Montenegrin language
| Montenegrin | |
|---|---|
| crnogorski, црногорски | |
| Pronunciation | [tsr̩nǒɡorskiː] |
| Native to | Montenegro |
| Ethnicity | Montenegrins |
Native speakers | 232,600 (see text) |
| Official status | |
Official language in | Montenegro |
Recognised minority language in | |
| Regulated by | Board for Standardization of the Montenegrin Language |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-2 | cnr |
| ISO 639-3 | cnr |
| Glottolog | mont1282 |
| Linguasphere | part of 53-AAA-g |
| South Slavic languages and dialects |
|---|
Montenegrin (/ˌmɒntɪˈniːɡrɪn/ MON-tin-EE-grin; crnogorski, црногорски) is a standard variety of the Serbo-Croatian language mainly used by Montenegrins. It is the official language of Montenegro. Montenegrin is based on the most widespread dialect of Serbo-Croatian, Shtokavian, more specifically on Eastern Herzegovinian, which is also the basis of Standard Croatian, Serbian, and Bosnian.
Montenegro's language has historically and traditionally been called either Serbian or Montenegrin. The idea of a Montenegrin standard language separate from Serbian appeared in the 1990s during the breakup of Yugoslavia through proponents of Montenegrin independence from Serbia and Montenegro. Montenegrin became the official language of Montenegro with the ratification and proclamation of a new constitution in October 2007.