The Laz Language (Lazuri)
Lazuri (also known as Lazuri nena, “the Laz tongue”) is a South Caucasian (Kartvelian) language spoken by the Laz people of the southeastern Black Sea coast. It belongs to the same language family as Georgian, Mingrelian, and Svan — one of the most ancient and unique language families in the world.
Key Facts
| Language Family | Kartvelian (South Caucasian) |
| Branch | Zan (with Mingrelian) |
| Speakers | ~20,000–30,000 (fluent) |
| Writing System | Latin alphabet (since 1984) |
| UNESCO Status | Definitely Endangered |
| Dialects | Xopuri, Vizuri, Ardeşenuri, Atinuri |
| Related Languages | Mingrelian (closest), Georgian, Svan |
Lazuri is notable for its complex verbal morphology, its rich system of preverbs that indicate spatial relationships, and its ergative-absolutive case alignment — features shared with other Kartvelian languages. The language has a rich oral tradition of songs, stories, and proverbs, though it was not historically written.
Explore
- Laz Alphabet — The history and details of the Laz writing system.
Sample Phrases
| Lazuri | English | Turkish |
|---|---|---|
| Mçkva dobordinan! | Good morning! | Günaydın! |
| Dido merhaba! | Big hello! (Welcome!) | Çok merhaba! |
| Mu ren? | What is your name? | Adın ne? |
| Ma çkimi ren… | My name is… | Benim adım… |
| Nana | Mother | Anne |
| Baba | Father | Baba |
| Skani çkimi var! | I love you! | Seni seviyorum! |
| Didi maden! | Thank you very much! | Çok teşekkürler! |
Related Articles
- Introduction to the Laz Language (Lazuri) — Detailed article on Lazuri’s history, dialects, and preservation efforts