Languages of Africa

For the 1963 book, see The Languages of Africa.

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A rough overview of language families spoken in Africa:

Afroasiatic

Nilo-Saharan (possibly a family)

Niger–Congo (some areas may not belong)

Bantu

Khoisan (not a family)

Indo-European

Austronesian

The number of languages natively spoken in Africa is variously estimated (depending on the delineation of language vs. dialect) at between 1,250 and 2,100,[1] and by some counts at over 3,000.[2] Nigeria alone has over 500 languages (according to SIL Ethnologue),[3] one of the greatest concentrations of linguistic diversity in the world. The languages of Africa belong to many distinct language families, among which the largest are:

* Niger–Congo, which include the large Atlantic-Congo and Bantu branches in West, Central, Southeast and Southern Africa.
* Afroasiatic languages are spread throughout Western Asia, North Africa, the Horn of Africa and parts of the Sahel.
* Saharan, Nilotic and Central Sudanic languages (grouped under the hypothetical Nilo-Saharan macro-family), are present in East Africa and Sahel.
* Austronesian languages are spoken in Madagascar and parts of the Comoros.
* Khoe–Kwadi languages are spoken mostly in Namibia and Botswana.
* Indo-European languages, while not indigenous to Africa, are spoken in South Africa and Namibia (Afrikaans, English, German) and are used as lingua francas in Liberia and the former colonies of the United Kingdom (English), former colonies of France and of Belgium (French), former colonies of Portugal (Portuguese), former colonies of Italy (Italian), former colonies of Spain (Spanish) and the current Spanish territories of Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands and the current French territories of Mayotte and La Réunion.

There are several other small families and language isolates, as well as creoles and languages that have yet to be classified. In addition, Africa has a wide variety of sign languages, many of which are language isolates.

Around a hundred languages are widely used for interethnic communication. These include Arabic, Swahili, Amharic, Oromo, Igbo, Somali, Hausa, Manding, Fulani and Yoruba, which are spoken as a second (or non-first) language by millions of people. Although many African languages are used on the radio, in newspapers and in primary-school education, and some of the larger ones are considered national languages, only a few are official at the national level. In Sub-Saharan Africa, most official languages at the national level tend to be colonial languages such as French, Portuguese, or English.[4][5][6]

The African Union declared 2006 the "Year of African Languages".[7]

## Language groups

[edit]

Clickable map showing the traditional language families, subfamilies and major languages spoken in Africa

Most languages natively spoken in Africa belong to one of the two large language families that dominate the continent: Afroasiatic, or Niger–Congo. Another hundred belong to smaller families such as Ubangian, Nilotic, Saharan, and the various families previously grouped under the umbrella term Khoisan. In addition, the languages of Africa include several unclassified languages and sign languages.

The earliest Afroasiatic languages are associated with the Capsian culture, the Saharan languages are linked with the Khartoum Mesolithic/Neolithic cultures. Niger-Congo languages are correlated with the west and central African hoe-based farming traditions and the Khoisan languages are matched with the south and southeastern Wilton culture.[8]

### Afroasiatic languages

[edit]

Main article: Afroasiatic languages

Afroasiatic languages are spoken throughout North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia and parts of the Sahel. There are approximately 375 Afroasiatic languages spoken by over 400 million people. The main subfamilies of Afroasiatic are Berber, Chadic, Cushitic, Omotic, Egyptian and Semitic. The Afroasiatic Urheimat is uncertain. The family's most extensive branch, the Semitic languages (including Arabic, Amharic and Hebrew among others), is the only branch of Afroasiatic that is spoken outside Africa.[9]

Some of the most widely spoken Afroasiatic languages include Arabic (a Semitic language, and a recent arrival from West Asia), Somali (Cushitic), Berber (Berber), Hausa (Chadic), Amharic (Semitic) and Oromo (Cushitic). Of the world's surviving language families, Afroasiatic has the longest written history, as both the Akkadian language of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egyptian are members.

