A distinct language
Similarities within the Oghuz language group are no substitute for a professional Turkmen translation.
Oghuz Turkic language
Have Turkmen translated
Türkmen dili
Turkmen is a distinct Oghuz Turkic language and must not be treated as Turkish. Before accepting a request, ABBA-Sprachendienste checks the document, script, language direction, subject area and availability.
Turkmen is the official language of Turkmenistan and is also spoken by communities in Afghanistan, Iran and the diaspora.
Geographical distribution of Turkmen
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
Turkmenistan
Afghanistan
Iran
Türkiye
Russia
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
Turkmen at a glance
- Native name
- Türkmen dili
- Language family
- Oghuz Turkic language
- Script
- Latin alphabet; Cyrillic also appears in older documents
- Language code
- tk
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
- Residence and official documents
- Employment and pension records
- Powers of attorney and contracts
Origin and development
How the language developed
Alongside Turkish and Azerbaijani, Turkmen belongs to the Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages. Although these languages are related, they must still be treated as distinct language directions in any formal translation.
A Latin alphabet is used in Turkmenistan today. Older documents may be written in Cyrillic, while other writing traditions may also be relevant depending on the document's origin and context.
Good to know
What makes this language distinctive
Several generations of writing systems
The place and date of issue help determine whether the document uses Latin or the older Cyrillic script.
Reproduce special characters exactly
Letters such as ä, ň, ö, ş, ü, ý and ž are part of the modern Latin orthography and may be relevant in names.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Salam | — | Hello |
| Sag boluň | — | Thank you very much |
| Haýyş edýärin | — | 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.
- Turkmenistan: the country and its language
INALCO · 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 last reviewed: 4 August 2026. The information will undergo specialist verification before the production launch.
Other related service languages
Turkmen FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Turkmen
Can I have Turkmen translated into German and German into Turkmen?
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 Turkmen?
Birth and marriage certificates, school and university records, residence and official documents, and employment and pension records are common examples. Other types of document can also be assessed from a clear photo or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check in Turkmen documents?
The review covers the language direction, document type, Latin script or Cyrillic in older documents, names, stamps, subject area, intended use and any potential need for certification.
Do I need a certified translation for my Turkmen 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 a Turkmen ↔ German request assessed
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally check the language combination, document, intended use and whether certification is needed.
