The Uzbek language is a Turkic language primarily spoken in Uzbekistan and by Uzbek communities in neighboring countries. It is the official language of Uzbekistan and is written in the Latin alphabet, although the Cyrillic alphabet was used during the Soviet era. Uzbek belongs to the Karluk branch of the Turkic language family and has several dialects. It has been influenced by languages such as Persian, Arabic, and Russian, reflecting the region's rich history and cultural interactions. Today, it is spoken by over 30 million people worldwide.