Standard Turkish · İstanbul Türkçesi
The Istanbul-area standard of Turkish. The basis of the modern written language and of broadcast Turkish.
Balkan Turkish
Also known as: Rumelice
The Turkish varieties of the Balkans, surviving from Ottoman-era settlement. Spoken across pockets of Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and northern Greece.
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Frequently asked questions
What language is Balkan Turkish?
Balkan Turkish is a dialect of Turkish.
Where is Balkan Turkish spoken?
Balkan Turkish is primarily spoken in Bulgaria, North Macedonia.
Which region is Balkan Turkish associated with?
Balkan Turkish is part of the Europe region on DialectAtlas.
Is Balkan Turkish known by other names?
Yes — Balkan Turkish is also referred to as Rumelice.
What are the other dialects of Turkish?
Turkish also includes Istanbul Turkish, Anatolian Turkish, Cypriot Turkish. Each variety has its own vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural context.
Other Turkish dialects
See on the atlas →A broad cluster of regional dialects across central and eastern Anatolia. Internally varied; many features sit at the boundary with Azerbaijani and other Oghuz Turkic varieties.
Kıbrıs Türkçesi
The Turkish of the northern half of Cyprus. Preserves Anatolian features lost in standard Turkish and shows long contact with Cypriot Greek.