|България}}, ''Balgariya'',<ref name="translit"/> pronounced {{IPA-all|bɤlˈgarijə}}), officially the '''Republic of Bulgaria''', a state in [[Balkans|Southeastern Europe]], borders five other countries; [[Romania]] to the north (mostly along the [[Danube]]), [[Serbia]] and the [[Republic of Macedonia]] to the west, and [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]] to the south. The [[Black Sea]] defines the extent of the country to the east.

'''Bulgarian''' (български език,  is an [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European language]], a member of the [[Slavic languages|Slavic]] branch.Bulgarian demonstrates several linguistic innovations that set it apart from other Slavic languages, such as the elimination of [[grammatical case|case declension]], the development of a suffixed [[definite article]] (see [[Balkan linguistic union]]), the lack of a verb [[infinitive]], and the retention and further development of the [[proto-Slavic]] verb system. Various verb forms exist to express unwitnessed, retold, and doubtful action. As of 2007 there are more than 10 million people around the world who speak Bulgarian fluently.

==={{Flagcountry|Croatia}}===

'''[[Croats]]''' ([[Croatian language|Croatian]]: ''Hrvati'') are a [[South Slavs|South Slavic]] people mostly living in [[Croatia]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] and nearby countries. There are around 4.6 million Croats living in the [[Balkans|Balkan]] region, and an estimated 9 million throughout the world. Due to political, social and economic reasons, many Croats have since migrated throughout the world, and established a notable [[Croatian diaspora]]. Large Croat communities exists in a number of countries, including [[United States of America|The United States]], [[Australia]], [[Germany]], [[Chile]], [[New Zealand]] and [[South Africa]]. Croats are noted for their unique culture, which throughout the ages, has been variously influenced by both [[Eastern world|the Eastern world]] and the [[Western Civilization|Western world]]. The Croats are predominantly [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] and their language is [[Croatian language|Croatian]].

'''[[Croatian language]]''' (''hrvatski jezik'') is a [[South Slavic languages|South Slavic language]] which is used primarily by the inhabitants of Croatia and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina and parts of the [[Croats|Croatian]] diaspora. It is one of the standard versions of the Central-South Slavic [[diasystem]].

Croatian is based on the Ijekavian pronunciation of [[Shtokavian dialect|Štokavian dialect]] (with some influence from [[Chakavian dialect|Čakavian]] and [[Kajkavian dialect|Kajkavian]]) and written with the [[Croatian alphabet]].

The modern Croatian [[standard language]] is a continuous outgrowth of more than nine hundred years of literature written in a mixture of Croatian [[Church Slavonic]] and the [[vernacular]] language. Croatian Church Slavonic was abandoned by the mid-1400s, and Croatian as embodied in a purely [[vernacular literature]] Croatian literature has existed for more than five centuries.

==={{CZE}}===

'''[[Czechs]]''' ({{langx|cs|Češi}}, [[archaism|archaic]] {{langx|cs|Čechové}}) are a [[West Slavs|western Slavic]] people of [[Central Europe]], living predominantly in the [[Czech Republic]]. Small populations of Czechs also live in [[Slovakia]], [[Austria]], [[United States|U.S.]], [[Brazil]], [[Argentina]], [[Canada]], [[Germany]], [[Russia]] and other countries. They speak the [[Czech language]], which is closely related to the [[Slovak language]].<ref>http://www.omniglot.com/writing/czech.htm</ref>

Among the ancestors of the Czechs are ancient [[Slavic tribes]] who inhabited the regions of [[Bohemia]], [[Moravia]], and [[Silesia]] from the [[6th century]] onwards. 

'''Czech''' ({{IPA-en|ˈʧɛk}}; ''čeština'' in Czech) is one of the [[West Slavic languages]], along with [[Slovak language|Slovak]], [[Polish language|Polish]], [[Pomeranian language|Pomeranian]] ([[Kashubian]]), and Lusatian [[Sorbian language|Sorbian]]. It is spoken by most people in the [[Czech Republic]] and by Czechs all over the world (about 12 million native speakers in total). Czech is quite close to and mutually intelligible with Slovak and, to a lesser degree, to Polish or to Sorbian in East Germany. As for the relation between Czech and Slovak, speakers of these languages usually understand the other language pretty well both in its written and spoken form and together they constitute kind of [[diasystem|language diasystem]], though some dialects or heavily accented speech might present difficulties to them (in particular, geographically most distant Eastern Slovak dialects to Czech speakers). Younger generations of Czechs who grew up after the [[dissolution of Czechoslovakia]] in 1993 and therefore tend to be less familiar with Slovak might also have some problems with a certain amount of words and expressions which differ considerably in the two languages and with [[false friends]]. Nevertheless, these differences don´t impede significantly the mutual intelligibility.

==={{flagcountry|Estonia}}===

'''[[Estonians]]''' ([[Estonian language|Estonian]]: ''eestlased'', previously ''maarahvas'') are a [[Finnic people]] closely related to the Finns and inhabiting, primarily, the country of [[Estonia]]. The Estonians speak a [[Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric]] language, known as Estonian. Although Estonia is traditionally grouped as one of the [[Baltic states|Baltic countries]], Estonians are linguistically and ethnically unrelated to the Baltic peoples of Latvia and Lithuania.

'''Estonian'''  is the official language of [[Estonia]], spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various [[émigré]] communities. It is a [[Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric language]] and is closely related to [[Finnish language|Finnish]].

