Turkish

A language of Turkey

Anatolian, Istanbul Turkish, Türkisch

Türkçe

83,440,000 in Turkey, all users. L1 users: 77,600,000 in Turkey (European Commission 2006). L2 users: 5,840,000 (2019). Total users in all countries: 88,098,480 (as L1: 82,228,180; as L2: 5,870,300).

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps

Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro

1 (National). Statutory national language (1982, Constitution, Article 3).

Classification

Turkic, Southern, Turkish

Dialects

Danubian, Eskisehir, Razgrad, Dinler, Karamanli, Edirne, Gaziantep, Urfa, Meskhetian Turkish (Ahiska). Danubian is west; other dialects east.

Typology

SOV; postpositions; noun head final; indefinite articles; case-marking (6 cases); verb affixes mark person, number; passives; tense; causatives; comparatives; 19 consonant and 8 vowel phonemes; non-tonal; stress on final syllable; vowel harmony; evidentiality.

Language Use

Karamanli are Turkish-speaking Greeks. Some also use English [eng] (European Commission 2006). A few also use Standard German [deu] (European Commission 2006).

Language Development

Taught in all primary and secondary schools. Fully developed. Bible: 1827–2006.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Turkish

Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab], no longer in use. Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], used in Bulgaria. Greek script [Grek], no longer in use. Latin script [Latn], used since 1928 or 1929, primary usage.

Other Comments

Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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Afghanistan

Language NameTurkish

User Population

9,500 in Afghanistan (2017 J. Leclerc).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Australia

Language NameTurkish

User Population

58,400 in Australia (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Austria

Language NameTurkish

User Population

197,000 in Austria (2015).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Azerbaijan

Language NameTurkish

User Population

32,100 in Azerbaijan (2011 UNSD).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Belgium

Language NameTurkish

User Population

145,000 in Belgium (2018 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina

Language NameTurkish

User Population

1,200 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2014 J. Leclerc).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Brazil

Language NameTurkish

User Population

6,200 in Brazil (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Bulgaria

Language NameTurkish

User Population

606,000 in Bulgaria (2011 census).

Location

Burgas province: Kameno, Malko Tarnovo, east Sredets, Sozopol, and Tsarevo municipalities; Khaskovo and Kurdzhali provinces; Smolyan province: Banite, Madan, and Nedelino municipalities; Stara Zagora and Yambol provinces: small border areas.

Alternate Names

Osmanli, Turki, Türkçe

Dialects

Danubian, Razgrad, Dinler, Macedonian Turkish.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (1991, National Education Act , No. 86/18.10.1991), Allows mother-tongue education in primary grades 1–8 for Turkish speakers.

Other Comments

Gradually being replaced by Bulgarian [bul], although Islam and ethnic identity remain strong. Natural growth balanced by emigration to Turkey. Muslim.

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Canada

Language NameTurkish

User Population

32,800 in Canada (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Cyprus

Language NameTurkish

User Population

300,000 in Cyprus (2016). 300,000 speakers in Northern Cyprus. 1,410 Turkish speakers in the Republic of Cyprus (2013 UNSD).

Location

Widespread in Northern Cyprus.

Alternate Names

Osmanli, Türkçe

Language Status

2 (Provincial). De facto provincial language in Northern Cyprus.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Cypriot Spoken Arabic [acy], Western Armenian [hyw].

Language Development

Taught in all primary and secondary schools in Northern Cyprus. Taught in all tertiary schools.

Other Comments

Muslim.

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Denmark

Language NameTurkish

User Population

33,100 in Denmark (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Egypt

Language NameTurkish

User Population

43,000 in Egypt (2018).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Finland

Language NameTurkish

User Population

8,130 in Finland (2018 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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France

Language NameTurkish

User Population

444,000 in France (2008 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Georgia

Language NameTurkish

User Population

3,200 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Germany

Language NameTurkish

User Population

1,320,000 in Germany (2020 census), based on nationality.