### Nilo-Saharan languages

[edit]

Main article: Nilo-Saharan languages

Nilo-Saharan languages are a proposed grouping of some one hundred diverse languages. Genealogical linkage between these languages has failed to be conclusively demonstrated, and support for the proposal is sparse among linguists.[10][11] The languages share some unusual morphology, but if they are related, most of the branches must have undergone major restructuring since diverging from their common ancestor.[citation needed]

This hypothetical family would reach an expanse that stretches from the Nile Valley to northern Tanzania and into Nigeria and DR Congo, with the Songhay languages along the middle reaches of the Niger River as a geographic outlier. The inclusion of the Songhay languages is questionable, and doubts have been raised over the Koman, Gumuz and Kadu branches.[citation needed]

Some of the better known Nilo-Saharan languages are Kanuri, Fur, Songhay, Nobiin and the widespread Nilotic family, which includes the Luo, Dinka and Maasai. Most Nilo-Saharan languages are tonal, as are Niger-Congo languages.[citation needed]

### Niger–Congo languages

[edit]

Main article: Niger–Congo languages

Map showing the traditional language families represented in Africa:

Afroasiatic (Semitic-Hamitic)

Austronesian (Malay-Polynesian)

Indo-European

Khoisan

Niger-Congo:

Bantu

Central and Eastern Sudanese

Central Bantoid

Eastern Bantoid

Guinean

Mande

Western Bantoid

Nilo-Saharan:

Kanuri

Nilotic

Songhai

The Niger–Congo languages constitute the largest language family spoken in West Africa and perhaps the world in terms of the number of languages.[citation needed] One of its salient features is an elaborate noun class system with grammatical concord. A large majority of languages of this family are tonal such as Yoruba and Igbo, Akan and Ewe language. A major branch of Niger–Congo languages is the Bantu phylum, which has a wider speech area than the rest of the family (see Niger–Congo B (Bantu) in the map above).

The Niger–Kordofanian language family, joining Niger–Congo with the Kordofanian languages of south-central Sudan, was proposed in the 1950s by Joseph Greenberg. Today, linguists often use "Niger–Congo" to refer to this entire family, including Kordofanian as a subfamily. One reason for this is that it is not clear whether Kordofanian was the first branch to diverge from rest of Niger–Congo. Mande has been claimed to be equally or more divergent. Niger–Congo is generally accepted by linguists, though a few question the inclusion of Mande and Dogon, and there is no conclusive evidence for the inclusion of Ubangian.

### Other language families

[edit]

Several languages spoken in Africa belong to language families concentrated or originating outside the African continent.

#### Austronesian

[edit]

Malagasy belongs to the Austronesian languages and is the westernmost branch of the family. It is the national and co-official language of Madagascar, and a Malagasy dialect called Bushi is also spoken in Mayotte.

The ancestors of the Malagasy people migrated to Madagascar around 1,500 years ago from Southeast Asia, more specifically the island of Borneo. The origins of how they arrived to Madagascar remains a mystery, however the Austronesians are known for their seafaring culture. Despite the geographical isolation, Malagasy still has strong resemblance to Barito languages especially the Ma'anyan language of southern Borneo.

With more than 20 million speakers, Malagasy is one of the most widely spoken of the Austronesian languages.

#### Indo-European

[edit]

Afrikaans is Indo-European, as is most of the vocabulary of most African creole languages. Afrikaans evolved from the Dutch vernacular[12][13] of South Holland (Hollandic dialect)[14][15] spoken by the mainly Dutch settlers of what is now South Africa, where it gradually began to develop distinguishing characteristics in the course of the 18th century, including the loss of verbal conjugation (save for 5 modal verbs), as well as grammatical case and gender.[16] Most Afrikaans speakers live in South Africa. In Namibia it is the lingua franca. Overall 14 to 21 million people are estimated to speak Afrikaans.

Since the colonial era, Indo-European languages such as Afrikaans, English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish have held official status in many countries, and are widely spoken, generally as lingua francas. (See African French and African Portuguese.) Additionally, languages like French, and Portuguese have become native languages in various countries.

French has become native in the urban areas of the DRC,[17] and Gabon.[18]

German was once used in Germany's colonies there from the late 1800s until World War I, when Britain and France took over and revoked German's official status. Despite this, German is still spoken in Namibia, mostly among the white population. Although it lost its official status in the 1990s, it has been redesignated as a national language. Indian languages such as Gujarati are spoken by South Asian expatriates exclusively. In earlier historical times, other Indo-European languages could be found in various parts of the continent, such as Old Persian and Greek in Egypt, Latin and Vandalic in North Africa and Modern Persian in the Horn of Africa.

