[1] It is spoken in the area of Dubrovnik and the littoral of the former Republic of Ragusa, from Janjina on the Pelješac peninsula to the Croatian border with Montenegro, island of Mljet.

[2] Neoshtokavisation gave similar results in Dubrovnik as in East Herzegovina, but starting points were different for both, and its Ijekavian accent does not originate from East Herzegovina because lacks yat reflexes like in other dialects (most similar to Eastern Bosnian dialect).

[2] This subdialect was once independent Western Shtokavian subdialect, but after migrations and Neoshtokavisation, it can be considered as part of Ijekavian Neoshtokavian East Herzegovina(-Krajina) dialect, but representing a specific idiom.

[2] During the time of the Republic of Ragusa the subdialect was called the Ragusan language ("dubrovački jezik") by both native speakers and foreigners, e.g. Euridiče, tradžikomedija Paše Primovića Latiničića Dubrovčanina, prinesena po njemu u jezik dubrovački iz jezika latinskoga (Ragusan author from 1617),[3] 'Vanghielia i pistule istomaccene s Missala novvoga rimskoga u iesik dubrovacki sa grada i darxave dubrovacke (Bartol Kašić, non-Ragusan author, from 1638).

[4] In California (Watsonville), Croatian emigration preserved well local speech type of Konavle.