Major and Minor Languages in Each Country:
Belarus:
Major: Russian (70.2%), Belarusian (23.4%)
Minor: Polish, Yiddish, Ukranian (3.1%); other (3.3%)
Bulgaria:
Major: Bulgarian (76.8%)
Minor: Romani (3.8%); Turkish (8.2%); Macedonian, Albanian, Gaguaz, Tatar (11.2%)
Czech Republic:
Major: Czech (95.4%)
Minor: Slovak (1.6%); German, Hungarian, Romani, Polish (3%)
Hungary:
Major: Hungarian (99.6%)
Minor: English (16%), German (11.2%), Russian (1.6%), Romanian (1.3%), French (1.2%), other (4.2%)
Poland:
Major: Polish (98.2%)
Minor: Silesian (1.4%); German, Ukrainian, Belarusian (1.1%), unspecified (1.3%)
Republic of Moldova:
Major: Moldovan/Romanian (75.2%)
Minor: Russian (16%), Ukrainian (3.8%), Gagauz (3.1%), Bulgarian (1.1%), other (0.3%), unspecified (0.4%)
Romania:
Major: Romanian (85.4%)
Minor: Hungarian (6.3%), Gypsy (1.2%), German and other (1%), unspecified (6.1%)
Russian Federation:
Major: Russian (85.7%)
Minor: Tatar (3.2%);Chechen (1%); Ukrainian, Chuvash, Bashir, Mordvin, Circassian (10.1%)
Slovakia:
Major: Slovak (Central, Western, Eastern) (78.6%)
Minor: Hungarian (9.4%); Romani (2.3%); Ruthenian (1%); Czech, Ukrainian, German, Polish, other (8.8%)
Ukraine:
Major: Ukrainian (67.5%), Russian (29.6%)
Minor: other (Romanian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Belarusian)-2.9%
Belarus:
Major: Russian (70.2%), Belarusian (23.4%)
Minor: Polish, Yiddish, Ukranian (3.1%); other (3.3%)
Bulgaria:
Major: Bulgarian (76.8%)
Minor: Romani (3.8%); Turkish (8.2%); Macedonian, Albanian, Gaguaz, Tatar (11.2%)
Czech Republic:
Major: Czech (95.4%)
Minor: Slovak (1.6%); German, Hungarian, Romani, Polish (3%)
Hungary:
Major: Hungarian (99.6%)
Minor: English (16%), German (11.2%), Russian (1.6%), Romanian (1.3%), French (1.2%), other (4.2%)
Poland:
Major: Polish (98.2%)
Minor: Silesian (1.4%); German, Ukrainian, Belarusian (1.1%), unspecified (1.3%)
Republic of Moldova:
Major: Moldovan/Romanian (75.2%)
Minor: Russian (16%), Ukrainian (3.8%), Gagauz (3.1%), Bulgarian (1.1%), other (0.3%), unspecified (0.4%)
Romania:
Major: Romanian (85.4%)
Minor: Hungarian (6.3%), Gypsy (1.2%), German and other (1%), unspecified (6.1%)
Russian Federation:
Major: Russian (85.7%)
Minor: Tatar (3.2%);Chechen (1%); Ukrainian, Chuvash, Bashir, Mordvin, Circassian (10.1%)
Slovakia:
Major: Slovak (Central, Western, Eastern) (78.6%)
Minor: Hungarian (9.4%); Romani (2.3%); Ruthenian (1%); Czech, Ukrainian, German, Polish, other (8.8%)
Ukraine:
Major: Ukrainian (67.5%), Russian (29.6%)
Minor: other (Romanian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Belarusian)-2.9%
Eastern European Languages by Percentage Chart
![Picture](/uploads/2/0/6/0/20605902/image-1.png?250)
In Eastern Europe, the dominant language is Russian, mainly due to the fact that it is spoken by the majority in Russia and Bulgaria and makes up nearly a third of Ukrainians. Polish, Ukranian, Romanian, and Hungarian follow up, as they are spoken in the majority in their respective countries and are part of the minority in several others. The rest of the languages are small, minority languages that are represented in countries as being spoken by under 10% of the population.
Selected Phrases Written in the Top 5 Most Commonly Spoken Languages of Eastern Europe
Phrase Russian Polish Ukrainian Romanian Hungarian
Hello Здравствуйте Cześć Здравствуйте Buna Helló
(zdrah-stu-it-eh) (zdrah-stu-it-eh)
Goodbye Прощай Pożegnanie до побачення Ramas bun Búcsú
(Prosh-chay) (Dopoh-bah-chen-ya)
How are you? как дела? Jak się masz? як справи? Ce mai faci? Hogy vagy?
(Kahk-deh-lah) (Yahk-sprah-vee)
What’s your name? как вас зовут? Jak masz na imię? Як вас звати? Care e numele tău? Mi a neved?
(Kahk-tibyeh-za-voot) (Yahk-vah-za-vah-tee)
My name is... меня зовут… Nazywam się... мене звати… Numele meu este... A nevem...
(Menyah-zavoot) (Men-ne-za-vah-tee)
Thank you Спасибо Dziękuję Ci Дякую Mulțumesc Köszönöm
(Spa-si-bo) (Diya-ku-yu)
You’re welcome Пожалуйста Nie ma za co Ласкаво просимо Cu plăcere Szívesen
(Poh-szhah-loo-stah) (Lah-skah-voh pro-see-moh)
Yes Да (da) Tak так (Tak) Da Igen
No Нет (net) Nie Немає (Nah-ma-ye) Nu Nem
One Один (odin) Jeden Один (odin) Unu Egy
Ten Десять (des-yat) Dziesięć Десять (des-yat) Zece Tíz
Language Diversity and Distribution
In Eastern Europe, most countries speak a Slavic language such as Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, or Bulgarian. Romania and Moldova have Romance languages as their majority language, but also contain Slavic languages in the minority. Most countries have some minority languages such as Germanic (German and English) or languages from small ethnic groups such as Tatar, Chechen, and Gagauz.
In Eastern Europe, most countries speak a Slavic language such as Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, or Bulgarian. Romania and Moldova have Romance languages as their majority language, but also contain Slavic languages in the minority. Most countries have some minority languages such as Germanic (German and English) or languages from small ethnic groups such as Tatar, Chechen, and Gagauz.