#### Small families

[edit]

The three small Khoisan families of southern Africa have not been shown to be closely related to any other major language family. In addition, there are various other families that have not been demonstrated to belong to one of these families. The classifications below follow Glottolog.

* Mande, some 70 languages, including the major languages of Mali and Guinea; these are generally thought to be divergent Niger–Congo, but debate persists
* Ubangian, some 70 languages, centered on the languages of the Central African Republic; may be Niger–Congo
* Te-Ne-Omotic, some 20 languages, previously classified under Afro-Asiatic, spoken in Ethiopia
* Khoe-Kwadi, around 10 languages, the primary family of Khoisan languages of Namibia and Botswana
* Surmic, some 11 languages, previously classified within either Sudanic or Nilo-Saharan
* Kx'a, around five languages, with various dialects, spoken in Southern Africa
* South Omotic, around five languages; previously classified within Afro-Asiatic, spoken in Ethiopia
* Tuu, or Taa-ǃKwi, two surviving languages
* Hadza, an isolate of Tanzania
* Bangime, a likely isolate of Mali
* Jalaa, a likely isolate of Nigeria
* Sandawe, an isolate of Tanzania
* Laal, a possible isolate of Chad

Khoisan is a term of convenience covering some 30 languages spoken by around 300,000–400,000 people. There are five Khoisan families that have not been shown to be related to each other: Khoe, Tuu and Kx'a, which are found mainly in Namibia and Botswana, as well as Sandawe and Hadza of Tanzania, which are language isolates. A striking feature of Khoisan languages, and the reason they are often grouped together, is their use of click consonants. Some neighbouring Bantu languages (notably Xhosa and Zulu) have clicks as well, but these were adopted from Khoisan languages. The Khoisan languages are also tonal.

#### Creole languages

[edit]

Due partly to its multilingualism and its colonial past, a substantial proportion of the world's creole languages are to be found in Africa. Some are based on Indo-European languages (e.g. Krio from English in Sierra Leone and the very similar Pidgin in Nigeria, Ghana and parts of Cameroon; Cape Verdean Creole in Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau Creole in Guinea-Bissau and Senegal, all from Portuguese; Seychellois Creole in the Seychelles and Mauritian Creole in Mauritius, both from French); some are based on Arabic (e.g. Juba Arabic in the southern Sudan, or Nubi in parts of Uganda and Kenya); some are based on local languages (e.g. Sango, the main language of the Central African Republic); while in Cameroon a creole based on French, English and local African languages known as Camfranglais has started to become popular.

#### Unclassified languages

[edit]

Further information: Category:Unclassified languages of Africa

A fair number of unclassified languages are reported in Africa. Many remain unclassified simply for lack of data; among the better-investigated ones that continue to resist easy classification are:

* possibly Afroasiatic: Ongota, Gomba
* possibly Nilo-Saharan: Shabo
* possibly Niger–Congo: Jalaa, Mbre, Bayot
* unknown: Laal, Mpre

Of these, Jalaa is perhaps the most likely to be an isolate.

Less-well investigated languages include Irimba, Luo, Mawa, Rer Bare (possibly Bantu languages), Bete (evidently Jukunoid), Bung (unclear), Kujarge (evidently Chadic), Lufu (Jukunoid), Meroitic (possibly Afroasiatic), Oropom (possibly spurious) and Weyto (evidently Cushitic). Several of these are extinct, and adequate comparative data is thus unlikely to be forthcoming. Hombert & Philippson (2009)[19] list a number of African languages that have been classified as language isolates at one point or another. Many of these are simply unclassified, but Hombert & Philippson believe Africa has about twenty language families, including isolates. Beside the possibilities listed above, there are:

* Aasax or Aramanik (Tanzania) (South Cushitic? contains non-Cushitic lexicon)
* Imeraguen (Mauritania) – Hassaniyya Arabic restructured on an Azêr (Soninke) base
* Kara (Fer?) (Central African Republic)
* Oblo (Cameroon) (Adamawa? Extinct?)

