Account for changes of script
Cyrillic, Latin and older Arabic forms can result in different spellings of the same name.
Turkic language
Have Kazakh translated
қазақ тілі
Depending on their age and origin, Kazakh documents may use different scripts and contain parallel Russian entries. It is particularly important to compare names with existing identity documents.
Kazakh is spoken by approximately 13 million people, mainly in Kazakhstan and neighbouring regions.
Geographical distribution of Kazakh
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
Kazakhstan
China
Russia
Mongolia
Germany
A schematic selection of the main areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders, and the map does not show complete population statistics.
Language profile
Kazakh at a glance
- Native name
- қазақ тілі
- Language family
- Turkic language
- Script
- Primarily Cyrillic; Latin variants are also relevant
- Language code
- kk
Documents and areas of use
Common uses for this language combination
It is not just about the language. ABBA-Sprachendienste also takes into account the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and the language combination you need.
Have your document checked- Birth and marriage certificates
- School and university certificates
- Employment and pension records
- Court and official documents
- Powers of attorney and apostilles
Origin and development
How the language developed
Kazakh belongs to the Kipchak branch of the Turkic languages. It has a strong oral literary tradition and became increasingly standardised during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Cyrillic continues to predominate in current documents from Kazakhstan, while the gradual transition to a Latin alphabet is also relevant in policy and practice. Older texts may use Arabic script.
Good to know
What makes this language distinctive
Multilingual forms
Kazakh documents often contain additional Russian entries or sections from historical Soviet forms.
Vowel harmony
As a Turkic language, Kazakh regularly forms many word forms by adding suffixes; accurate segmentation helps prevent errors in meaning.
A glimpse of the language
Three phrases to start with
The transliteration is only a rough guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may differ.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Сәлеметсіз бе? | Sälemetsiz be? | Good day |
| Рақмет | Raqmet | Thank you |
| Өтінемін | Ötinemin | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded guide figures and may vary depending on the definition, the year of the survey and whether second-language speakers are included.
- Kazakh language
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardised language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and territory names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial sources as of 14 July 2026. The information will be cross-checked by subject experts before the website goes live.
Kazakh FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Kazakh
Can I have Kazakh translated into German and German into Kazakh?
You can request either direction. We give a binding commitment once we have checked the document type, subject area, certification, appointment and intended use.
Which documents are commonly relevant for Kazakh?
Birth and marriage certificates, school and university certificates, employment and pension records, and court and official documents are typical examples. Other types of document can also be assessed from a clear photograph or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check in Kazakh documents?
We check the language direction, document type, script—primarily Cyrillic, although Latin variants are also relevant—names, stamps, subject area, intended use and whether certification may be required.
Do I need a certified translation of my Kazakh document?
That is decided by the authority, court or notary receiving the document, or by whichever other office has requested it. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted, so that your requirements can be assessed properly.
Is a photo enough for the initial check?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually enough for us to check your request and prepare a quote. Depending on the job, the original may also be needed later, when the work is carried out.
Have your specific Kazakh ↔ German requirements assessed
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally check the language combination, document, intended use and whether certification is needed.
