Uzbek language
Uzbek is the second-most widely spoken Turkic language.
Uzbek is a Karluk Turkic language spoken by Uzbeks. It is the official and national language of the Republic of Uzbekistan and formally succeeded Chagatai, an earlier Karluk language endonymically called Türki or Türkçe, as the literary language of Uzbekistan in the 1920s. According to the Ethnologue, Southern Uzbek and Standard Uzbek are spoken as a native language by more than 36 million people around the world, making Uzbek the second-most widely spoken Turkic language after Turkish.
- Language family
- Karluk (Southeastern) branch of Turkic
- Native speakers
- 33–40 million (estimates vary)
- Official status
- Official and national language of the Republic of Uzbekistan
- Major variants
- Northern Uzbek and Southern Uzbek
- Sister language
- Uyghur
Lore & Background
The first Turkic dynasty in the region was the Kara-Khanid Khanate from the 9th to the 12th centuries. Uzbek (along with Uyghur) can be considered the direct descendant of Chagatai, the language of great Turkic Central Asian literary development in the realm of Chagatai Khan, Timur, and the Timurid dynasty. Chagatai contained a large number of Persian and Arabic loanwords; by the 19th century it was rarely used for literary composition and had disappeared by the early 20th century. Muhammad Shaybani (c. The poet Turdiy (17th century) called for the unification of the divided Uzbek tribes. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Chagatai remained the main literary language in most of Central Asia but underwent a period of decline.
Reader's Guide
Uzbek is significant as the official and national language of Uzbekistan, succeeding Chagatai as the literary language in the 1920s. It is the second-most widely spoken Turkic language after Turkish, with native speakers estimated between 33 and 40 million. The language has two major variants: Northern Uzbek (spoken in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and China) and Southern Uzbek (spoken in Afghanistan and Pakistan). Uzbek and Uyghur are sister languages constituting the Karluk branch of Turkic. External influences on Uzbek include Persian, Russian, and Arabic. One of the most noticeable distinctions from other Turkic languages is the rounding of the vowel /ɑ/ to /ɒ/ under Persian influence. Vowel harmony is almost completely lost in modern Standard Uzbek due to extensive contact with Persian, though it is still observed in some dialects and in Uyghur. Different dialects show varying degrees of influence from Kipchak and Oghuz Turkic as well as Persian, giving literary Uzbek the impression of being a mixed language. Uzbek is taught in more than fifty higher education institutions worldwide and has a special status in countries common for immigration from Uzbekistan.
Did You Know?
- Uzbek is the second-most widely spoken Turkic language after Turkish, with over 36 million native speakers.
- Uzbek and Uyghur are sister languages and constitute the Karluk or 'Southeastern' branch of Turkic.
- Vowel harmony is almost completely lost in modern Standard Uzbek due to extensive linguistic contact with Persian.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Uzbek language?
Uzbek is a Karluk-branch Turkic language that serves as the official and national tongue of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It was formally established as the literary standard in the 1920s, stepping in to replace the older Chagatai language that had long served the region.
What are Uzbek language's powers and role?
With roughly 33 to 40 million native speakers spread across the globe, Uzbek holds the title of the second-most widely spoken Turkic language, trailing only Turkish. It carries full official status in Uzbekistan and is split into two major regional variants: Northern and Southern Uzbek.
Why is Uzbek language important?
Uzbek anchors the cultural and administrative life of an entire nation and connects millions of speakers to a shared literary heritage that stretches back through Chagatai. Its position as the second-largest Turkic language by speaker count gives it outsized influence across Central Asian linguistic politics.
Who is Uzbek language's closest sibling?
Uyghur is Uzbek's sister language, and the two share the same Karluk (Southeastern) branch within the broader Turkic family. This close kinship sets them apart from the more numerous Oghuz and Kipchak Turkic languages spoken across the region.
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