==={{flagcountry|Finland}}===
The terms '''''Finns''''' and '''''Finnish people''''' ([[Finnish language|Finnish]]: ''suomalaiset'', [[Swedish language|Swedish]]: ''finländare'') are used in English to mean "a native or inhabitant of Finland". They are also used to refer to the ethnic group historically associated with [[Finland]] or [[Fennoscandia]], and they are only used in that sense here.<ref>"Finn noun"  The Oxford Dictionary of English (revised edition). Ed. Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson. Oxford University Press, 2005. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press.  Tampere University of Technology.  3 August 2007  [http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t140.e27738]</ref> <ref>''[http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/shis/1998/00000023/F0020003/art00002#search=%22Finland%20%22Swedish%20speakers%22%20Lucia%22  Perspectives to Finnish Identity],'' by Anne Ollila: '''Scandinavian Journal of History,''' Volume 23, Numbers 3-4, 1 September 1998, pp. 127-137(11). Retrieved 06 October 2006.</ref>

As with most ethnic groups, the definition of Finns may vary. Usually, in every definition, the term includes the Finnish-speaking population of Finland. The group can also be seen to include the [[Swedish-speaking Finns|Swedish-speaking population of Finland]] and the [[Sweden Finns|Finnish-speaking population of Sweden]]. Smaller populations that may or may not be seen to fall under the term Finns include the [[Kvens]] in [[Norway]], the [[Tornedalians]] of Sweden and the [[Ingrian Finns]] of Russia. Finns can be divided according to dialect into subgroups sometimes traditionally called ''heimo'', but such divisions have become less important with internal migration.

Linguistically, Finnish, spoken by most Finns, is closest related to the other [[Baltic-Finnic]] languages [[Estonian language|Estonian]] and [[Karelian]], while Swedish, spoken by Swedish-speaking Finns, is unrelated to the Finnish language and a member of the [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] language family. Finnish has loanwords from Swedish, other Germanic and broader Indo-European languages in different chronological layers while Swedish has few loan words from the Baltic-Finnic languages. Genetically, Finns seem to be a fairly homogeneous group with a genetic heritage mostly in common with the other European ethnicities.<ref>"Since the (two) population (groups') genetic, ecological and socioeconomic circumstances are equal, Swedish speakers’ longer active life is difficult to explain by conventional health-related risk factors." [http://her.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/18/6/770#CYF044C5 Markku T. Hyyppä and Juhani Mäki: Social participation and health in a community rich in stock of social capital] </ref><ref>[http://www.geocities.com/grpadm/Rootsi2006.pdf] and [http://www.nature.com/ejhg/journal/v15/n2/abs/5201748a.html]</ref>


===Gorani===

'''[[Gorani]]''' (''Goranci'', [[Cyrillic]]: Горанци) are a minority [[South Slavs|South Slavic]] ethnic group, living in the mountainous [[Gora (region)|Gora-Dragaš region]], just south of [[Prizren]] in the country [[Kosovo]], north-western [[Republic of Macedonia]] in the [[Šar Planina]] region near [[Tetovo]], as well as in north-eastern [[Albania]] (most notably in [[Shishtavec]] ([[Našinski|Local Slavic]]: Шиштејец, ''Šištejec'') in [[Kukës County]]).

The Gorani speak "''[[Našinski|Ours]]''" (Нашински), a language of [[Torlakian dialect]], although many consider a dialect of [[Serbian language|Serbian]]. Many also speak [[Albanian language|Albanian]]. According to the last, 1991 Yugoslav census, 54.8% of the inhabitants of the Gora municipality said that they spoke the Gorani language, while little less than half the inhabitants of Gora declared that their native tongue is [[Serbian language|Serbian]]<ref>{{in lang|sr}} {{cite web|url= http://www.rastko.org.yu/rastko-gora/zbornici/gora2000/rmladenovic.pdf |title=Горански Говор }}, Dr Padivoje Mladenović</ref>. Some Goranian intellectuals and researchers define their language as [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]].<ref>Dokle, Nazif. Reçnik Goransko (Nashinski) — Albanski, Sofia 2007, Peçatnica Naukini akademiji "Prof. Marin Drinov", s. 5, 11, 19 (Nazif Dokle. Goranian-Albanian Dictionary, Sofia 2007, Published by Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, p. 5, 11, 19) </ref>

==={{flagcountry|Hungary}}===

'''[[Hungary]]''' ({{langx|hu|Magyarország}};  literally ''Magyar (Hungarian) Republic''), is a [[landlocked]] country in the [[Carpathian Basin]] of [[Central Europe]], bordered by [[Austria]], [[Slovakia]], [[Ukraine]], [[Romania]], [[Serbia]], [[Croatia]], and [[Slovenia]]. Its capital is [[Budapest]]. Hungary is a member of [[OECD]], [[NATO]], [[EU]] and a [[Schengen Agreement|Schengen]] state. The [[official language]] is [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] also known as [[Hungarian people|Magyar]], part of the [[Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric]] family, thus one of the three official languages of the   [[European Union]] that is not of [[Indo-European]] origin.

The term [[Hungarian people|Magyar]] is used to refer to people whose first language is Hungarian and who are or consider themselves the descendants of the nomads who conquered the area in the Middle Ages and established the Hungarian state. The term "Hungarian" is synonymous with "Magyar" today, but when we refer to the period before World War I it is often necessary to distinguish "Hungarian," referring to the multi-ethnic Kingdom of Hungary, and "Magyar," referring to the dominant ethnic group and language, but excluding the minorities such as the Slovaks or Rumanians, most of whom have founded independent states since. Historically, the official language of the Kingdom of Hungary was Latin, becoming German under Joseph II, and then Magyar as an achievement of the Magyar national movement.

'''Hungarian''' (''magyar nyelv''  unrelated to most other languages in [[Europe]]. It is spoken in [[Hungary]] and by the Hungarian minorities in seven neighbouring countries. The Hungarian name for the language is ''magyar''.

As one of the small number of modern European [[language]]s that do not belong to the [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] language family, Hungarian has always been of great interest to [[comparative linguistics|linguists]]. Due to the Ugric heritage, Hungarian often sounds as incomprehensible gibberish to foreigners, unlike the others (for example, a German can partly understand English because of the similarities).

