What do they speak in Istanbul?

Istanbul is generally known for its outstanding tourist attractions, gorgeous beaches and delicious food. Among other things that Istanbul is famous for is its linguistic diversity. So what language is used? 16 million people live in Istanbul, among which there are not only Turks, but also Kurds, Zazas, Arabs and people of other nationalities.

Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city, both in terms of economy and population. It is home to more than 16 million people and was the capital of the Byzantine, Eastern Roman Empire and Ottoman Empire in the past. It is now the economic center of Turkey.

There is one official language in Turkey. This is Turkish. However, there are many dialects and other languages ​​other than Turkish. These are Kurdish, Zaza, Arabic, Persian, Azerbaijani, Laz, Circassian, Armenian, Greek, Coptic and other languages.

The most spoken Western languages ​​in Istanbul are English and German. While English is given as a foreign language in the education infrastructure of the country, German and French are taught in some schools.

Below you can find out more about which languages ​​people speak in Istanbul.

Which is the most spoken language in Istanbul?

Turkish is the most widely spoken language in Turkey and is spoken as a mother tongue by the majority of the population. Turkey is the only Turkish-speaking country in Europe. Although the Cypriot Turkish and English spoken in Cyprus are mutually intelligible, there are some colloquial differences between the two languages.

Kurdish speakers make up a significant part of the population, and in this sense, Kurdish is the second most spoken language in Turkey. The number of Kurdish speakers rose during the civil war in Iraq, when many immigrants from Iraq came to the country. However, Kurdish is still a widely spoken language today, as it has preserved many Kurdish languages ​​over time. In some communities in the country, Kurdish is taught in schools. The state has an official TV channel called TRT Kurdish.