The Karachay-Balkar language is a Turkic language spoken primarily in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic and Balkar Republic of Russia. It belongs to the Northwestern Turkic group and is closely related to Kumyk and Tatar. The language has two main dialects: Karachay and Balkar, which reflect the distinct cultural identities of the two ethnic groups. Karachay-Balkar is written using the Cyrillic alphabet, which was adopted in the 20th century. The language has a rich oral tradition, including folklore and poetry, and is an important part of the cultural heritage of the Karachay and Balkar peoples. Efforts are ongoing to promote and preserve the language in education and media.