藏语 (Zàngyǔ) literally combines 藏 (Zàng), referring to Tibet or the Tibetan people, and 语 (yǔ), meaning 'language'. Together, it denotes the Sino-Tibetan language spoken primarily by ethnic Tibetans in the Tibet Autonomous Region and neighboring areas of Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan provinces. It has several major dialects—including Ü-Tsang, Kham, and Amdo—with Standard Tibetan based on the Lhasa dialect.

The term is used formally and academically to refer to the language as a whole, distinguishing it from other regional languages or scripts in China. While written Tibetan uses its own unique script derived from ancient Indian Brahmi, spoken varieties differ significantly across regions. Learners may encounter 藏语 in contexts such as language courses, cultural studies, bilingual education policies, or travel preparation for Tibetan areas.