Bulgaria [България]

The definite article, in Bulgarian expressed as a suffix, has been added in each relevant entry; The definite article of masculine nouns has 2 forms; In this survey the full form (-ят [-jat] or -ът [-ǎt]) is given; The short form (-я [-ja] or -а [-a]) is used for indirect/direct objects (dative/accusative cases) only.

Earliest written source: Nicolas de Nicolay (1517-1583), a French explorer, who observed (1551) Bulgarian "voinizzi" (войници [soldiers]) playing the bagpipe.