===Hutsuls===
'''[[Hutsuls]]''' ({{langx|uk|Гуцули, singular Гуцул}}, [[Romanian language|Romanian]]: ''Huţuli'', singular ''Huţul'', Hutsul dialect: ''Hutsule'', singular ''Hutsul''; alternatively spelled ''Huculs'', ''Huzuls'', ''Hutzuls'', ''Gutsuls'', ''Guculs'', ''Guzuls'', or ''Gutzuls''; [[Polish language|Polish]]: ''Hucuł'', singular ''Huculi, Hucułowie'') are an [[ethnic group|ethno-cultural group]] of Ukrainian highlanders who for centuries have inhabited the [[Carpathian mountains]], mainly in [[Ukraine]], but also in the northern extremity of [[Romania]] (in the areas of [[Bukovina]] and [[Maramureş]]), as well as in [[Slovakia]] and [[Poland]].

There are different versions for the origins of the name ''Hutsul''. An explanation is that it comes from the [[Romanian language|Romanian]] word for "outlaw" (cf. Rom. ''hoţ'' - "thief", ''hoţul'' - "the thief"). Other explanations place their origins in the [[Slavic languages|Slavic]] ''kochul'' - "wanderer","migrant", in reference to their semi-[[nomad]]ic lifestyle, to the name of the [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] tribe of the [[Oghuz Turks|Uzy]], and even to the name of the [[Moravian Serbia]]n king Hetsyl[http://www.kosivart.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/hutculschina.main/].

Hutsuls inhabit areas situated between the south-east of those inhabited by the [[Boyko]]s, down to the northern part of the Romanian segment of the Carpathians. 

There are several hypotheses concerning the origin of Hutsuls. According to one of them, Hutsuls are descendants of  Slavic tribe [[Ulichs]], that had to leave their previous homes near the [[Southern Buh|Buh]] river under the pressure of [[Pechenegs]] Hutsuls identify themselves as a part of [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] ethnos, having at the same time their local identity as a sub-ethnos.

===Janjevs===

'''[[Janjevci]]''' ([[English language|English]]: ''Janjevs'', root pronounced ''yan-yev'') are the inhabitants of the [[Kosovo]] town of [[Janjevo]] and surrounding villages, located near [[Priština]] as well as villages centered on [[Letnica]] near [[Vitina]] (Papare, Vrmez, Vrnavo Kolo).


===Karelians===

The '''[[Karelians]]''' is a name used to denote two related, yet different ethnic groups of [[Finnic]]-language speakers. The so called "Russian Karelians" inhabit the [[Russia]]n [[Republic of Karelia]]. The "[[Finnish people|Finnish Karelians]]" live in eastern [[Finland]]. During the [[Second World War]] many Finnish Karelians were forced to leave the [[Karelia]]n provinces that Finland had to cede to the [[Soviet Union]].<!-- Karelia shall become a united page covering both East- and West Karelia --> They and their descendants are now integrated in the population of present-day Finland. 

At least since the 13th century, the two groups have had different histories, cultures, religions, identities and languages. They should not to be thought as members of the same [[ethnic group]].

The [[Karelian language]] is closely related to the [[Finnish language]], and particularly by Finnish linguists seen as a [[dialect]] of Finnish, although the variety spoken in East Karelia is usually seen as a proper language. [http://www.kotus.fi/verkkojulkaisut/julk129/karjalat_kartta1.shtml] The dialect spoken in the [[South Karelia]]n Region of Finland is considered to be part of the South Eastern dialects of the Finnish language. The dialect spoken in the [[Karelian Isthmus]] before [[World War II]] and the [[Ingria]]n language are also seen as part of this dialect group although sometimes in Finland wrongly called Karelian dialect.[http://www.internetix.ofw.fi/opinnot/opintojaksot/8kieletkirjallisuus/aidinkieli/murteet/kaakkois.html] The dialect that is spoken in [[North Karelia]] is considered to be one of the [[Savonia]]n dialects.[http://www.internetix.ofw.fi/opinnot/opintojaksot/8kieletkirjallisuus/aidinkieli/murteet/savolais.html]
<!-- Karelians living in Finland learn Finnish [[standard language]] in school. -->

===Kashubians===

'''[[Kashubians]]''' ({{langx|csb|Kaszëbi}}; {{langx|pl|Kaszubi}}; {{langx|de|Kaschuben}}), also called '''Kassubians''' or '''Cassubians''', are a [[West Slavs|West Slavic]] [[ethnic group]] of north-central [[Poland]].

The Kashubian unofficial capital is [[Kartuzy]] (''Kartuzë''; {{langx|de|Karthaus}}).  Among larger cities, [[Gdynia]] (''Gdiniô''; ({{langx|de|Gdingen}} (until 1939), ''Gotenhafen'' (1939-1945) contains the largest proportion of people declaring Kashubian origin. However, the biggest city of Cassubia region is [[Gdańsk]] (''Gduńsk''; {{langx|de|Danzig}}), the capital of the [[Pomeranian Voivodeship]]. The traditional occupations of the Kashubians were [[agriculture]] and [[fishing]]; today these are joined by the service and hospitality industry, and [[agrotourism]].

'''Kashubian''' or '''Cassubian''' (Kashubian: ''kaszëbsczi jãzëk'', ''pòmòrsczi jãzëk'', ''kaszëbskò-słowińskô mòwa''; {{langx|pl|język kaszubski}}) is one of the [[Lechitic languages]], a subgroup of the [[Slavic languages]].

Kashubian is assumed to have evolved from the language spoken by some tribes of [[Pomeranians]] called [[Kashubians]], in the region of [[Pomerania]], on the southern coast of the [[Baltic Sea]] between the [[Vistula]] and [[Oder River|Oder]] rivers.

It is closely related to [[Slovincian]], and both of them are dialects of [[Pomeranian language|Pomeranian]]. Though the Kashubian language can hardly be understood by Polish speakers, until recently many Polish [[Linguistics|linguists]] considered it a dialect of [[Polish language|Polish]].


==={{flagcountry|Kosovo}}===
'''Kosovo''' ({{langx|sq|Kosova}} or ''Kosovë'', {{langx|sr|Косово}}, ''Kosovo'') is a disputed territory in the [[Balkans]], which was unilaterally declared an independent republic. After [[Kosovo status process|international negotiations]] failed to reach a consensus on an acceptable [[constitutional status of Kosovo|constitutional status]], [[Provisional Institutions of Self-Government|Kosovo's provisional government]] unilaterally [[declaration of independence|declared independence]] from [[Serbia]] on [[17 February]] [[2008]].

