See Russia in Asia for information about languages in Asia. Also includes Armenian 532,000, Assyrian Neo-Aramaic 10,000, Belarusan 1,206,000, Estonian 56,000, Standard German 896,000, Greek 105,000, Latvian 29,000, Lithuanian 70,000, Polish 94,000, Romanian 178,000, Eastern Yiddish 701,000. Data accuracy estimate: B. The number of languages listed for Russia (Europe) is 59. Of those, 58 are living languages and 1 is extinct. Diversity index 0.21.
| ABAZA | [ABQ]
34,800 in Russia (1989 census), about 95% speak it as mother tongue. Population total all countries 44,900.
Alternate names: ABAZIN, ABAZINTSY, ASHUWA.
Dialects: TAPANTA, ASHKARAUA, BEZSHAGH.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northwest, Abkhaz-Abazin.
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| ADYGHE | [ADY]
125,000 in Russia (1993 UBS), 96% speak it as mother tongue. Population total all countries 300,000.
Alternate names: CIRCASSIAN, LOWER CIRCASSIAN, KIAKH, KJAX, WEST CIRCASSIAN, ADYGEI, ADYGEY.
Dialects: SHAPSUG (SAPSUG), XAKUCHI, BEZHEDUKH (BZEDUX, BZHEDUG, BEZHEHUX-TEMIRGOI, TEMIRGOJ, CHEMGUI), ABADZEX (ABADEKH, ABADZEG), NATUZAJ (NATUKHAI).
Classification: North Caucasian, Northwest, Circassian.
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| AGHUL | [AGX]
19,000 in Russia, 98% speak it as mother tongue (1979 census). Population total both countries 19,000.
Alternate names: AGUL, AGHULSHUY, AGULY.
Dialects: KOSHAN, KEREN, GEKXUN, AGUL.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Lezgian.
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| AKHVAKH | [AKV]
5,000 (1975 Ruhlen). Southern Dagestan ASSR.
Alternate names: AXVAX.
Dialects: KAXIB, NORTHERN AKHVAKH, SOUTHERN AKHVAKH (TLYANUB, TSEGOB).
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Andi.
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| ANDI | [ANI]
10,000 (1993 UBS). Southern Dagestan ASSR.
Alternate names: ANDII, QWANNAB, ANDIY.
Dialects: MUNIN, RIKVANI, KVANXIDATL, GAGATL, ZILO.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Andi.
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| ARCHI | [ARC]
859 (1975 Ruhlen). Southern Dagestan ASSR.
Alternate names: ARCHIN, ARCHINTSY.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Lezgian.
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| AVAR | [AVR]
556,000 in Russia (1989 census). Population total all countries 601,000.
Alternate names: AVARO, DAGESTANI.
Dialects: SALATAV, KUNZAKH (XUNZAX, NORTHERN AVAR), KELEB, BACADIN, UNTIB, SHULANIN, KAXIB, HID, ANDALAL-GXDATL, KARAX (KARAKH), BATLUX, ANCUX (ANTSUKH), ZAKATALY (CHAR).
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Avar.
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| BAGVALAL | [KVA]
5,500 (1962 Maxwell). Southern Dagestan ASSR.
Alternate names: KVANADIN, KVANADA, BAGULAL, BAGVALIN, BARBALIN.
Dialects: TLISI.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Andi.
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| BASHKIR | [BXK]
901,150 or 67% of the ethnic group in Russia (1993 Johnstone). Population total all countries 1,000,000 (1999 WA).
Alternate names: BASQUORT.
Dialects: KUVAKAN (MOUNTAIN BASHKIR), YURMATY (STEPPE BASHKIR), BURZHAN (WESTERN BASHKIR).
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Western, Uralian.
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| BEZHTA | [KAP]
3,000 (1993 UBS). Southern Dagestan ASSR.
Alternate names: BEZHITA, BEZHETA, BEZHTI, BEXITA, BECHITIN, KAPUCHA, KUPUCA, KAPUCHIN.
Dialects: BEZHTA, TLYADALY, KHOCHARKHOTIN.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Dido.
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| BOTLIKH | [BPH]
3,500 including Godoberi (1962 Maxwell). Southern Dagestan ASSR.
Alternate names: BOTLIX.
