tur ISO 639
Türkçe Autonyms
Turkish
Visualizations
A language of Turkey
- ISO 639
- tur
- Alternate Names
- Anatolian, Istanbul Turkish, Türkisch
- Autonym
- Türkçe
- Population
- 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).
- Location
- Widespread.
- Language Maps
- Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey
- Language Status
- 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. High intelligibility with Gagauz [gag]. Lexical similarity: 44% with Yakut [sah]; 45% with Tuvan [tyv]; 47% with [chv]; 50% with Khakas [kjh] and Southern Altai [alt]; 56% with Bashkort [bak]; 58% with Karachay-Balkar [krc]; 59% with Kazakh [kaz], Kyrgyz [kir], Tatat [tat], and Northern Uzbek [uzn]; 60% with Uyghur [uig]; 67% with Turkmen [tuk]; 80% with North Azerbaijani [azj].
- 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.
- 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.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Turkish
Also Spoken in
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of United Arab Emirates
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
5,480 in United Arab Emirates (2010 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Austria
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
197,000 in Austria (2015).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Australia
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
58,400 in Australia (2016 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Azerbaijan
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
32,100 in Azerbaijan (2011 UNSD).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
1,200 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2014 J. Leclerc).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Belgium
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
145,000 in Belgium (2018 census), based on nationality.
- 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.
- Dialects
- Danubian, Razgrad, Dinler, Macedonian Turkish.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Gradually being replaced by Bulgarian [bul], although Islam and ethnic identity remain strong. Natural growth balanced by emigration to Turkey. Muslim. View other languages of Bulgaria
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
606,000 in Bulgaria (2011 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Brazil
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
6,200 in Brazil (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Canada
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
32,800 in Canada (2016 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Switzerland
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
75,500 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD).
- Location
- Famagusta and Kyrenia cities.
- Language Status
- 2 (Provincial)
- 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. View other languages of Cyprus
Language Name
Turkish
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
- Baden-Württemberg and Nordrhein-Westfalen states; all major urban areas, particularly in western Germany.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Germany
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
1,310,000 in Germany (2021 census), based on nationality.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Denmark
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
33,100 in Denmark (2020 census), based on nationality.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Egypt
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
43,000 in Egypt (2018).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Spain
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
4,760 in Spain (2020 census), based on nationality.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Finland
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
10,000 in Finland (2021 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of France
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
444,000 in France (2008 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of United Kingdom
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
99,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Georgia
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
3,200 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015).
- Location
- Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region: Xanthi, west of Lake Vistorius, on Bulgaria border; Rodopi, Bulgaria border west of Komotini.
- Language Status
- 2 (Provincial)
- 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. View other languages of Greece
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
48,900 in Greece (2010).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Israel
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
30,000 in Israel (2022 A. Dusséaux).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Iraq
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
3,200 in Iraq (2020).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Iran
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
11,000 in Iran (2014 J. Leclerc).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Italy
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
20,900 in Italy (2010 census).
- Location
- Scattered.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Jordan
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
8,260 in Jordan (2010 census). Ethnic population: 62,000 (Leclerc 2021).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Japan
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
3,650 in Japan (2010 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Kyrgyzstan
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
16,200 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 39,400 (2009 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Kuwait
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
9,900 in Kuwait (2020 Joshua Project).
- Location
- Almaty, Jambyl, Kyzylorda, and South Kazakhstan regions.
- Dialects
- Meskhetian Turkish (Ahiska).
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Kazakhstan
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
90,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 97,000 (2009 census).
- Location
- Baalbek-Hermel province: Baalbek district, Addus, Al Qaa, Duris, Hadidiye, Nananiye, and Sheymiye villages; Beirut; Liban-Nord province: Akkar district, Aydamun and Kavashra villages; Tripoli district, Tripoli city.
- Language Status
- 6b (Threatened)
- Language Use
- Some young people, all adults. Also use North Levantine Spoken Arabic [apc]. Used as L2 by Western Armenian [hyw].
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Lebanon
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
188,900 in Lebanon, all users. L1 users: 38,900 in Lebanon (Orhan 2010). L2 users: 150,000 (2022 A. Dusséaux).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Libya
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
15,000 in Libya (2010 census).
- Location
- Berovo, Bitola, Centar Zupa, Debar, Gostivar, Plasnica, Radovis, Struga, Strumica, and Valandovo municipalities.
- Dialects
- Macedonian Turkish, Dinler.
- Language Status
- 4 (Educational)
- Language Development
- Taught in primary and secondary schools in areas where more than 20% of the population speaks Turkish.
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. Muslim. View other languages of North Macedonia
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
74,200 in North Macedonia (2018). Ethnic population: 82,600 (2018).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Netherlands
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
400,000 in Netherlands (2019).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Norway
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
18,600 in Norway (2021 census), based on nationality.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of New Zealand
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
1,480 in New Zealand (2018 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Pakistan
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
6,000 in Pakistan (2018).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Poland
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
3,250 in Poland (2010 census).
- Location
- Constanta and Tulcea counties: Dobruja region, southeast along the Danube.
- Dialects
- Danubian.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. Muslim. View other languages of Romania
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
25,300 in Romania (2011 census). Ethnic population: 27,700 (2011 census).
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Serbia
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
23,800 in Serbia (2021), including 21,300 in Kosovo (2021 World Factbook).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Russian Federation
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
146,000 in Russian Federation (2010 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Saudi Arabia
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
33,000 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Sweden
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
100,000 in Sweden (Bohnacker 2022).
- Location
- Al Ladhiqiyah governorate: Bayirbucak; Ar Raqqah governorate: Raqqa and Tell Abyad; Dimashq governorate: Damascus; Halab governorate: Aleppo; Hamah governorate; Hims governorate: Homs.
- Dialects
- Kilis, Antep, Urfa, Hatay.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Syria
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
1,500,000 in Syria (Mustafa 2015).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Tajikistan
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
1,000 in Tajikistan (2017).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Turkmenistan
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
53,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Ukraine
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
7,920 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 8,840 (2001 census).
- Location
- Scattered.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Language Use
- Many also use English [eng].
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of United States
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
126,000 in United States (2019 census).
- Location
- Bukhoro, Jizzakh, Navoiy, Qashqadaryo, Samarqand, and Sirdaryo provinces.
- 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. View other languages of Uzbekistan
Language Name
Turkish
User Population
143,000 in Uzbekistan (2019).