'''[[Kosovo]]''', as a [[Serbia]]n province, was formed in [[1945]]. Prior to that, the only territory called Kosovo was [[Kosovo Vilayet]] (1875 - 1912) in the [[Ottoman Empire]], with borders significantly different from today's Kosovo. On Feb 17th 2008 [[2008 Kosovo declaration of independence|2008 Kosovo's Parliament declared independence]], with [[List of states expected to recognise the Republic of Kosovo|mixed recognition of that independence]]. Kosovo's ethnic population has fluctuated wildly over the centuries and even recent decades, from predominantly Christian [[Serbian]] to predominantly Moslem [[Albanian]], with the province's complex ethnic map currently including [[Albanian]]s, [[Serb]]s, [[Bosniak]]s, [[Ladin]]s, [[Turkish people|Turks]], [[Roma (people)|Roma]],  [[Goranci|Gorans]], [[Jews]] and [[Janjevci|Janjevs]].



===Ladins===

'''[[Ladin]]''' (''Ladino'' in Italian, ''Ladin'' in Ladin, ''Ladinisch'' in German) is a [[Rhaetian languages|Rhaeto-Romance language]] spoken in the [[Dolomites|Dolomite]] mountains in [[Italy]], between the regions of [[Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol]] and [[Veneto]]. It is closely related to the Swiss [[Romansh]] and [[Friulian language|Friulian]].

Ladin should not be confused with [[Ladino language|Ladino]] (also called Judaeo-Spanish), which is a Romance language derived mainly from [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Turkish language| Turkish]], and [[Greek language| Greek]].


==={{flagcountry|Latvia}}===

'''[[Latvia]]'''  (historically '''Lettonia''', or '''Lettland'''), officially the '''Republic of Latvia''' ([[Latvian language|Latvian]]: ''Latvija'' or ''Latvijas Republika'', [[Livonian language|Livonian]]: ''Lețmō''), is a country in [[Northern Europe]]. Latvia shares land borders with [[Estonia]] to the north and [[Lithuania]] to the south &mdash; and both [[Russia]] and [[Belarus]] to the east. It is separated from [[Sweden]] in the west by the [[Baltic Sea]]. The capital of Latvia is [[Riga]] ([[Latvian language|Latvian]]: ''Rīga'').  Latvia has been a member state of the [[European Union]] since [[May 1]], [[2004]] and a member of [[NATO]] since [[March 29]], [[2004]]

The official language of Latvia is [[Latvian language|Latvian]], which belongs to the [[Baltic languages|Baltic language group]] of the [[Indo-European language family]]. Another notable language of Latvia is the nearly extinct [[Livonian language]] of [[Baltic-Finnic languages|Baltic-Finnic]] subbranch of [[Uralic languages|Uralic language family]], which enjoys protection by law; [[Latgalian language]]&nbsp;&mdash; a dialect of Latvian&nbsp;&mdash; is also protected by Latvian law as historical variation of Latvian language. [[Russian language|Russian]] is by far the most widespread minority language.


==={{flagcountry|Lithuania}}===
The '''Republic of [[Lithuania]]''' ({{langx|lt|Lietuvos Respublika}}) is a [[country]] in eastern, often considered also northern [[Europe]].<ref>United Nations [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#europe Geographical region and composition]</ref> Situated along the south-eastern shore of the [[Baltic Sea]], sharing borders with [[Latvia]] to the north, [[Belarus]] to the southeast, [[Poland]], and the [[Russia]]n [[exclave]] of the [[Kaliningrad Oblast]] to the southwest. Lithuania is a member of [[NATO]] and of the [[European Union]]. The population is 3.4 million, the largest city and the [[capital]] is [[Vilnius]]. 

During the 1300s, Lithuania was the largest country in Europe, as present day [[Belarus]], [[Ukraine]], and parts of Poland and Russia were territories of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. With the [[Lublin Union]] of [[1569]] Poland and Lithuania formed a new state: the [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]], which [[Partitions of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth|was finally destroyed]] by its neighboring countries in [[1795]]. Most of Lithuania's territory was annexed to [[Russian Empire]], until the [[Act of Independence of Lithuania|Act of Independence]] was signed on [[February 16]], [[1918]], which declared re-establishment of a sovereign state. Between 1940 and 1945 Lithuania was occupied by several powers — [[Soviet Union]], [[Nazi Germany]]. When [[World War II]] was near its end in [[1944]] and the Nazis retreated, Lithuania would again be merged into the Soviet Union. On [[March 11]], [[1990]], Lithuania became the first [[Soviet republic]] to [[Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania|declare its renewed independence]].

Present day Lithuania has one of the fastest growing economies in the European Union. Lithuania became a full member of the [[Schengen Agreement]] on [[21 December]] [[2007]].<ref>{{cite news | first=Press release | last= | coauthors= | title=Lietuva įsiliejo į Šengeno erdvę | date= | publisher=Vidaus reikalų ministerija | url =http://www.vrm.lt/index.php?id=131&backPID=4&tt_news=1458& | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-22 | language = Lithuanian }}</ref>  In 2009 Lithuania will celebrate the millennium of its name.

'''Lithuanian''' (''lietuvių kalba'') is the official state language of the [[Republic of Lithuania]], spoken by about 4 million [[Lithuanians|native speakers]]

==={{flagcountry|Moldova}}===
'''[[Moldovans]]''', or '''Moldavians''' (original name: ''Moldoveni''; ''Молдовень'' is used by the [[Moldovan alphabet|Moldovan Cyrillic script]], which nowadays has official status only in [[Transnistria]]) are the native population in, depending on one's interpretation, all or part of the lands that correspond to the former [[Principality of Moldavia]]. In the [[Moldova|Republic of Moldova]], the term ''Moldovans'' is used to officially denote an ethnicity separate from Romanians.

