Demonym and Pronunciation: Belarusian

What Do You Call Someone from Belarus?

The correct demonym is Belarusian (also spelled Belarusan or Belorussian, the latter dated/Soviet-era).

Pronunciation

IPA: /ˌbɛləˈruːsiən/ or /ˌbɛləˈruːʒən/

Phonetic breakdown: bel-ə-ROO-see-ən (stress on the third syllable "ROO")

• bel – as in "bell"
• ə – schwa, quick "uh"
• ROO – rhymes with "true" (primary stress)
• see – as in "see"
• ən – unstressed "uhn"

Adjectival Use

"Belarusian" functions as both noun and adjective: "A Belarusian writer," "Belarusian language," "Belarusian cuisine."

Language Note

The language is also called Belarusian (беларуская мова), an East Slavic language closely related to Russian and Ukrainian, written in Cyrillic (and historically Latin script, the *Łacinka*).

Common Errors to Avoid

• "Belarussian" – double 's' is a common misspelling.
• "White Russian" – archaic, politically charged (refers to anti-Bolshevik forces in Russian Civil War, not modern nationality).
• "Belorussian" – reflects Russian transliteration (Белорусский); acceptable in historical contexts but Belarusian is preferred for the modern state.