Dialects: BOTLIKH, ZIBIRKHALIN.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Andi.
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| CHAMALAL | [CJI]
5,500 (1962 Maxwell). Southern Dagestan ASSR.
Alternate names: CAMALAL, CHAMALIN.
Dialects: GADYRI (GACHITL-KVANKHI), GAKVARI (AGVALI-RICHAGANIK-TSUMADA-URUKH), GIGATL.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Andi.
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| CHECHEN | [CJC]
944,600 speakers out of an ethnic population of 956,879 (1989 census). The population of Chechnya is 1,200,000 (1994). Population total all countries 1,000,000.
Alternate names: NOKHCHIIN, NOKCHIIN MUOTT, GALANCHO.
Dialects: PLOSKOST, ITUMKALA (SHATOI), MELKHIN, KISTIN, CHEBERLOI, AKKIN (AUX).
Classification: North Caucasian, North Central, Chechen-Ingush.
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| CHUVASH | [CJU]
1,774,000 in Russia (1993 Johnstone). Population total all countries 1,809,000. Possibly including second language users: 2,000,000 (1999 WA).
Alternate names: BULGAR.
Dialects: ANATRI, VIRYAL.
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Bolgar.
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| DARGWA | [DAR]
365,000 in the former USSR (1993 UBS), 98% speak it as mother tongue. Population total all countries 371,000.
Alternate names: DARGIN, DARGINTSY, KHIURKILINSKII.
Dialects: CUDAXAR (TSUDAKHAR), AKUSHA (URKARAX, URAKHA-AKHUSH, AKKHUSHA), URAXA-AXUSHA, KAJTAK (XAJDAK, KAITAK, KAYTAK), KUBACHI (KUBACHIN, KUBACHINTSY, UGHBUG), DEJBUK, XARBUK, MUIRIN, SIRXIN.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Lak-Dargwa.
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| DIDO | [DDO]
7,000 (1994 UBS). Southern Dagestan ASSR.
Alternate names: DIDOI, TSEZ, CEZ, TSEZY, TSUNTIN.
Dialects: SAGADIN.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Dido.
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| DOMARI | [RMT]
Karachi dialect is in the Caucasus, Luli and Maznoug in Uzbekistan.
Dialects: KARACHI, LULI, MAZNOUG.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Dom.
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| ERZYA | [MYV]
440,000 in Russia. Population total all countries 500,000 (1994 Tapani Salminen).
Alternate names: MORDVIN-ERZYA, MORDVIN, ERZIA.
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Finno-Mordvinic, Mordvinic.
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| FINNISH | [FIN]
31,570 speakers out of 77,000 in the ethnic group in Russia (1979 census). 41% speak it as mother tongue. St. Petersburg area, Ingria region.
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Finno-Mordvinic, Finno-Lappic, Balto-Finnic, Finnic.
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| GHODOBERI | [GDO]
3,000 (1996). Southern Dagestan ASSR.
Alternate names: GODOBERI, GODOBERIN.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Andi.
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| HINUKH | [GIN]
200 (A.E. Kibrik 1991). Southern Dagestan ASSR.
Alternate names: GINUKH, GINUX, GINUKHTSY, HINUX.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Dido.
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| HUNZIB | [HUZ]
2,000 (1995 H. Ven den Berg). Southern Dagestan ASSR.
Alternate names: GUNZIB, XUNZAL, KHUNZALY, KHUNZAL, ENZEB.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Dido.
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| INGRIAN | [IZH]
302 speakers (1989 census) out of 10,000 to 15,000 in the ethnic group. Baltic area, Kingisepp and Lomonosov areas of St. Petersburg Oblast.
Alternate names: IZHOR.
Dialects: SOYKIN, KHAVA, LOWER LUZH, OREDEZH (UPPER LUZH).
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Finno-Mordvinic, Finno-Lappic, Baltic-Finnic.
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| INGUSH | [INH]
230,315 mother tongue speakers (97%) out of an ethnic population of 237,438 (1989 census). Population total both countries 230,315.
Alternate names: GHALGHAY, INGUS.
Classification: North Caucasian, North Central, Chechen-Ingush.
