MeglenoRomân

MeglenoRomân refers to the Megleno-Romanian ethnolinguistic group and their language, spoken in the Balkans. The traditional homeland lies in the Meglen region, now divided between northern Greece and southern North Macedonia. Today communities are concentrated in northern Greece and southern North Macedonia, with smaller populations in Albania and in diaspora communities in other European countries.

Language: Megleno-Romanian (Megleno-Român) is an Eastern Romance language. It belongs to the Balkan Romance group and is closely related to Aromanian and Istro-Romanian. It comprises several regional varieties and has no single nationwide standard form. The language is endangered; most speakers are bilingual in Greek, Macedonian, or Albanian, and intergenerational transmission has declined in many communities.

Names and culture: The Megleno-Romanians are also known as Meglenites. They maintain distinct cultural traditions, including music, crafts, and culinary practices, and observe local religious and communal festivities that reflect a blend of Balkan influences and historical ties to their language cluster.

History: The Megleno-Romanians trace their roots to medieval Vlach populations that migrated through the Balkans. Over the 19th and 20th centuries, political changes and conflicts contributed to the dispersal of communities across Greece, North Macedonia, and Albania. A contemporary diaspora has developed in several countries, reinforcing cultural and linguistic networks.

Status: The group is not broadly recognized as a separate minority in all states where it resides. Language vitality varies by community, with ongoing efforts by cultural associations and researchers to document and preserve Megleno-Romanian and its cultural heritage.