The recognition of Moldovans as a separate [[ethnicity]], distinct from Romanians, is nevertheless a relatively new and [[controversy|controversial]] subject ''(See the chapter [[Moldovans#Controversy|Controversy]])''. Outside of the Moldovan Republic, this group is currently recognized as a minority ethnic group only by several [[Commonwealth of Independent States|former soviet]] republics.

'''[[Moldovan Language]]''' (also '''Moldavian''') is the official name for the [[Romanian language]] in the [[Republic of Moldova]] and in its breakaway territory of [[Transnistria]].<ref>Kogan Page 2004, p 242</ref><ref>http://ec.europa.eu/translation/language_aids/recognition/field_guide_main_languages_of_europe_en.pdf A Field Guide to the Main Languages of Europe - Spot that language and how to tell them apart], on the website of the [[European Commission]]</ref> The [[Constitution of Moldova]] (Title I, Article 13) states that the "Moldovan language" is the official language of the country. In Moldova's Declaration of Independence the same language is called [[Romanian language|Romanian]].<ref>{{in lang|ro}}[http://www.moldova-suverana.md/index.php?start_from=&ucat=7&subaction=showfull&id=1156426235&archive=1156767681& Declaraţia de independenţa a Republicii Moldova], [[Moldova Suverană]]</ref> Moldovan President [[Vladimir Voronin]] has, however, emphasized the separate identity of the Moldovan language, accusing Romania of failing to do the same.<ref>{{cite web | title = Moldovans suspicious of Romania’s intentions | publisher = [[The Financial Times]]| date = [[2007-12-08]]| url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22153800/| accessdate = 2007-12-16}}</ref> A group of Romanian linguists adopted a resolution stating that promotion of the notion of Moldovan language is an unscientific campaign.<ref> {{in lang|ro}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ziare.ro/articol.php?id=1193864896 |title=Ziare.ro - Linguists condemn "Moldovan language" |accessdate=2007-11-10 |format= |work=}}</ref>


==={{flagcountry|Montenegro}}===

'''[[Montenegro]]''' ([[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]/[[Serbian language|Serbian]]:/[[Croatian language|Croatian]]/[[Bosnian language|Bosnian]] Црна Гора, ''Crna Gora'' , [[Albanian language|Albanian]]: ''Mali i Zi'' ({{IPA|[ˈmaʎi ˈi ˈz̟i]}})) is a [[country]] located in [[Balkans|Southeastern Europe]]. It has a coast on the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the south and borders [[Croatia]] to the west, [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] to the northwest, [[Kosovo]] to the east, [[Serbia]] to the northeast and [[Albania]] to the southeast. Its [[capital]] and largest city is [[Podgorica]], while [[Cetinje]] is designated as ''Prijestonica'',  the ''old royal capital'' or ''former seat of the throne''.

A Serbian principality in the [[Late Middle Ages]], its independence from the Ottoman Empire was formally recognized in [[1878]]. From [[1918]], Montenegro became a part of various incarnations of [[Yugoslavia]] and the state union of [[Serbia and Montenegro]]. Based on the results of the [[Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006|referendum]] held on [[May 21]] [[2006]], Montenegro declared independence on [[June 3]], [[2006]] making it the newest fully recognized country in the world. On [[June 28]], [[2006]], it became the 192nd member state<ref>[http://www.un.org/Overview/growth.htm List of members to the United Nations by joining date]</ref> of the [[United Nations]], and on [[May 11]], [[2007]], the 47th member state of the [[Council of Europe]].

'''[[Montenegrin language]]''' (''Crnogorski jezik'', Црногорски језик) is the name given to the Ijekavian-[[Shtokavian]] dialect spoken in [[Montenegro]]. It is recognized as a variant of the [[South Slavic languages]]. Since 2004, the Montenegrin administration has slowly promoted the idea of a Montenegrin language to the public, a movement which has its origins as far as 1993. As of the [[Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006|Montenegrin 2006 independence]], there is an ongoing dispute over the subject by pro-Serbian nationalistic political forces inside and outside of Montenegro, culminating with the Montenegrin language being proclaimed the [[official language]] of Montenegro in the new Constitution on [[22 October]] [[2007]]. The Constitution was supported by a majority in the Montenegrin Parliament, and Montenegro is today the  only state in the region which officially supports the majority of south Slavic languages in all their differences and similarities, even including the linguistically unrelated [[Albanian Language]].

==={{flagcountry|Poland}}===

'''Polish people''', or '''[[Poles]]''', ({{langx|pl|Polacy}}) are a [[West Slavs|Western Slavic]] [[ethnic group]] of [[Central Europe]], living predominantly in [[Poland]]. Poles are sometimes defined as people who share a common Polish culture and are of Polish descent. Their religion is predominantly [[Roman Catholic]].  A wide-ranging [[Polonia|Polish diaspora]] exists throughout Western and Eastern Europe, the Americas and Australia. 

As to its origins, the name of the nation comes from a [[West Slavs|western Slavic]] [[ethnic group]] of [[Polans (western)|Polans]] primarily associated with Poland and the Polish language. Poles belong to the [[Lechitic]] subgroup of these ethnic people. The [[Polans (western)|Polans]] of [[Giecz]], [[Gniezno]], and [[Poznań]] were one of the most influential tribes of [[Greater Poland]] and managed to unite many other West Slavic tribes in the area under the rule of what became the [[Piast dynasty]], thus giving birth to a new state.

The Polish language became far more homogeneous in the second half of the 20th century, in part due to the mass migration of several million Polish citizens from the eastern to the western part of the country after the east was annexed by the [[Soviet Union]] in 1939, during [[World War II]].

