Turkey

Languages

Abaza abq

Adana, Eskisehir, Kayseri, Samsun, and Yozgat provinces. Users: 13,200 in Turkey (2019). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Abazin, Ahuwa Classification: Abkhaz-Adyghe, Abkhaz-Abazin

Abkhaz abk

Eskisehir, Izmir, and Sakarya provinces. Users: 48,600 in Turkey (2019). Ethnic population: 150,000 (2014 NCRP). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Abxazo Classification: Abkhaz-Adyghe, Abkhaz-Abazin

Adyghe ady

Balikesir, Canakkale, Duzce, Eskisehir, Kayseri, and Samsun provinces. Users: 349,000 in Turkey (2019). 6,410 monolinguals (1965 census). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Adəgăbză, Adygey, Cherkes Classification: Abkhaz-Adyghe, Circassian

Albanian, Gheg aln

Samsun province. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Gegnisht, Shqyp Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Gheg

Albanian, Tosk als

Bursa, Edirne, Istanbul, Kirklareli, and Tekirdag provinces; scattered in western Turkey. Users: 72,900 in Turkey (2019). 1,100 monolinguals (1965 census). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Shqip Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Tosk

Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken acm

Sanliurfa province. Users: 112,000 in Turkey (2019). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Mesopotamian Gelet Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc

Adana, Hatay, and Mersin provinces. Users: 4,250,000 in Turkey (2021), including 3,000,000 refugees from Syria (World Bank, UNHCR, Anadolu Agency). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, North Mesopotamian Spoken ayp

Batman, Mardin, Mus, Sanliurfa, Siirt, and Sirnak provinces. Users: 574,000 in Turkey (2019). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Maslawi, Mesopotamian Qeltu Arabic, Moslawi, Syro-Mesopotamian Vernacular Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Standard arb

Scattered. Users: 686,000 in Turkey (2015 SIL), all users. Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1982, Constitution, Article 3), used in education. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Armenian, Western hyw

All in Istanbul, except Hatay province: Samandağ district, Vakıflı Köyü village; Kars province. Users: 67,300 in Turkey (2019). 1,000 monolinguals (1965 census). Ethnic population: 70,000 (1980). Total users in all countries: 1,569,480. Status: 6b (Threatened). Autonym: արեւմտահայերէն‎ (arevmdahayerên) Classification: Indo-European, Armenian

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic aii

Mardin province: Mardin Merkez district; Sirnak province: Silopi district. Both areas near Iraq border. Users: 27,600 in Turkey (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern

Azerbaijani, South azb

Igdir and Kars provinces. Users: 596,000 in Turkey (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Azəricə, Azeri Classification: Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani

Balkan Gagauz Turkish bgx

Edirne province (Surguch dialect). Users: 460,000 in Turkey (2019). 7,000 Surguch (1965) and 320,000 Yuruk. Total users in all countries: 464,000. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Balkan Turkic, Rumelian Turkish Autonym: Rumeli Türkçesi Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish

Bosnian bos

Users: 112,000 in Turkey (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western

Bulgarian bul

Edirne and other western provinces: scattered. Users: 395,000 in Turkey (2019). 98% Pomak (Leclerc 2014c). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Pomak Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern

Chechen che

Scattered: displaced-persons camps throughout the country. Users: 112,000 in Turkey (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Nakh, Chechen-Ingush

Chinese, Mandarin cmn

Users: 42,000 in Turkey (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese

Crimean Tatar crh

Ankara province: Polatli district, Karakuyu, several villages. Users: 110,000 in Turkey (2019). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Crimean Turkish, Qırım Türkçesi, Qirim, Qirimtatar Classification: Turkic, Southern

Domari rmt

Scattered in the region between Mersin and Sanliurfa provinces. Users: A few scattered and isolated speaker populations (Herin 2016). Ethnic population: 14,000 (2022 A. Dusséaux). Total users in all countries: 1. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Dom, Gypsy, Mıtrıp, Middle Eastern Romani, Tsigene Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Dom

English eng

Users: 47,000 in Turkey (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English

French fra

Users: 4,300 in Turkey (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French

Georgian kat

Artvin, Ordu, Sakarya, and other provinces in north and northwest Anatolia. Users: 167,000 in Turkey (2019). 4,000 monolinguals (1965 census). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Gruzin Classification: Kartvelian, Georgian

German, Standard deu

Users: 6,700 in Turkey (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German

