Two scripts in current use
Latin and Cyrillic spellings may appear side by side and render names differently.
Turkic language
Have Uzbek translated
o‘zbek tili
Uzbek documents may be written in either Latin or Cyrillic script. Older records may also contain parallel Russian texts and Soviet-era forms.
Uzbek is spoken by approximately 35 million people, making it the largest Turkic language in Central Asia by number of speakers.
Geographical distribution of Uzbek
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
Uzbekistan
Afghanistan
Tajikistan
Kyrgyzstan
Kazakhstan
Turkmenistan
Russia
Germany
Schematic selection of key areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders; the map is not a comprehensive population statistic.
Language profile
Uzbek at a glance
- Native name
- o‘zbek tili
- Language family
- Turkic language
- Script
- Latin or Cyrillic alphabet
- Language code
- uz
Documents and uses
Common uses for this language combination
The language alone is not decisive. ABBA-Sprachendienste also considers the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and requested language direction.
Request a document review- Birth and marriage certificates
- School and university certificates
- Employment and pension records
- Residence and official documents
- Powers of attorney and apostilles
Origin and development
How the language developed
Uzbek belongs to the Karluk branch of the Turkic languages and follows the tradition of the Central Asian literary language Chagatai. Arabic script was used for centuries.
Latin and Cyrillic alphabets followed in the 20th century. A Latin alphabet is now official in Uzbekistan, while Cyrillic remains widespread in everyday use and older documents.
Good to know
What makes this language distinctive
Parallel Russian texts
Soviet and post-Soviet documents often contain additional sections in Russian.
Apostrophe character
The Latin orthography uses characters such as oʻ and gʻ; typographical substitutes may vary in digital documents.
A brief introduction to the language
Three introductory expressions
The transliteration is intended only as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Assalomu alaykum | — | Good day |
| Rahmat | — | Thank you |
| Iltimos | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded estimates and may vary depending on the definition, survey year and whether second-language speakers are included.
- Uzbek 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 current as at 14 July 2026. The information will undergo a specialist review before the production launch.
Uzbek FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Uzbek
Can I have Uzbek translated into German and German into Uzbek?
Both directions can be requested. Binding confirmation is provided after the document type, subject area, certification requirements, appointment and intended use have been assessed.
Which documents are commonly relevant for Uzbek?
Typical enquiries include birth and marriage certificates, school and university records, employment and pension records, and residence documents and documents issued by public authorities. Other types of document can also be assessed using a clear photo or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check in Uzbek documents?
The review covers the language pair, document type, Latin or Cyrillic script, names, stamps, subject area, intended use and whether a certified translation may be required.
Do I need a certified translation for my Uzbek document?
The receiving authority, court, notary or other requesting body decides this. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted so that the requirements can be assessed appropriately.
Is a photo sufficient for the initial review?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually sufficient for an initial quotation review. Depending on the assignment, the original may also be required later.
Have an Uzbek ↔ German request assessed
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally assess the language direction, document, intended use and certification requirements.
