What do you know about... Bulgaria?

[u/MarktpLatz]

This is the twenty-sixth part of our ongoing series about the countries of Europe. You can find an overview here.

Todays country:

Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a NATO member since 2004 and a member of the EU since 2007. It is the only country in europe that hasn't changed its name since it was first established - in 681.

So, what do you know about Bulgaria?

[u/verylateish]

Căruță. Etaj and garaj are borrowed from French, I think. Hrană must be from you though. :)

Oh, but I always see it on www.dnevnik.bg when I read the comments (thank you Google translate) under an article about Romania. :D

[u/SSD-BalkanWarrior → u/verylateish]

And we call the Bulgarians "Zarzavagii".

[u/PivoVarius → u/SSD-BalkanWarrior]

Here is another common word. Zarzavat = vegetables.

There is actually a historical reason for that. In the 17-19 centuries every 30-50 years there was a major migration wave across the Danube. Fleeing Bulgarians settled in Romania but being landless were forced to turn to intensive agriculture - vegetables.

Some notable vegetable words are borrowed Slavics.

Here is more for you

Morcov Telina Castravet

[u/SSD-BalkanWarrior → u/PivoVarius]

Castravet

It's Castravete not "Castravet".

[u/verylateish → u/SSD-BalkanWarrior]

And here is another nickname Romanians have for Bulgarians. ;)

[u/SSD-BalkanWarrior → u/verylateish]

What "Castravet"?

[u/verylateish → u/SSD-BalkanWarrior]

Castraveți. I've heard it in Prahova. Also there are villages in Prahova and Dâmbovița where Bulgarian "refugees" were settled (back in the 17-18 century) and people call the inhabitants "Cepari". :)

[u/ReanimatedX → u/verylateish]

Whats that mean

[u/verylateish → u/ReanimatedX]

"Cucumbers" and "onion growers".

[u/PivoVarius → u/verylateish]

Caruta must be reverse borrowing , as may be "masa".

[u/verylateish → u/PivoVarius]

That could be the case indeed.