"Standard" Polish is still spoken somewhat differently in different regions of the country, although the differences between these broad "dialects" are slight. There is never any difficulty in mutual understanding, and  non-native speakers are generally unable to distinguish among them easily. The differences are slight compared to different dialects of English, for example. 
The regional differences correspond mainly to old tribal divisions from around a thousand years ago; the most significant of these in terms of numbers of speakers are [[Great Poland|Great Polish]] (spoken in the west), [[Lesser Poland|Lesser Polish]] (spoken in the south and southeast), [[Mazovian language|Mazovian]] ([[Mazur]]) spoken throughout the central and eastern parts of the country, and [[Silesian language|Silesian]] spoken in the southwest. Mazovian shares some features with the [[Kashubian language]]

==={{Flagcountry|Romania}}===
'''[[Romania]]''' '''Rumania''', '''Roumania'''<!-- Do not remove, as this was added through consensus, discussion, and a poll done from January 10, 2008 to January 17, 2008. Please see talk page archives for details -->; {{langx|ro|România}},  is a country in [[Southeastern Europe]]. It shares a border with [[Hungary]] and [[Serbia]] to the west, [[Ukraine]] and the [[Republic of Moldova]] to the northeast, and [[Bulgaria]] to the south. Romania has a stretch of sea coast along the [[Black Sea]]. It is located roughly in the lower basin of the [[Danube]] and almost all of the [[Danube Delta]] is located within its territory.

Romania is a [[semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] [[unitary state]]. As a nation-state, the country was formed by the merging of [[Moldavia]] and [[Wallachia]] in 1859 and it gained recognition of its [[Romanian War of Independence|independence]] in [[Treaty of Berlin (1878)|1878]]. Later, in 1918, they were joined by [[Transylvania]], [[Bukovina]] and [[Bessarabia]]. At the end of [[World War II]], parts of its territories (roughly the present day [[Moldova]]) were occupied by [[USSR]] and Romania became a member of [[Warsaw Pact]]. With the fall of the [[Iron Curtain]] in [[Romanian Revolution of 1989|1989]], Romania started a series of political and economic reforms that allowed for Romania to [[Accession of Romania to the European Union|join the European Union]] on [[January 1]] [[2007]].

'''Romanian''' ('''Rumanian''' or '''Roumanian'''; self designation: ''limba română'',  is a [[Romance languages|Romance language]] spoken by around 24 to 28 million people,<ref name="28mil"/> primarily in [[Romania]] and [[Moldova]]. It has official status in [[Romania]], [[Moldova]] and the Autonomous Province of [[Vojvodina]] in [[Serbia]]. The official form of the [[Moldovan language]] <ref name=Moldova/> in the [[Republic of Moldova]] is identical to that of Romanian; a minor difference in spelling was abolished in [[2000]].<ref>The new edition of „Dicţionarul ortografic al limbii române (ortoepic, morfologic, cu norme de punctuaţie)” &ndash; introduced by the [[Academy of Sciences of Moldova]] and recommended for publishing following the board reunion on 15 November 2000 &ndash; applies the decision of the General Meeting of the [[Romanian Academy]] from [[17 February]] [[1993]], regarding the return to „â” and „sunt” in the orthography of the Romanian language. ([http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagine:Asm_lbro3.jpg Introduction, Institute of Linguistics of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova]) The decision is mandatory in schools and other official use of the language.</ref> Romanian is also an official or administrative language in various communities and organisations (such as the [[Latin Union]] and the [[European Union]]).

[[Romanians|Romanian speakers]] are scattered across many other countries, notably [[Italy]], [[Spain]], [[Israel]], [[Portugal]], [[United Kingdom]], the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[France]] and [[Germany]].

===Romanies===

The '''Romani''' or '''Romany people''' ([[Devanagari]]: रोमानी, as a [[noun]], singular '''Rom''', plural '''Roma'''; sometimes '''Rrom''', '''Rroma''') or '''Romanies''' are an [[Aryan]] [[ethnic group]] living in many communities all over the world. They also belong to many ethnic groups that appear in literature and folklore, and are often referred to as '''[[Gypsy|Gypsies]]''' or '''Gipsies''', a term that is sometimes considered pejorative and is based on a mistaken belief of an origin in [[Egypt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/~patrin/history.htm|publisher=Patrin Web Journal|title=A Brief History of the Roma|accessdate=2007-08-26|date=1999-04-17}}</ref> The term is, however, still in widespread official use, for instance in the UK. In actuality, the Roma have their origins in [[India]].<ref>{{cite book
 |first=Donald
 |last=Kenrick
 |title=Historical Dictionary of the Gypsies (Romanies)
 |publisher=Scarecrow Press
 |year=1998
 |isbn=0-8108-3444-8
}}</ref><ref>[http://romove.radio.cz/en/article/18158 The History and Origin of the Roma]</ref>

The Roma are still thought of as wandering [[nomads]] in the popular imagination, despite the fact that today the vast majority live in permanent housing.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.cbc.ca/newsinreview/dec97/gypsies/gypsy.html
 |title=Gypsies in Canada: The Promised Land?
 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]
 |month=December|year=1997
}}</ref> This widely dispersed ethnic group lives across the world not only near their historic heartland in [[Southern Europe|Southern]] and [[Eastern Europe]],<ref>[http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=308 The Roma of Eastern Europe: Still Searching for Inclusion]</ref> but also in the [[Americas|American]] continent and the [[Middle East]].

'''Romani''' or '''Romany''' (native name: ''romani ćhib'') is the [[language]] of the [[Roma people|Roma]] and [[Sinti]].  The [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]] Romani language should not be confused with either [[Romanian language|Romanian]] (spoken by [[Romanians]]), or [[Romansh language|Romansh]] (spoken in parts of southeastern [[Switzerland]]), both of which are [[Romance languages]].

Analysis of the Romani language has shown that it is closely related to those spoken in central and northern India, [[Pothwari language|Pothwari]] in particular. [[Romani language|Romani]], [[Punjabi language|Panjabi]], and [[Pothohari language|Pothwari]] share some words and similar grammatical systems.  A 2003 study published in [[Nature (journal)|''Nature'']] suggests Romani is also related to [[Sinhalese language|Sinhalese]],<ref>Gray, R.D. & Atkinson, Q.D. 2003. "Language-tree divergence times support the Anatolian theory of Indo-European origin." ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]].'' '''426''', 435-439.</ref> presently spoken in [[Sri Lanka]].

