Montenegrin

Montenegrin is a term that can refer to the people of Montenegro or to the language they use, as well as to things pertaining to the country itself. Ethnic Montenegrins are a South Slavic people native to Montenegro, whose historical and cultural identity has developed within the context of the Balkan region and the modern Montenegrin state.

Montenegrin (crnogorski jezik) is a standardized South Slavic language in the Serbo-Croatian language continuum. It is the official language of Montenegro and is used in education, government, media, and daily communication. The language is written in both Latin and Cyrillic scripts, and the standard form is based on the Shtokavian dialect, with the Ijekavian variant predominant. It has its own vocabulary and orthographic conventions, while remaining largely mutually intelligible with Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian.

Official status and use: The Montenegrin constitution designates Montenegrin as the official language of the state. Other languages, notably Serbian, Albanian, Bosnian, and Croatian, are recognised for use by minority communities and in local administration, education, and media in certain contexts. In practice, Montenegrin participates in public life alongside these languages.

Demographics and identity: Ethnic Montenegrins mainly reside in Montenegro, with diaspora communities in neighboring countries and around the world. The term Montenegrin also encompasses national culture, literature, and regional traditions associated with Montenegro.