What Language Do They Speak in Turkmenistan?
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
Turkmenistan has 2 official languages: Turkmen, Russian. Turkmen is also an official language in 1 other country worldwide.
Learn some Turkmen before you go
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Turkmen Phrasebook & Dictionary
The essentials for ordering food, asking directions and being polite.
Languages of Turkmenistan at a glance
| Official languages | Turkmen, Russian |
|---|---|
| Number of official languages | 2 |
| Countries on this site where Turkmen is official | 2 |
| People (demonym) | Turkmen |
| Capital | Ashgabat |
| Internet domain | .tm |
Other countries where Turkmen is official
Turkmen is also an official language in 1 other country covered here:
Languages of neighbouring countries
| Afghanistan | Dari, Pashto, Turkmen |
|---|---|
| Iran | Persian (Farsi) |
| Kazakhstan | Kazakh, Russian |
| Uzbekistan | Uzbek, Russian |
Turkmenistan in context
- Turkmenistan covers 488,100 km², making it the 52nd largest of the 196 countries on this site.
- Its population density of about 14 people per km² ranks 181st of 196 (1st = most crowded).
- It shares a land border with 4 countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan.
- Turkmenistan is landlocked, with no direct coastline.
- With 7,057,841 people, Turkmenistan holds about 8.5% of the population of Central Asia.
- With 2 official languages, Turkmenistan has more than most countries on this site.
- Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Monday.
- Turkmenistan is a member state of the United Nations.
Useful phrases for visitors to Turkmenistan
Everyday Russian phrases you will hear and use in Turkmenistan:
| English | Russian |
|---|---|
| Hello | Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte) |
| Thank you | Спасибо (Spasibo) |
| Please | Пожалуйста (Pozhaluysta) |
| Goodbye | До свидания (Do svidaniya) |
| Yes | Да (Da) |
| No | Нет (Nyet) |
Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.
Languages in Turkmenistan — FAQ
What language do they speak in Turkmenistan?
The official languages of Turkmenistan are Turkmen and Russian.
How many official languages does Turkmenistan have?
Turkmenistan has 2 official languages: Turkmen, Russian.
Is Turkmen spoken anywhere else?
Turkmen is also an official language in 1 other country.
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