Ethnic groups of Russia: Kumyks

They are the largest Turkic people in the North Caucasus. Roughly over 565,000 Kumyks live in Russia, primarily in the Republic of Dagestan. According to the most widely accepted theory, the word ‘Kumyk’ is derived from the name of the powerful medieval nomads, the ‘Cumans’ (‘Polovtsians’).

For a long time, the Kumyk language served as the lingua franca of the North Caucasus, until it was supplanted by Russian. The Chechens called it ‘bazaar-mott’, meaning ‘market language’ or ‘language of trade’. Writer Leo Tolstoy and poet Mikhail Lermontov both studied Kumyk.

The Kumyks have always been renowned as excellent weaponsmiths. Their sharp daggers and sabers, as well as gold- and silver-adorned rifles and pistols, gained popularity far beyond the Caucasus. Alexandre Dumas (the elder) spoke admiringly of the Kumyk craftsmanship during his travels through Russia.

The main dish of Kumyk cuisine is ‘khinkal’ – pieces of unleavened dough boiled and simmered in meat broth. Also popular are ‘kurze’ dumplings, a rich meat soup called ‘shorpa’ and ‘dolma’ – minced meat wrapped in grape leaves.