Language NameAromanian
User Population50,000 in Greece (Salminen 1999). Ethnic population: 700,000 (Association of French Aromanians).
LocationCentral Macedonia: Pella area, southeast of Lake Vegoritis and into Imathia, Kastoria into Florina and Kozani; Epirus region: western Ioannina; Thessaly region: Trikala southwest corner; Western Macedonia: Grevena.
Alternate NamesArmani, Armina, Armini, Arumanian, Arumenian, Macedo Romanian, Macedo-Rumanian, Vlach
DialectsMany linguists consider Aromanian to be a dialect of Romanian [ron] (2020 O. Ciobanu). Many dialects.
Language UseRapid assimilation to Greek culture; children attend Greek schools. 20% live traditionally. No legal status in Greece. Not taught in school except for one course at the University of Salonica. Some revival of the culture in progress since the 1980s. Older adults only. People over 50 are fluent, many between 25 to 50 are passive speakers with limited knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. Known by some youth. Shifted to Greek [ell].
