izh

Izh is the ISO 639-3 code for the Ingrian language, a Finnic language of the Uralic language family. It is traditionally spoken by the Izhorian people in Ingria, a historic region along the Neva River and the Gulf of Finland near present-day Saint Petersburg, Russia. Ingrian is one of several Finnic languages once common in this area and is now critically endangered.

Ingrian belongs to the Northern Finnic subgroup, closely related to Karelian and Veps. It exhibits typical Finnic phonology and grammar, with notable influence from Russian and, to a lesser extent, Finnish and Estonian due to long-standing contact. In modern contexts, Ingrian has used a Latin-based orthography for publications and education, though historical writing systems varied over time.

The language is endangered, with a dramatic decline in native speakers since the 20th century. Fluent speakers are predominantly older adults, and intergenerational transmission has diminished. Revitalization efforts include field documentation, descriptive grammars, dictionaries, and community courses intended to support language learning and preservation, but widespread everyday use remains limited.

Historically, Ingrian was spoken in Ingria, a coastal region near the Gulf of Finland. Political and social changes reduced daily use in the late 20th century, and some speakers have relocated to Russia’s neighboring areas or Finland. Current initiatives concentrate on archival work, cultural programs, and educational opportunities designed to foster revival and sustainment of linguistic heritage.

In linguistic and cataloging contexts, izh serves as the code identifying the Ingrian language. The term Izhorian or Ingrian is also used to describe the people and, variably, the language in scholarly and cultural discussions.