==={{flagcountry|Russia}}===
'''[[Russians]]''' ({{langx|ru|Русские—''Russkie''}} ) are an [[East Slavs|East Slavic]] [[ethnic group]], primarily living in [[Russia]] and neighboring countries.

The [[English language|English]] term ''Russians'' is also used to refer to [[citizens]] of Russia, regardless of their ethnicity (see ''[[demographics of Russia]]'' for information on other nationalities inhabiting Russia); in [[Russian language|Russian]], this meaning is covered by term ''Rossiyanin'' (Россиянин, plural ''Rossiyane'')

'''Russian''' [[Romanization of Russian|transliteration]]:  ''{{transl|ru|ALA|russkiy yazyk}}'', is the most geographically widespread language of [[Eurasia]] and the most widely spoken of the [[Slavic languages]]. Russian belongs to the family of [[Indo-European languages]] and is one of three (or, according to some authorities, four) living members of the [[East Slavic languages]], the others being [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]] and [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]].

===Rusyns===
'''[[Rusyns]]''' (also referred to as Русини, '''Ruthenians, Ruthenes, Rusins, Carpatho-Rusyns,''' and '''Rusnaks''') are a modern [[Slav|slavic]] [[ethnic group]] that speaks the [[Rusyn language]] and are descended from the minority of [[Ruthenians]] who did not adopt a [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] national identity in the [[19th century|nineteenth]] and early [[20th century|twentieth centuries]]. Because an overwhelming majority of Ruthenians within Ukraine itself have adopted a Ukrainian identity<ref name="ukraine"/>, most modern self-declared Rusyns live outside Ukraine. Thus, of the approximately 2 million people claimed by Rusyn organizations as being Rusyns, only 55,000 declare themselves as having this nationality. The ethnic identity of Rusyns is therefore highly controversial, with some researchers claiming a separate East Slavic ethnicity distinct from [[Russians]], [[Ukrainians]], and [[Belarusians]], while others considering Rusyns to be a subgroup of the Ukrainian nation

'''Rusyn''' ({{lang|ry|русинська мова}}; {{transl|ry|''rusyns'ka mova''}}) is an [[East Slavic languages|East Slavic language]] (along with [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]] and [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] to which it shares a common linguistic ancestry) that is spoken by the [[Rusyns]].  Opinions differ among linguists concerning whether Rusyn is a separate East Slavic language or a dialect of Ukrainian.<ref>http://lists.microlink.lv/pipermail/minelres/2000-January/000398.html</ref> The political implications of the dispute add to the controversy.

Rusyn is spoken in the [[Zakarpattia Oblast|Transcarpathian Region]] of [[Ukraine]], in northeastern [[Slovakia]], southeastern [[Poland]] (where it is often called ''łemkowski'' 'Lemko', from their characteristic word ''lem/лєм'' 'only'), and [[Hungary]] (where the people and language are called ''Ruten''). The [[Pannonian Rusyn language]] in [[Serbia]] is sometimes considered part of the Rusyn language group, although some linguists consider that language to be West Slavic. In Ukraine, Rusyn is usually considered a dialect of Ukrainian, as it is very close to the Ukrainian [[Hutsul]] dialect, but some speakers sometimes prefer to consider themselves distinct from Ukrainians.

==={{flagcountry|Serbia}}===
The '''[[Republic of Serbia]]''' ({{langx|sr|Република Србија / ''Republika Srbija''}}, is a [[landlocked]] [[country]] in [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Balkans|Southeastern]] [[Europe]], covering the southern part of the [[Pannonian Plain]] and the central part of the [[Balkans|Balkan Peninsula]]. It is bordered by [[Hungary]] on the north; [[Romania]] and [[Bulgaria]] on the east; [[Albania]] and [[Republic of Macedonia]] on the south; and [[Montenegro]], [[Croatia]] and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] on the west. The capital is [[Belgrade]].

'''Serbian''' ({{lang|sr-Cyrl|српски језик}}; {{lang|sr-Latn|''srpski jezik''}}) is the most spoken [[South Slavs|South Slavic]] language. It is one of the standard versions of the [[Shtokavian dialect]], used primarily in [[Serbia]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Montenegro]], [[Croatia]],  and by [[Serbs]] in the [[Serbian diaspora]]. The former standard is known as [[Serbo-Croatian]], now split into Serbian, [[Croatian language|Croatian]] and [[Bosnian language|Bosnian]] standards. It counts among official (and minority) languages of [[Serbia]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Montenegro]], [[Croatia]], [[Romania]], [[Republic of Macedonia]] and [[Hungary]]. 

Two [[alphabet]]s are used to write the Serbian language: a [[Serbian Cyrillic alphabet|variation]] on the [[Cyrillic alphabet]], devised by [[Vuk Stefanović Karadžić|Vuk Karadžić]], and a [[Gaj's Latin alphabet|variation]] on the [[Latin alphabet]], devised by [[Ljudevit Gaj]]. The characters of the two alphabets map to each other one-to-one.

==={{flagcountry|Slovakia}}===
'''[[Slovakia]]''' (long form: '''Slovak Republic'''; [[Slovak language|Slovak]]: ''Slovensko'', long form ''Slovenská republika'') is a [[landlocked country]] in [[Central Europe]] with a population of over five million and an area of about 49,000 [[square kilometres]] (almost 19,000 [[square miles]]). The Slovak Republic borders the [[Czech Republic]] and [[Austria]] to the west, [[Poland]] to the north, [[Ukraine]] to the east and [[Hungary]] to the south. The largest city is its capital, [[Bratislava]]. Slovakia is a member state of the [[European Union]], [[NATO]], [[OECD]], [[WTO]], and other international organizations.

The Slavic people arrived in the territory of present day Slovakia between the 5th and 6th century [[AD]] during the [[Migration Period]] (Migration of Nations). Various parts of Slovakia belonged to [[Samo]]'s Empire, the first known political unit of Slavs, [[Great Moravia]], the [[Kingdom of Hungary]], [[Habsburg (Austrian) monarchy]], [[Austria-Hungary]], [[Czechoslovakia]]  throughout history. Slovakia became independent on [[1 January]], [[1993]], with the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia in the [[Velvet Divorce]]. 