Greek ell

Istanbul; some in Izmir province. Users: 4,000 in Turkey (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Yunan Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic

Hértevin hrt

Siirt province: Pervari county, Ekindüzü village. Users: 4 (2012 A. Ajansi). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Hartevan, Hertevince Autonym: ܣܘܪܬ‎ (Sôreth) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern

Kabardian kbd

Kayseri province: Uzun Yayla plateau east of Kayseri city; Corum, Duzce, Eskisehir, Kahramanmarash, and Samsun provinces: scattered. Users: 1,170,000 in Turkey (2019 Circassian Association). Status: 6b (Threatened). Classification: Abkhaz-Adyghe, Circassian

Karakalpak kaa

Users: 81,700 in Turkey (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian

Kazakh kaz

Kayseri province; Manisa province: Salihli district; Istanbul. Users: 8,500 in Turkey (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Kaisak, Kazakhi, Kazax, Kosach, Qazaq tili, Qazaqşa, Qazaqi Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian

Kumyk kum

Canakkale province: Biga district, Akköprü, Aziziye, Doğancı, and Geyikkırı villages. Users: 1,600 in Turkey (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Kumuk, Kumuklar, Kumyki Classification: Turkic, Western, Ponto-Caspian

Kurdish, Northern kmr

Agri, Batman, Bingöl, Diyarbakir, Elazig, Hakkari, Igdir, Kars, Mardin, Mus, Siirt, Sirnak, Tunceli, and Van provinces. Users: 9,000,000 in Turkey (2019), decreasing. 3,000,000 monolinguals. Especially in Hakkari and Shirnak provinces. Total users in all countries: 15,713,120. Status: 6b (Threatened). Became widespread in the late 19th century with the nationalist movement demanding the establishment of a Kurdish state. Spoken mainly in eastern and southeastern Turkey. Used in poetry, general literature, education, and political documents. 48 people groups speak Kurdish as primary language. Alternate Names: Ezdiki, Kermancî, Kirmancî, Kurdish Kurmanji, Kurdiya jorîn, Kurdmancî, Kurdî, Kurmanji Kurdish, Kurmanjî Autonym: Kurdî-Kurmancî, Kurmancî Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish

Kyrgyz kir

Kars and Van provinces. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Kyrgyz tili, Kyrgyzcha Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian

Ladino lad

Mainly Istanbul; Izmir province: scattered. Users: 8,000 in Turkey (2018). Ethnic population: 13,000 (Leclerc 2014c). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Dzhudezmo, Haketia, Hakitia, Judeo Spanish, Judeo-Espagnol, Judezmo, Sefardi, Spanyol Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian

Laz lzz

Arkab, Artasen, Artvin, Atin, Bolu, Hopa, Kemer, Kocaeli, Rize, Sakarya, Sarp, and Vitse provinces. Users: 20,000 in Turkey (Salminen 2007). Ethnic population: 103,000 (2019). Total users in all countries: 22,000. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Chan, Chanuri, Chanzan, Laze, Zan Autonym: Lazuri Classification: Kartvelian, Zan

Lezgi lez

Balikesir province: Balikesir Markesi district, central village Kirne; Yalova province. Users: 1,200 in Turkey (1996). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Lezgic, Nuclear Lezgic, East Lezgic

Macedonian mkd

Users: 35,000 in Turkey (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern

Mardin Sign Language dsz

Mardin province: Mardin city, near the Syrian border. Users: 40 (Dikyuva 2012), deaf and hearing members of the Dilsiz family. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: MarSL Classification: Sign language, Shared sign language

Ossetic oss

Ankara and Istanbul urban areas; Antalya and Mugla provinces along Mediterranean coast; Bitlis, Erzurum, and Kars (Sankamis district) provinces east. Users: 41,000 in Turkey (2019). Status: 6b (Threatened). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Northeastern

Persian, Iranian pes

Van province: Edremit and Van district on Lake Van eastern shore. Users: 682,000 in Turkey (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian

Pontic pnt

Trabzon province: Of, Çaykara, Sürmene, Maçka and Tonya counties. Users: 5,000 in Turkey (Schreiber 2015). Number of speakers as reported by language community members. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Coastal Pontic, Muslim Pontic, Romayka, Romeyka, Rumca, Rumcika, Rumka, Trabzon, Trapezountiac Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic

Romani, Balkan rmn

Widespread west: Izmir (Sepečides) and Edirne (Rumelian) provinces. Users: 72,900 in Turkey (2019). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Romani ćhib Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Balkan

