Lezgian languages

language group

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June 30, 2026

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The Lezgian languages are a subgroup of the Northeast Caucasian languages, primarily spoken in southern Dagestan, Russia, and Azerbaijan. This group includes languages such as Lezgi, Tabasaran, Agul, Rutul, Tsakhur, Archi, Kryz, Budukh, Khinalug, and Udi. While Lezgi and Tabasaran are written languages, others like Archi, Khinalug, and Udi are more divergent. Historically, in Azerbaijan and Russia, various Dagestani peoples, including Avars, referred to themselves as Lezgin. The Udi language is thought to be a descendant of the languages spoken in ancient Caucasian Albania.1

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Caucasian languages
The Lezgian languages
This language group includes Lezgi (with 240,000 speakers in Dagestan and about 170,000 in Azerbaijan); Tabasaran (about 90,000); Agul (about 12,000); Rutul (about 15,000); Tsakhur (about 11,000); Archi (fewer than 1,000);
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This language group includes Lezgi (with 240,000 speakers in Dagestan and about 170,000 in Azerbaijan); Tabasaran (about 90,000); Agul (about 12,000); Rutul (about 15,000); Tsakhur (about 11,000); Archi (fewer than 1,000);
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