Roger Blench notes a couple additional possibilities:

* Defaka (Nigeria)
* Dompo (Ghana)

Below is a list of language isolates and otherwise unclassified languages in Africa, from Vossen & Dimmendaal (2020:434):[20]

Language | Country

|

Bangi Me | Mali
Bayot | Senegal
Dompo | Ghana
Ega | Ivory Coast
Gomba | Ethiopia
Gumuz | Ethiopia, Sudan
Hadza | Tanzania
Irimba | Gabon
Jalaa | Nigeria
Kujarge | Chad
Laal | Chad
Lufu | Nigeria
Luo | Cameroon
Mawa | Nigeria
Meyobe | Benin, Togo
Mimi of Decorse; Mimi of Nachtigal | Chad
Mpra | Ghana
Oblo | Cameroon
Ongota | Ethiopia
Oropom | Kenya, Uganda
Rer Bare | Ethiopia
Shabo | Ethiopia
Weyto | Ethiopia
Wutana | Nigeria
Yeni | Cameroon

#### Sign languages

[edit]

See also: List of sign languages § Africa

Many African countries have national sign languages, such as Algerian Sign Language, Tunisian Sign Language, Ethiopian Sign Language. Other sign languages are restricted to small areas or single villages, such as Adamorobe Sign Language in Ghana. Tanzania has seven, one for each of its schools for the Deaf, all of which are discouraged. Not much is known, since little has been published on these languages

Sign language systems extant in Africa include the Paget Gorman Sign System used in Namibia and Angola, the Sudanese Sign languages used in Sudan and South Sudan, the Arab Sign languages used across the Arab Mideast, the Francosign languages used in Francophone Africa and other areas such as Ghana and Tunisia, and the Tanzanian Sign languages used in Tanzania.

## Language in Africa

[edit]

Throughout the long multilingual history of the African continent, African languages have been subject to phenomena like language contact, language expansion, language shift and language death. A case in point is the Bantu expansion, in which Bantu-speaking peoples expanded over most of Sub-Equatorial Africa, intermingling with Khoi-San speaking peoples from much of Southeast Africa and Southern Africa and other peoples from Central Africa. Another example is the Arab expansion in the 7th century, which led to the extension of Arabic from its homeland in Asia, into much of North Africa and the Horn of Africa.

Trade languages are another age-old phenomenon in the African linguistic landscape. Cultural and linguistic innovations spread along trade routes and languages of peoples dominant in trade developed into languages of wider communication (lingua franca). Of particular importance in this respect are Berber (North and West Africa), Jula (western West Africa), Fulfulde (West Africa), Hausa (West Africa), Lingala (Congo), Swahili (Southeast Africa), Somali (Horn of Africa) and Arabic (North Africa and Horn of Africa).

After gaining independence, many African countries, in the search for national unity, selected one language, generally the former Indo-European colonial language, to be used in government and education. However, in recent years, African countries have become increasingly supportive of maintaining linguistic diversity. Language policies that are being developed nowadays are mostly aimed at multilingualism. This presents a methodological complication when collecting data in Africa and limited literature exists. An analysis of Afrobarometer public opinion survey data of 36 countries suggested that survey interviewers and respondents could engage in various linguistic behaviors, such as code-switching during the survey.[21] Moreover, some African countries have been considering removing their official former Indo-European colonial languages, like Mali and Burkina Faso which removed French as an official language in 2024.[22][23]

### Official languages

[edit]

See also: Languages of the African Union

Official languages in Africa:

Afrikaans

Portuguese

|

Arabic

Spanish

English

Swahili

French

other African languages

Afroasiatic

* Berber (Amazigh):
* Standard Moroccan Amazigh in Morocco
* Standard Algerian Berber in Algeria[24]
* Tamasheq in Mali[25]
* Tawellemet in Mali[25]
* Chadic:
* Hausa in Niger
* Cushitic:
* Afar in Ethiopia
* Oromo in Ethiopia and Kenya
* Somali in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti
* Semitic:
* Amharic in Ethiopia
* Arabic in Algeria, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania,[26] Morocco, Somalia,[27] Sudan, Tunisia and Zanzibar (Tanzania)
* Hassaniya Arabic in Mali[25]
* Tigrinya in Ethiopia and Eritrea

