The Avar language (self-designation "language of the mountains" or Авар мац "Avar language") belongs to the Avar-Andi-Tsez subgroup of the Alarodian Northeast-Caucasian (or Nakh-Dagestani) language family. It is spoken most in the eastern and southern parts of the Russian Caucasus republic of Dagestan, and the Balaken, Zakatala north-west area of Azerbaijan.