<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-09</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001116521</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AVAYA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AV</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001240794</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LESICA THOMAS A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>CIO/GVP-Global IT&amp;amp;Oper.</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>75000</value></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.68</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-06-09</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-06-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>250000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Represents shares underlying Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).  These RSUs vest 50% on 6/09/2006 and 50% on 06/09/2007.</footnote><footnote id="F2">These stock options were granted on 06/09/2003.  These stock options vest 1/3 on 06/09/2004 and 1/36 each month thereafter.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Eric Sherbet, Attorney in Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-10</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

