The Uzbek language is a Turkic language primarily spoken in Uzbekistan and by Uzbek communities around the world. It is the official language of Uzbekistan and has over 30 million speakers. The language has evolved over centuries, influenced by Persian, Arabic, and Russian, which have all left their mark on its vocabulary and grammar. Uzbek is written in the Latin alphabet, although it has also been written in the Cyrillic and Arabic scripts in the past. The language is known for its rich oral traditions, including poetry and storytelling, which reflect the culture and history of the Uzbek people.