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| JUDEO-TAT | [TAT]
7,000 in Russia (1989 census). Dagestan ASSR, Nalchik in Kabardino-Balkar ASSR, in villages and ancient cities of the Caucasus mountains (Derbent, Makhachkale, Nalchik, Majalis, Pyatigorsk). Until recently they were in Grozny in Checheno-Ingush. None in Iran.
Alternate names: JUDEO-TATIC, HEBREW TAT, JEWISH TAT, BIK, DZHUHURIC, JUWRI, JUHURI.
Dialects: DERBEND.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Tat.
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| KABARDIAN | [KAB]
443,000 including 46,000 Cherkes in Russia (1993 UBS), 97% speak it as mother tongue. Population total all countries 647,000.
Alternate names: BESLENEI, UPPER CIRCASSIAN, EAST CIRCASSIAN, KABARDINO-CHERKES, KABARDO-CHERKES.
Dialects: GREATER KABARDIAN, BAKSAN, LESSER KABARDIAN, MALKA, MOZDOK, KUBAN, CHERKES, BESLENEI (BESLENEJ).
Classification: North Caucasian, Northwest, Circassian.
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| KALMYK-OIRAT | [KGZ]
174,000 Kalmyk in Russia (1993 UBS), 91% speak it as mother tongue. Population total all countries 518,000.
Alternate names: KALMUK, KALMUCK, KALMACK, QALMAQ, KALMYTSKII JAZYK, KHAL:MAG, OIRAT, VOLGA OIRAT, EUROPEAN OIRAT, WESTERN MONGOLIAN.
Dialects: BUZAWA, OIRAT, TORGUT (TORGUUD, TORGHUD, TORGHOUD), DÖRBÖT (DÖRBÖD, DERBET), SART QALMAQ.
Classification: Altaic, Mongolian, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Oirat-Kalmyk-Darkhat.
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| KARACHAY-BALKAR | [KRC]
236,000 mother tongue speakers in Russia, 97% of the ethnic population, including 156,000 Karachay, 85,000 Balkar (1993 UBS). Population total all countries 241,000.
Alternate names: KARACHAY, KARACHAI, KARACHAYLA, KARACHAITSY, KARACAYLAR.
Dialects: BALKAR, KARACHAY.
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Western, Ponto-Caspian.
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| KARATA | [KPT]
6,000 (1962 Maxwell). Southern Dagestan ASSR.
Alternate names: KARATIN, KIRDI, KARATAI.
Dialects: TOKITA (TOKITIN), ANCHIX.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Andi.
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| KARELIAN | [KRL]
118,000 mother tongue speakers out of an ethnic population of 172,000 in Russia (1993 Johnstone). Population total both countries 128,000.
Alternate names: KARELY, KARELIAN PROPER, SOBSTVENNO-KAREL'SKIJ-JAZYK, SEVERNO-KAREL'SKIJ, KAREL'SKOGO JAZYKA.
Dialects: NORTHERN KARELIAN, SOUTHERN KARELIAN, NOVGOROD, TVER (KALININ).
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Finno-Mordvinic, Finno-Lappic, Baltic-Finnic.
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| KHVARSHI | [KHV]
1,800 (Maxwell 1962). Southern Dagestan ASSR.
Alternate names: XVARSHI, KHVARSHIN.
Dialects: XVARSHI, INXOKVARI.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Dido.
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| KOMI-PERMYAK | [KOI]
116,000 mother tongue speakers (77%) out of an ethnic population of 151,000 (1979 census). Komi-Permyak National Okrug, west of the central Ural Mountains, south of Komi-Zyrian.
Alternate names: PERMYAK, KOMI-PERMYAT, KAMA PERMYAK, KOMI-PERM.
Dialects: ZYUDIN, NORTH PERMYAK (KOCHIN-KAM), SOUTH PERMYAK (INYVEN).
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Permic.
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| KOMI-ZYRIAN | [KPV]
262,200 mother tongue speakers (76%) out of an ethnic population of 345,000 (1993 UBS). Komi ASSR, 60' N. Lat., nearly to the Arctic Ocean. South of Yurak, west of the Vogul (Mansi) peoples. Capital is Syktywkar.
Alternate names: KOMI.
Dialects: YAZVA.
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Permic.
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| KUMYK | [KSK]
282,000 in Russia (1993 UBS). Population total all countries 282,500.
