Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a law on improving the Latin-based Uzbek alphabet on 21 October, Uzbek Language Day, Presidential Administration head Saida Mirziyoyeva said.
She described the adoption of the law as correcting a historical mistake and noted that the question of changing the writing system had been debated in the country for many years. According to Mirziyoyeva, she first raised the need to revise the alphabet on 11 December 2023 at a conference dedicated to the Jadid heritage.
The head of the Presidential Administration acknowledged that the changes could cause concern and opposition, but said the reform was necessary to address shortcomings in the writing system and strengthen the Uzbek language’s position in the digital environment.
Mirziyoyeva also clarified that the reform would not require the mass replacement of existing documents. All previously issued documents, the national currency and securities will retain their legal validity. Textbooks, signs and signposts will be updated gradually as they reach the end of their service life, helping to reduce costs.
She said signing the law on 21 October carried symbolic significance. Mirziyoyeva expressed hope that the revised alphabet would help improve young people’s literacy and strengthen the standing of the Uzbek language.
The Senate of the Oliy Majlis approved the alphabet changes in early September 2026, while the Legislative Chamber passed the corresponding law in early July.
The revised alphabet contains 28 letters and an apostrophe, replacing the previous system of 26 letters and three letter combinations. The combinations Sh, Ch, Oʻ and Gʻ are replaced by Ş, Ç, Ö and Ğ. Ng is no longer treated as a separate unit of the alphabet.
Alphabet reform spans more than 30 years
Uzbekistan adopted a Latin-based alphabet in 1993. The original version included the letters Ş, Ç, Õ and Ğ, but they were replaced in 1995 with the combinations Sh, Ch, Oʻ and Gʻ.
The full transition to the Latin script was initially planned for completion by 2000, but the process continued for decades.
In October 2020, Mirziyoyev signed a decree on developing the Uzbek language and improving language policy. The document provided for the establishment of a working group to ensure the final transition to the revised alphabet.
Reform proposals were published for public discussion in 2018, 2019 and 2021. An alternative version was proposed in 2023.
Debates over the composition and spelling of letters continued for several years before the changes were formalised in law.
