Belarus and Belorussian

Belarus and Belorussian

Belarus

Belarus (i/bɛləˈruːs/ bel-ə-rooss; Belarusian: Белару́сь Bielarus’ pronounced [bʲɛlaˈrusʲ]; Russian: Белару́сь, tr. Belarus’; IPA: [bʲɪlɐˈrusʲ]), officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordered by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Hrodna (Grodno), Homiel (Gomel), Mahilyow (Mogilev) and Vitsebsk (Vitebsk). Over 40% of its 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) is forested. Its strongest economic sectors are service industries and manufacturing.

Belarus' two official languages are Russian and Belarusian; Russian is the main language, used by 72% of the population, while Belarusian, the second official language, is only used by 11.9%. Minorities also speak Polish, Ukrainian and Eastern Yiddish.

Belarusian language

Belarusian (/bɛləˈruːsiən/; беларуская мова, Belarusian pronunciation: [bʲelaˈruskaja ˈmova], BGN/PCGN: byelaruskaya mova) is an official language of Belarus, along with Russian, and is spoken abroad, chiefly in Russia, Ukraine, and Poland. Prior to Belarus gaining its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the language was known in English as Byelorussian or Belorussian, transliterating the Russian name, белорусский язык, or alternatively as White Ruthenian (/ruːˈθiːniən/) or White Russian. Following independence, it also became known as Belarusian.

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Belorussian proverbs>

Adivce

¶ Ү kaлaмyтнай вадa лecнo ca лobи.
It is good fishing in streamy water.

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References

Belarus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus

Belarusian language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarusian_language