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Glite Dictionary
Byelorussian language

Byelorussian language

7.9
A language spoken mainly in Belarus that uses the Cyrillic alphabet
  • noun
translation icon : idioma bielorruso
  • Many people in Belarus speak the Byelorussian language at home as well as in schools.

Examples

  • The Byelorussian language has its own unique alphabet based on Cyrillic script.

  • She took a course to improve her skills in the Byelorussian language.

  • The Byelorussian language has a rich history.

  • Many people in Belarus speak the Byelorussian language.

  • Many people in Belarus speak the Byelorussian language at home as well as in schools.

  • She took a course to improve her skills in the Byelorussian language.

  • The Byelorussian language has its own unique alphabet based on Cyrillic script.

Synonyms

Belarusian
vsByelorussian language
1 7.2

A Slavic language spoken mainly in Belarus

is the longer, more formal alternative to that shorter name
Byelorussian
vsByelorussian language
  • Archaic
8.3

The language spoken in Belarus

is the same name but given in an alternative older written form
White Russian language
vsByelorussian language
  • Archaic
8.4

A language spoken in Belarus, also called Belarusian

is the same name but appears as the variant used in the key entry
Belarusian language
vsByelorussian language
5.8

A language spoken mainly in Belarus

is an older alternative name rather than the current preferred term
White Russian
vsByelorussian language
  • Archaic
9.9

The Belarusian language spoken in Belarus

is the neutral modern term rather than the dated historical label

Surface Forms

Byelorussian language singular
Byelorussian languages plural

Morphology

Byelorussian + language

This is a fully compositional noun phrase: 'Byelorussian' denotes origin/ethnicity (from Belarus) and 'language' names a speech system, so the combined meaning 'the language of Belarus/Belarusians' is directly inferable. The demonym+language pattern is cross-linguistically common (e.g., 'Spanish language'), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand the MWE.

Etymology

The name Byelorussian language comes from the older country name Byelorussia, which joined a word meaning 'white' with 'Rus', an old name for the people and lands there. So, Byelorussian language simply meant the language of 'White Rus' and is an older form of the modern name 'Belarusian'.