Moldovan

Moldovan is an adjective and a demonym used to refer to Moldova, a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, as well as to its people, culture, and things associated with the country. As a demonym, Moldovan denotes a citizen or resident of Moldova. In usage, it also describes Moldova-related topics such as Moldovan cuisine, music, and traditions. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with Moldavian, especially in older English sources.

The term has historical and linguistic dimensions. Moldovan has appeared as the name of the language spoken in Moldova in various periods, particularly during the Soviet era. The language most commonly associated with Moldova today is Romanian; it is written in the Latin alphabet and is mutually intelligible with Romanian. In Moldova’s official contexts, the state language has been Romanian, though the use of the label Moldovan for the language has persisted in some documents and local usage. Moldova’s language policy has evolved since independence in 1991, reflecting debates over national identity and linguistic nomenclature.

Geography and population context accompany the term. Moldova lies between Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. Its history includes medieval principality origins, incorporation into the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union as the Moldavian SSR, and independence in 1991. The Moldovan population is diverse, with ethnic Moldovans (primarily of Romanian heritage) alongside Ukrainians, Russians, Gagauz, Bulgarians, and others. Moldova also has a notable diaspora in neighboring countries and around the world.