Online Encyclopedia
Krimchak language
Krimchak is the language of the Krimchak Jews, a very small Jewish group on the Crimean peninsula.
The Krimchak Jews settled in Crimea probably in the 16th century and spoke a variant of Crimean Tatar but used the Hebrew alphabet. Their origins are unclear, but it is possible they were converted to Judaism during the Khazar Empire.
In 1926 there were about 6,000 Krimchak speakers, but now there are only a few individuals speaking it and no known communities.
External links
Last updated: 10-24-2004 05:10:45