Qazaqşa · Southern Kazakh
A Kipchak Turkic language and the official language of Kazakhstan. The Almaty-area variety, traditionally the southern standard. Currently transitioning from Cyrillic to a Latin-based alphabet.
Western Kazakh
Also known as: Atyrau Kazakh
The Kazakh of western Kazakhstan around Atyrau and Aktobe. The dialect group with the most extensive contact features from Tatar and Bashkir; transitional toward the Volga Kipchak varieties.
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Frequently asked questions
What language is Western Kazakh?
Western Kazakh is a dialect of Kazakh.
Which region is Western Kazakh associated with?
Western Kazakh is part of the Central Asia region on DialectAtlas.
Is Western Kazakh known by other names?
Yes — Western Kazakh is also referred to as Atyrau Kazakh.
What are the other dialects of Kazakh?
Kazakh also includes Kazakh, Northern Kazakh, Eastern Kazakh. Each variety has its own vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural context.
Other Kazakh dialects
See on the atlas →Astana Kazakh
The Kazakh of northern Kazakhstan around Astana and Pavlodar. Closer to Tatar in several lexical and phonological features, with stronger Russian-contact influence.
Semey Kazakh
The Kazakh of eastern Kazakhstan around Öskemen and Semey, near the Altai border. Carries contact features from Mongolic Oirat and Russian.