The '''Slovak language''' (''slovenčina'', ''slovenský jazyk''), sometimes referred to as "Slovakian", is an [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European language]] belonging to the [[West Slavic languages]] (together with [[Czech language|Czech]], [[Polish language|Polish]], [[Kashubian language|Kashubian]] and [Sorbian language|Sorbian]]). Slovak is [[Mutual intelligibility|mutually intelligible]] with Czech and Slovak uses a modification of the Roman ([[Latin]]) alphabet.  

Slovak is spoken in [[Slovakia]] (by 5 million people), the [[United States]] (500,000),  the [[Czech Republic]] (320,000), [[Hungary]] (20,000), Northern [[Serbia]]-[[Vojvodina]] (60,000), [[Romania]] (22,000), [[Poland]] (20,000), [[Canada]] (20,000), [[Australia]], [[Austria]], [[Ukraine]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Croatia]] (5,000) and elsewhere.

==={{flagcountry|Slovenia}}===
'''[[Slovenia]]''' is a  [[country]] in southern [[Central Europe]] bordering [[Italy]] to the west, the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the southwest, [[Croatia]] to the south and east, [[Hungary]] to the northeast, and [[Austria]] to the north. The capital of Slovenia is [[Ljubljana]]. 

At various points in Slovenia's history, the country has been part of the [[Roman Empire]], the Duchy of [[Karantania|Carantania]] (only modern Slovenia's northern part), the [[Holy Roman Empire]], the [[Habsburg Monarchy]], the [[Austrian Empire]] (later known as [[Austria-Hungary]]), the [[State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs]], the [[Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes]] (renamed to Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929) [[Interwar period|between the two World Wars]], and the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] from 1945 until gaining independence in 1991. Slovenia is a member of the [[European Union]], the [[Council of Europe]] and [[NATO]].

'''[[Slovene]]''' or '''Slovenian''' (''slovenski jezik'' or ''slovenščina'') is an [[Indo-European language]] that belongs to the family of [[South Slavic languages|South]] [[Slavic languages]]. It is spoken by approximately 2 million speakers worldwide, the majority of whom live in [[Slovenia]]. Slovene is one of the few languages to have preserved the [[dual grammatical number]] from [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]]. Also, Slovene and  [[Slovak language|Slovak]] are the two modern Slavic languages whose names for themselves literally mean "Slavic" (''slověnьskъ'' in old Slavonic).
Slovene is also one of the official languages of the [[European Union]].


===Sorbians===

'''[[Sorbs]]''' (Upper Sorbian ''Serbja'', Lower Sorbian ''Serby''; also ''Wends, Lusatian Sorbs''), Slavonic nation settled in Lusatia, region on the territory of [[Germany]]. Historically, [[Lusatia]] also encompasses small parts of [[Poland]] and the [[Czech Republic]]. Not to be confused with [[Serbs]].

Sorbs are divided into: Upper Sorbs speaking Upper Sorbian (about 30,000 people) and Lower Sorbs  speaking Lower Sorbian (about 20,000 people). Some of them using in-between dialects- a mixture of these two Sorbian languages.


=== [[Tatar]] ===
'''[[Tatars]]''' ([[Tatar language|Tatar]]: Tatarlar/Татарлар), sometimes spelled '''Tartar''' (''[[#Name|more about the name]]''), are a [[Turkic people|Turkic]] ethnic group or a couple of ethnic groups.

Most current day Tatars live all over [[Russia]], [[Ukraine]], [[Poland]], [[Moldova]], [[Lithuania]], [[Belarus]], [[Bulgaria]], [[China]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Romania]], [[Turkey]], and [[Uzbekistan]]. They collectively numbered more than 10 million in the late [[20th century]]. 

The original Ta-ta inhabited the north-eastern [[Gobi]] in the [[5th century]] and, after subjugation in the [[9th century]] by the [[Liao dynasty|Khitans]], migrated southward, there founding the [[Mongol Empire]] under [[Genghis Khan]]. Under the leadership of his grandson [[Batu Khan]], they moved westwards, driving with them many stems of the [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] [[Ural-Altaic|Ural-Altay]]ans towards the plains of [[Russia]].

Tatar is a [[Turkic languages|Turkic language]], which is considered part of the disputed [[Altaic languages|Altaic language family]].

==={{flagcountry|Ukraine}}===
'''[[Ukrainians]]''' ({{langx|uk|Українці}}, ''Ukrayintsi'') are an [[East Slavs|East Slavic]] [[ethnic group]] primarily living in [[Ukraine]], or more broadly—[[citizens]] of [[Ukraine]] (who may or may not be ethnic Ukrainians).

Ukrainians are one of the largest European ethnic groups with a population of more than 44 million people worldwide. Most ethnic Ukrainians, about 37 million in total, live in [[Ukraine]] where they make up over three-quarters of the population. The largest Ukrainian community outside of Ukraine is in [[Russia]], about 3 million Russian citizens consider themselves ethnic Ukrainians, while millions of others (primarily in [[Southern Federal District|southern Russia]] and [[Siberia]]) have some Ukrainian ancestry.

Ukrainian (украї́нська мо́ва, ''ukrayins'ka mova'', is a language of the [[East Slavic languages|East Slavic subgroup]] of the [[Slavic languages]]. It is the only [[official language|official state language]] of [[Ukraine]]. Written Ukrainian uses a [[Cyrillic alphabet]]. The language shares some vocabulary with the languages of the neighboring [[Slavic people|Slavic nations]], most notably with [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]], [[Polish language|Polish]], [[Russian language|Russian]] and [[Slovak language|Slovak]]. 

The Ukrainian language traces its origins to the [[Old East Slavic language]] of the medieval state of [[Kievan Rus']]. In its earlier stages it was called [[Ruthenian]] or [[Little Russia]]n. Ukrainian, along with other East Slavic languages, is a lineal descendant of the colloquial language used in Kievan Rus.