Translation from or into Belarusian

«AventA» translation company in Kyiv offers top-quality translations from Ukrainian to Belarusian and from Belarusian to Ukrainian. We collaborate with the best Belarusian language specialists, many of whom have additional specialized education.

Belarusian translation services

We provide both general and specialized translations, including written and oral. Our Belarusian translators also perform professional notarized translations to and from Belarusian, adapted to the requirements of target agencies and institutions.

We translate websites, articles, reviews, manuals, documents, and many other types of texts. We guarantee translations that are fully accurate in terms of language, style, and content.

We are ready to translate any industry-specific texts to or from Belarusian for your business needs. Our services include translations of business documents, including financial, HR, payroll, and more. We also translate legal, medical, scientific, marketing, and technical content, such as manuals, product and machinery specifications, and automotive documentation.

In addition to written translations, we also offer oral interpretation services. Our interpreters frequently participate in conferences, symposiums, and other business meetings where translation to or from Belarusian is required. To meet your expectations, we provide both simultaneous and consecutive interpretation, as well as technical conference support.

Who speaks Belarusian

Belarusian belongs to the group of East Slavic languages within the Indo-European language family. Within this language group, it is most similar to Ukrainian. It is a native language for 7.6 million people (approximately 0.11% of the world’s population), ranking it 98th in the world by the number of language speakers.

Primarily spoken by residents of the Republic of Belarus, where it is official, as well as by national minorities in Poland, Russia, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Canada. Belarusian is also an official/auxiliary language in five gminas of Podlaskie Voivodeship in Poland.

However, in Belarus itself, fewer and fewer people are using the Belarusian language, replacing it or using it alongside Russian. The Belarusian-speaking population is gradually decreasing, leading to the language’s delicate status as “vulnerable” according to UNESCO classification. Two main dialect groups can be distinguished, constituting the Belarusian language: Northeastern and Southwestern. In addition to them, there are several transitional dialects.

History of the Belarusian language

Like Russian and Ukrainian, the Belarusian language originated from Old East Slavic. The literary form of Belarusian (also known as Old Belarusian) developed between the 14th and 16th centuries. During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, Old Belarusian was the official language of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

In the 19th century, the Belarusian language became the official language of the Belarusian People’s Republic. Its formation and consolidation as an official language continued throughout the 20th century. In 1918, Bronislav Tarashkevich published its complete grammar.

Until the 1920s-1930s, the development of the literary Belarusian language was suppressed by purges of the intelligentsia. After 1940, due to intensive promotion of the Belarusian language and education in Belarusian, its significance greatly increased.

Since 1991, the status of Belarusian as a state language has changed several times. Today, it is one of the two official languages of Belarus, alongside Russian. In modern Belarusian, there is a strong influence of the Russian language.

Currently, Belarusian is predominantly written in Cyrillic script, which was created at the end of the 9th century based on the Greek alphabet. The norms of the Belarusian language are regulated by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

Interesting facts about the Belarusian language

• Although Cyrillic is the dominant script for writing in the Belarusian language today, it’s noteworthy that Belarusian can also be written using the Latin script (this variant is called Belarusian Latin). However, this notation is used very rarely.
• In the 16th century, a Belarusian Arabic alphabet was developed to meet the needs of the Tatars living in Belarus.
• An example of a specific linguistic form widely used in Belarus is «trasianka» — a variant of language that emerged from the blend of elements from Belarusian (primarily phonetics) and Russian (vocabulary and partly syntax). «Trasianka» is the Belarusian counterpart of Ukrainian «surzhyk».
• Like all Slavic languages, Belarusian is characterized by rich inflection. Nouns, pronouns, and adjectives are declined in six cases.

Role in business

The role of the Belarusian language in business is evident only in the context of trade contacts with Belarus – the only country where this language is used. However, it should be noted that even there its presence is diminishing – it is rarely heard now in the media, government institutions, or universities, where the Russian language has firmly established itself.