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

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-02</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001116521</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AVAYA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AV</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001240149</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAI AMARNATH K</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>VP/Controller/Princ.Acct.Off.</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>19672</value></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.735</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-07-01</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-06-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>40000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.05</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-11-22</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-11-21</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>50000</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). RSUs vest 100% on 12/1/2003.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Represents shares underlying RSUs.  RSUs vest 50% on 12/01/2005 and 50% on 12/01/2006.</footnote><footnote id="F3"> These stock options were granted on 7/1/2002.  1/3 of the stock options become exercisable 7/1/2003, and the remaining options vest 1/36 each month thereafter.</footnote><footnote id="F4"> These stock options were granted on 11/22/2002.  1/3 of the stock options become exercisable 11/22/2003, and the remaining options vest 1/36 each month thereafter.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Amarnath K. Pai</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

