It’s always a good idea to learn a few polite phrases or vocabulary items in the local language, wherever you’re traveling. In Central Asia, there are several main languages spoken, and hundreds of minor languages and dialects. Let’s look at the main ones.

The Turkic languages, Russian and Tajik, are most commonly spoken in Central Asia. The Uzbek, Kasakh, Kyrgyz and Turkmen languages are part of the Turkic group. Tajik is of Persian origin.

Click on the list you’d like to view from the choices below. The lists are fairly comprehensive, a mini-traveler’s dictionary! Bon Voyage!