The Montenegrin language is a South Slavic language spoken primarily in Montenegro. It evolved from the common language spoken in the region historically known as the Zeta, which was part of the medieval Serbian state. Over time, the language developed within the context of the broader Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian dialects, collectively known as the Serbo-Croatian language. The linguistic differences among these variants became more prominent in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly after World War II when the former Yugoslavia was established. During this period, Montenegrin was considered a dialect of the Serbian language, with little recognition of its distinct features.

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In the 21st century, following Montenegro's independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, Montenegrin was officially recognized as a separate language in the country's constitution. This recognition was a political move that reflected the desire for a distinct national identity. The Montenegrin language shares many similarities with Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian, but it is distinguished by specific phonological, lexical, and grammatical features. The debate over the language's status remains a topic of political and cultural discussion, with some advocating for its recognition as a fully independent language and others viewing it as a variant of Serbian.