Location

Baden-Württemberg and Nordrhein-Westfalen states; all major urban areas, particularly in western Germany.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Greece

Language NameTurkish

User Population

40,000 in Greece, all users. L1 users: 9,700 in Greece (2014). L2 users: 30,300 (2014).

Location

Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region: Xanthi, west of Lake Vistorius, on Bulgaria border; Rodopi, Bulgaria border west of Komotini.

Alternate Names

Osmanli, Türkçe

Language Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Xanthi, 2 other eastern provinces (1923, Treaty of Lausanne).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Bulgarian [bul].

Language Development

Taught in a few primary and secondary schools in Turkish-speaking areas.

Other Comments

Turkish population in Greece remains fairly constant, due to steady emigration to Turkey. Muslim, Christian.

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Iran

Language NameTurkish

User Population

11,000 in Iran (2014 J. Leclerc).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Iraq

Language NameTurkish

User Population

3,200 in Iraq (2020).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Kazakhstan

Language NameTurkish

User Population

90,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 97,000 (2009 census).

Location

Almaty, Jambyl, Kyzylorda, and South Kazakhstan regions.

Alternate Names

Türkçe

Dialects

Meskhetian Turkish (Ahiska).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Kuwait

Language NameTurkish

User Population

9,900 in Kuwait (2020 Joshua Project).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Kyrgyzstan

Language NameTurkish

User Population

16,200 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 39,400 (2009 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Lebanon

Language NameTurkish

User Population

5,910 in Lebanon (2020).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Netherlands

Language NameTurkish

User Population

400,000 in Netherlands (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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New Zealand

Language NameTurkish

User Population

1,110 in New Zealand (2013 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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North Macedonia

Language NameTurkish

User Population

74,200 in North Macedonia (2018). Ethnic population: 82,600 (2018).

Location

Berovo, Bitola, Centar Zupa, Debar, Gostivar, Plasnica, Radovis, Struga, Strumica, and Valandovo municipalities.

Alternate Names

Osmanli, Türkçe

Dialects

Macedonian Turkish, Dinler.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

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Norway

Language NameTurkish

User Population

18,600 in Norway (2021 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Pakistan

Language NameTurkish

User Population

6,000 in Pakistan (2018).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Romania

Language NameTurkish

User Population

25,300 in Romania (2011 census). Ethnic population: 27,700 (2011 census).

Location

Constanta and Tulcea counties: Dobruja region, southeast along the Danube.

Alternate Names

Osmanli, Türkçe

Dialects

Danubian.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2007, National Minority Status Law, Article 3(2)).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

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Russian Federation

Language NameTurkish

User Population

146,000 in Russian Federation (2010 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Saudi Arabia

Language NameTurkish

User Population

33,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Serbia

Language NameTurkish

User Population

23,800 in Serbia (2021), including 21,300 in Kosovo (2021 World Factbook).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Spain

Language NameTurkish

User Population

4,760 in Spain (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Sweden

Language NameTurkish

User Population

12,000 in Sweden (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Switzerland

Language NameTurkish

User Population

75,500 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Tajikistan

Language NameTurkish

User Population

1,000 in Tajikistan (2017).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Turkmenistan

Language NameTurkish

User Population

53,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Ukraine

Language NameTurkish

User Population

7,920 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 8,840 (2001 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United Kingdom

Language NameTurkish

User Population

99,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United States

Language NameTurkish

User Population

117,000 in United States (2015 census).

Location

Scattered.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Many also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Uzbekistan

Language NameTurkish

User Population

143,000 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Location

Buxoro, Jizzax, Navoiy, Qashqadaryo, Samarqand, and Sirdaryo provinces.

Alternate Names

Osmanli, Türkçe

Dialects

Danubian, Eskisehir, Razgrad, Dinler, Rumelian, Karamanli, Edirne, Gaziantep, Urfa, Meskhetian Turkish (Ahiska).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Meskhetian Turks, Khemshel Armenians, and Kurds in Uzbekistan speak Turkish [tur]. Also use North Azerbaijani [azj].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

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Turkish

Primary tabs

A language of Turkey

Also spoken in:

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