Russian rus

Users: 600,000 in Turkey (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 7,500 (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East

Serbian srp

Canakkale, Edirne, Istanbul, Kirklareli, and Tekirdag provinces. Users: 5,000 in Turkey (2019). 2,350 monolinguals (1965 census). Ethnic population: 61,000. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Serbo-Croatian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western

Spanish spa

Users: 16,000 in Turkey, all users. L1 users: 1,000 in Turkey (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 15,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian

Syriac syc

Sanliurfa province. Users: No known L1 speakers. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Status: 9 (Second language only). Alternate Names: Ancient Syriac, Classical Syriac, Lishana Atiga, Suryaya, Suryoyo, Syriac Aramaic, Syrian Aramaic, Syro-Aramaic Autonym: ܠܫܢܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ‎ (Leššānā Suryāyā) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern

Tatar tat

Istanbul. Users: 28,700 in Turkey (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian

Turkish tur

Widespread. Users: 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: 89,956,650 (as L1: 83,966,650; as L2: 5,990,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1982, Constitution, Article 3). Alternate Names: Anatolian, Istanbul Turkish, Türkisch Autonym: Türkçe Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish

Turkish Sign Language tsm

Scattered. Users: 250,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 166,000–333,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of total population. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Recognized language (2005, Disabilities Act (Act No. 5378)), articles 15 and 30 provide for its use in education and communication, and for interpreting services. Recognized language (2006, The legislation on the identification of procedures and principles concerning the constitution and implementation of the Turkish sign language system, Official Gazette, No. 26139-14/4/2006), provides for a TİD Science and Approval Commission responsible for research and development, regulation of educational materials, and examination of interpreters; regulates sign language interpreters and teachers. Alternate Names: TİD, TID, Türk İşaret Dili Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language

Turkmen tuk

Tokat province. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Trukhmen, Türkmen dili, Türkmençe Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkmenian

Turoyo tru

Mardin and Sirnak provinces. Users: 16,600 in Turkey (2019). Ethnic population: 50,000 (1994). Total users in all countries: 103,100. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Suryoyo, Syryoyo, Süryani, Turani Autonym: Surayt Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northwestern

Ubykh uby

Istanbul province: Sea of Marmara area, Haci Osman village. Users: No known L1 speakers. The last speaker, Tevfik Esenç, died in 1992. Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Oubykh, Pekhi, Ubyx Classification: Abkhaz-Adyghe, Ubyx

Urdu urd

Users: 24,300 in Turkey (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani

Uyghur uig

Istanbul and Kayseri provinces. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Uighur, Uigur, Uygur Classification: Turkic, Eastern

Uzbek, Southern uzs

Hatay, Gaziantep, and Sanliurfa provinces. Users: 4,200 in Turkey (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: O’zbek Classification: Turkic, Eastern

Zaza zza

Users: Population total all languages (L1 only): 1,483,000. Status:

Zazaki, Northern kiu

Bingöl province: Karkiova and Kigi districts; Elazig province: Elazig merkez and Karakoqan districts; Erzincan province; Erzurum province: Cayirli district; Malatya province; Mus province: Varto district; Sivas province, Divrigi, Imranli, Kangal, and Zara districts; Tunceli province: Hozat, Nazmiye, Ovacik, Pulumur, and Tunceli merkez districts; at least 83 total villages. Users: 203,000 in Turkey (2019). 3,000,000–4,000,000 speakers of Northern Zazaki and Southern Zazaki [diq] in Turkey and other countries (Paul 2009). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Alevica, Alevija, Dımılki, Dersımki, Dersimki, Dimilki, Kirmanjki, Northern Zaza, Shar Ma, Zaza, Zazaca, Zazaja, Zazaki Autonym: Kırmancki, So-Bê, Zonê Ma Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Zaza-Gorani

Zazaki, Southern diq

Bingöl, Diyarbakir, and Elazig provinces: primarily Bingöl, Cermik, Dicle, Egil, Gerger, Palu, and Hani cities. Users: 1,280,000 (2019), decreasing. 3,000,000–4,000,000 speakers of Southern Zazaki and Northern Zazaki [kiu] in Turkey and other countries (Paul 2009). A few elderly monolinguals. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Dimilî, Southern Zaza, Zaza, Zazaca Autonym: Dimlî, Zazakî Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Zaza-Gorani