Oghuz branch
Gagauz
A predominantly Orthodox Christian Turk people of southern Moldova and the neighbouring Balkan region.
Gagauzlar
The Gagauz are a Turk people whose language belongs to the Oghuz branch, close to Turkish and Balkan Turkish dialects. Unusually among Turk peoples, the community is predominantly Orthodox Christian.
Since the mid-1990s Gagauzia has been an autonomous territorial unit within the Republic of Moldova, with Gagauz as one of its official languages.
- Language
- Gagauz, written in the Latin alphabet since the 1990s
- Branch
- Oghuz
- Homeland
- Southern Moldova, where Gagauzia (Gagauz Yeri) is an autonomous territorial unit
- Also living in
- Bulgaria, Ukraine (Budjak) and wider diaspora
Key dates
Early 19th century
Large Gagauz migration from the Balkans to Bessarabia (today’s Moldova and south-western Ukraine).
1990s
Gagauz adopts a Latin-based alphabet.
1994–1995
Moldova establishes the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia.
Heritage
- Comrat, the administrative centre of Gagauzia
- Viticulture and winemaking traditions of the Budjak steppe
- Folk song and dance shared with neighbouring Balkan cultures
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Gagauz”
These profiles are short, sourced introductions written by GCTCH, not the communities’ own voice. Community-led material will be added with explicit consent. Corrections are welcome at info@gctch.org.