Alternate names: KUMUK, KUMUKLAR, KUMYKI.
Dialects: KHASAVYURT, BUINAKSK, KHAIKENT.
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Western, Ponto-Caspian.
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| LAK | [LBE]
112,100 mother tongue speakers (95%) out of an ethnic population of 118,000 in Russia. Population total all countries 130,000.
Alternate names: LAKI, KAZIKUMUKHTSY.
Dialects: KUMUX (KUMKH), VICXIN (VITSKHIN), VIXLIN (VIKHLIN), ASHTIKULIN, BALXAR-CALAKAN (BALKAR-TSALAKAN).
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Lak-Dargwa.
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| LEZGI | [LEZ]
257,000 in Russia (1996). Population total all countries 451,000.
Alternate names: LEZGIAN, LEZGHI, LEZGIN, KIURINSTY.
Dialects: KIURI, AKHTY, KUBA, GJUNEJ, GARKIN, ANYX, STAL.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Lezgian.
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| LIVVI | [OLO]
80,000 out of an ethnic population of 140,000 (1992). Population total both countries 80,000.
Alternate names: OLONETSIAN, OLONETS, LIVVIKOVIAN, LIVVIKOVSKIJ JAZYK, SOUTHERN KARELIAN.
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Finno-Mordvinic, Finno-Lappic, Baltic-Finnic.
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| LUDIAN | [LUD]
Karelian ASSR.
Alternate names: LYUDIKOVIAN, LYUDIC, LUDIC.
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Finno-Mordvinic, Finno-Lappic, Baltic-Finnic.
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| MARI, HIGH | [MRJ]
66,000 (1993 UBS). Mari ASSR, Gorno-Mariy, and some in Bashkortostan. Capital is Joschkar-Ola.
Alternate names: CHEREMISS, MARI-HILLS, GORNO-MARIY.
Dialects: KOZYMODEMYAN, YARAN.
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Cheremisic.
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| MARI, LOW | [MAL]
525,480 mother tongue speakers (87%) out of an ethnic population of 604,000 (1993 UBS). Population total both countries 534,000.
Alternate names: CHEREMIS, MARI, MARI-WOODS, EASTERN MARI, LUGOVO MARI.
Dialects: GRASSLAND MARI (SERNUR-MORKIN, YOSHKAR-OLIN, VOLGA).
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Cheremisic.
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| MOKSHA | [MDF]
428,333 (1970). Mordovia, southern. Saramsk is the capital.
Alternate names: MORDVIN-MOKSHA, MORDOV, MORDOFF, MOKSHAN.
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Finno-Mordvinic, Mordvinic.
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| NOGAI | [NOG]
67,500 mother tongue speakers (90%) out of an ethnic population of 75,000 (1993 UBS). Population total all countries 68,000.
Alternate names: NOGAY, NOGHAY, NOGHAI, NOGHAYLAR, NOGAITSY, NOGALAR.
Dialects: WHITE NOGAI (AK), BLACK NOGAI (KARA), CENTRAL NOGAI.
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian.
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| ROMANI, VLAX | [RMY]
10,000 Kalderash in Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova. Russian SFSR, Odessa, Transcarpathia.
Dialects: CENTRAL VLAX ROMANI, KALDERASH.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Vlax.
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| RUSSIAN | [RUS]
153,655,000 in the republics of the former USSR. Population total all countries 167,000,000 first language speakers (1999 WA); 277,000,000 including second language users (1999 WA).
Alternate names: RUSSKI.
Dialects: NORTH RUSSIAN, SOUTH RUSSIAN.
Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, East.
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| RUTUL | [RUT]
20,000 in Russia (1993 UBS), 99% speak it as mother tongue. Population total both countries 20,000.
Alternate names: RUTAL, RUTULY, RUTULTSY, MYKHANIDY, CHAL, MUKHAD.
Dialects: SHINA, BORCH, IXREKO-MUXREK.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Lezgian.
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| SAAMI, AKKALA | [SIA]
7 speakers out of 100 population (1995 M. Krauss). Southwest Kola Peninsula.
Alternate names: AHKKIL, BABINSK.
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Finno-Mordvinic, Finno-Lappic, Lappic, Central.
Nearly extinct.
