Montenegrin Alphabet: The Newest Cyrillic (2009)

In 2009, Montenegro officially introduced two letters into its Cyrillic alphabet: С́ and З́. Apart from these two, it matches the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet, for a total of 32 letters.

The 32-Letter Montenegrin Alphabet

The Montenegrin Cyrillic alphabet takes all 30 letters of Serbian Cyrillic and adds two, which makes 32. The change was formalized in 2009 by Education Minister Sreten Škuletić. (You will sometimes see a different total quoted, because the Latin version of the alphabet writes some sounds with two-letter combinations and sources count those differently.)

The two new letters:
• С́ с́ (С with an acute accent, written Ś ś in the Latin alphabet)
• З́ з́ (З with an acute accent, written Ź ź in the Latin alphabet)

These letters represent softer, palatalized versions of S and Z, sounds that existed in spoken Montenegrin but previously had no dedicated letters. Before 2009, these sounds were written with two letters, as сј and зј.

What Do С́ and З́ Sound Like?

С́ (soft S): Like the "sh" in "sheep" but softer and more forward in the mouth. Similar to Polish "ś" or the "s" in "sugar."

З́ (soft Z): The voiced equivalent of С́. Like "zh" in "measure" but softer. Similar to the "s" in "vision" or Polish "ź."

If you speak Polish, you'll recognize these sounds immediately. They're nearly identical to Polish palatalized consonants, and the Latin forms of the new letters, Ś and Ź, are the very same characters Polish uses. That matters for a practical reason rather than a historical one: Ś and Ź already existed as ready-made characters, while the Cyrillic С́ and З́ have no ready-made character of their own. They have to be built from a plain С or З followed by a separate combining accent mark.

Why Add New Letters in 2009?

Montenegro declared independence from Serbia in 2006. Part of building national identity involved distinguishing Montenegrin from Serbian more clearly. The language was already distinct in pronunciation (these sounds existed in speech) but the writing system was identical to Serbian.

Adding С́ and З́ accomplished several things: phonetic accuracy in representing sounds that were actually spoken, creation of a visibly distinct written language, cultural assertion establishing Montenegrin as its own language not a Serbian dialect, and historical restoration as some argue these sounds existed in older Montenegrin dialects.

The Controversy

Not everyone in Montenegro was thrilled about the new letters. The addition sparked significant debate. Supporters argued these sounds genuinely exist in Montenegrin speech, other languages distinguish similar sounds in writing, it's part of language modernization and standardization, and Montenegro has a right to its own linguistic standard. Critics argued the change was politically motivated not linguistically necessary, Serbian and Montenegrin are mutually intelligible and essentially the same language, it creates artificial barriers between similar languages, and the sounds aren't used consistently enough to warrant new letters.

The debate reflects broader questions about the relationship between language, politics, and national identity in the Balkans.

How Common Are С́ and З́ Actually?

Here's the reality: these letters appear in Montenegrin texts, but not as frequently as you might expect for "essential" letters. They're used in specific dialectal words, certain regional pronunciation patterns, official standardized Montenegrin texts, and words where palatalization is clear.

Many Montenegrins, especially those in areas close to Serbia or those educated before 2009, don't consistently use these letters. You'll see variation even in official contexts.

That is because using them is not mandatory. The traditional spellings with сј and зј remain standard alongside the new letters, and most Montenegrin publications, education materials, and digital media still use them. The new letters appear mainly in normative texts, the documents that set out the official standard.

Old Spelling vs. New Letter: Side by Side

Example with С́:
Traditional spelling: сјутра (sjutra) = tomorrow
With the new letter: с́утра (śutra) = tomorrow

Example with З́:
Traditional spelling: зјеница (zjenica) = pupil (of eye)
With the new letter: з́еница (źenica) = pupil (of eye)

Notice that the new letter replaces a two-letter spelling, сј or зј, rather than changing the word itself. Both spellings of each word are correct Montenegrin.

Will These Letters Stick?

It's still early to tell. As of 2026, the letters are officially part of the Montenegrin alphabet, but official status has not turned into everyday use. They appear mainly in normative texts, while most publications, education materials, and digital media still write сј and зј.

But usage in informal contexts (social media, texting, casual writing) is inconsistent. Older Montenegrins and those who identify more with Serbian cultural ties may not use them at all.

The letters' long-term success depends on generational shift (kids learning them in school), political stability of Montenegrin independence, cultural reinforcement through media and literature, and practical adoption in everyday writing.

The Bottom Line

The Montenegrin alphabet stands as the newest addition to the Cyrillic family, a 32-letter system born in the 21st century from a mix of phonetic precision, national pride, and political independence. Whether С́ and З́ become permanent fixtures of South Slavic orthography or fade into historical footnotes remains to be seen.

For learners of Cyrillic, Montenegrin offers a glimpse into how writing systems continue to evolve even in the modern era. Languages aren't dead museum pieces. They're living, changing, politically charged systems that reflect the communities that use them.

And sometimes, just sometimes, they add letters instead of subtracting them.