Zaza

Zaza, also referred to as Zazaki, designates an ethnic group primarily located in eastern Turkey and the language they speak. The Zazaki language comprises two primary dialect groups, Northern Zazaki and Southern Zazaki (Dimili), and is part of the Northwestern branch of the Iranian language family. While many Zazaki-speaking communities identify as Zaza, some also align with Kurdish identities or view Zazaki as a distinct ethno-linguistic group.

Geographically, Zazaki-speaking populations are concentrated in the eastern Turkish provinces of Tunceli (Dersim), Bingöl, Erzincan, Diyarbakır, and surrounding areas. A substantial diaspora exists in Germany and other parts of Europe, as well as in Turkey’s larger urban centers. Population estimates vary, and Zazaki-speaking communities are present across several neighboring regions due to historical migration.

Linguistically, Zazaki is unrelated to Turkish and other Turkic languages but has long-standing contact with Turkish and Kurdish through centuries of multilingual interaction. In Turkey, Zazaki has a variety of orthographies and is used in local media, cultural organizations, and some education initiatives, though official status and state support have varied over time.

Historically, Zazaki-speaking regions were part of various empires and polities in Anatolia. The Dersim region (modern Tunceli) is notable for historical uprisings and for the complex interplay between cultural preservation and state policies in the 20th century. Contemporary Zazaki communities engage in cultural revival, music, literature, and language-rights movements, seeking greater recognition and resources for Zazaki language and culture.

The name Zaza is also encountered as a given name or surname in some regions.