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| SAAMI, KILDIN | [LPD]
650 speakers out of 1,000 population (1995 M. Krauss). 1,900 Saami in Russia (1995 M. Krauss).
Alternate names: 'KILDIN LAPPISH', 'LAPP', SAAM.
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Finno-Mordvinic, Finno-Lappic, Lappic, Central.
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| SAAMI, SKOLT | [LPK]
20 to 30 speakers out of 400 population in Russia (1995 M. Krauss). Northern and western Kola Peninsula around Petsamo.
Alternate names: 'SKOLT LAPPISH', 'RUSSIAN LAPP', 'LAPP', SAAM, LOPAR, KOLTA, SKOLT.
Dialects: NOTOZER, YOKAN.
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Finno-Mordvinic, Finno-Lappic, Lappic, Central.
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| SAAMI, TER | [LPT]
6 speakers out of 400 population (1995 M. Krsuss).
Alternate names: 'TER LAPPISH', 'LAPP', SAAM.
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Finno-Mordvinic, Finno-Lappic, Lappic, Central.
Nearly extinct.
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| SERBO-CROATIAN | [SRC]
5,000 in Russia (1959 census).
Alternate names: SERBIAN.
Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, South, Western.
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| TABASSARAN | [TAB]
95,000 mother tongue speakers (97%) out of an ethnic population of 98,000 in Russia (1993 UBS). Population total all countries 96,000.
Alternate names: TABASARAN, TABASARANTSY, GHUMGHUM.
Dialects: SOUTH TABASARAN, NORTH TABASARAN (KHANAG).
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Lezgian.
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| TATAR | [TTR]
5,715,000 speakers (86%) out of an ethnic group of 6,645,588 in the former USSR (1989 census), including 6,017,000 ethnic Tatar, of whom 86% speak Tatar as mother tongue, and an additional 370,000 Bashkir speak it as mother tongue. Population total all countries 7,000,000.
Alternate names: TARTAR.
Dialects: MIDDLE TATAR (KAZAN), WESTERN TATAR (MISHER), EASTERN TATAR (SIBERIAN TATAR).
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Western, Uralian.
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| TINDI | [TIN]
5,000 (1962 Maxwell). Southern Dagestan ASSR.
Alternate names: TINDAL, TINDIN.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Andi.
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| TSAKHUR | [TKR]
7,000 in Russia. Southern Dagestan ASSR and Azerbaijan.
Alternate names: TSAXUR, CAXUR, TSAKHURY.
Dialects: KIRMICO-LEK, MIKIK, MISLES.
Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Lezgian.
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| UDMURT | [UDM]
550,000 mother tongue speakers (77%) out of an ethnic population of 750,000 in the former USSR (1989 census). Population total both countries 566,000.
Alternate names: VOTIAK, VOTYAK.
Dialects: NORTH UDMURT (VESERMYAN, UDMURT), SOUTH UDMURT (SOUTHWESTERN UDMURT).
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Permic.
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| VEPS | [VEP]
2,320 speakers (1979 census) out of 13,500 in the ethnic group (1989 census). The remaining persons speak Russian as first language. Other reports indicate the number of speakers is higher. Among Russian speakers, on the boundary between St. Petersburg and Vologda oblasts and in Karelian Republic. Half reportedly went to Finland during World War II.
Alternate names: VEPSIAN, 'CHUDY', 'CHUHARI', 'CHUKHARI'.
Dialects: SOUTHERN VEPS, CENTRAL VEPS, PRIONEZH (NORTH VEPS).
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Finno-Mordvinic, Finno-Lappic, Baltic-Finnic.
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| VOD | [VOD]
25 (1979 Valt). Kingisepp area of St. Petersburg.
Alternate names: VOTIAN, VOTE, VODIAN, VOTISH, VOTIC.
Dialects: EAST VOD, WEST VOD.
Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Finno-Mordvinic, Finno-Lappic, Baltic-Finnic.
Nearly extinct.
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| SLAVONIC, OLD CHURCH | [SLN]
Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, South, Eastern.
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| RUSSIAN SIGN LANGUAGE | [RSL]
Moscow, Armavir, Gorky, Kazan, Kirov, Kolomna, Kujbyshev, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Rostov on Don, Sverdlovsk have schools for the deaf. Also spoken in Bulgaria.
Classification: Deaf sign language.
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