Austronesian

* Malagasy in Madagascar

Ngbandi creole

* Sango in the Central African Republic

French Creole

* Seychelles Creole in Seychelles

Indo-European

* Afrikaans in South Africa
* English in Ghana, Gambia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, Liberia, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Namibia, Seychelles, Sudan, Tanzania, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Mauritius.
* French in Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, and Togo.[28]
* Portuguese in Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe and Equatorial Guinea.[29]
* Spanish in Equatorial Guinea[30]

Niger-Congo

* Bambara in Mali[25]
* Bobo in Mali[25]
* Bozo in Mali[25]
* Chewa in Malawi and Zimbabwe
* Comorian in the Comoros
* Dogon in Mali[25]
* Fula in Mali[25]
* Kassonke in Mali[25]
* Kongo in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Republic of the Congo
* Kinyarwanda in Rwanda
* Kirundi in Burundi
* Maninke in Mali[25]
* Minyanka in Mali[25]
* Senufo in Mali[25]
* Sesotho in Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe
* Setswana in Botswana and South Africa
* Shona, Sindebele in Zimbabwe
* Sepedi in South Africa
* Soninke in Mali[25]
* Ndebele in South Africa[31]
* Swahili in Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda
* Swati in Eswatini (Swaziland) and South Africa
* Tsonga in South Africa
* Venda in South Africa
* Xhosa in South Africa
* Zulu in South Africa

Nilo-Saharan

* Songhay in Mali[25]

Language  | Family  | Official status per country

|
|

Afar  | Afroasiatic  | Ethiopia, Djibouti (national)
Amharic  | Ethiopia
Arabic  | Algeria, Comoros, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan
Berber  | Algeria, Morocco
Hausa  | Niger, Nigeria (national)
Oromo  | Ethiopia[32][33][34]
Somali  | Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti (national)
Tigrinya  | Ethiopia, Eritrea (national)
Malagasy  | Austronesian  | Madagascar
Seychelles Creole  | French Creole  | Seychelles
Afrikaans  | Indo-European  | South Africa
Sango  | Ngbandi creole  | Central African Republic
Chewa  | Niger-Congo  | Malawi, Zimbabwe
Comorian  | Comoros
Kikongo  | Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo
Kinyarwanda  | Rwanda
Kirundi  | Burundi
Ndebele  | South Africa
Sepedi  | South Africa
Sesotho  | Lesotho, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Setswana  | Botswana, South Africa
Shona  | Zimbabwe
Sindebele  | Zimbabwe
Swahili  | Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
Swati  | Eswatini, South Africa
Tsonga  | Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa
Venda  | South Africa, Zimbabwe
Xhosa  | South Africa
Zulu  | South Africa

### Cross-border languages

[edit]

The colonial borders established by European powers following the Berlin Conference in 1884–1885 divided a great many ethnic groups and African language speaking communities. This can cause divergence of a language on either side of a border (especially when the official languages are different), for example, in orthographic standards. Some notable cross-border languages include Berber (which stretches across much of North Africa and some parts of West Africa), Kikongo (that stretches across northern Angola, western and coastal Democratic Republic of the Congo, and western and coastal Republic of the Congo), Somali (stretches across most of the Horn of Africa), Swahili (spoken in the African Great Lakes region), Fula (in the Sahel and West Africa) and Luo (in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan and Sudan).

Some prominent Africans such as former Malian president and former Chairman of the African Commission, Alpha Oumar Konaré, have referred to cross-border languages as a factor that can promote African unity.[35]

### Language change and planning

[edit]

Language is not static in Africa any more than on other continents.[citation needed] In addition to the (likely modest) impact of borders, there are also cases of dialect levelling (such as in Igbo and probably many others), koinés (such as N'Ko and possibly Runyakitara) and emergence of new dialects (such as Sheng). In some countries, there are official efforts to develop standardized language versions.

There are also many less widely spoken languages that may be considered endangered languages.

### Demographics

[edit]

Further information: Demographics of Africa

Of the 1 billion Africans (in 2009), about 17 percent speak an Arabic dialect.[citation needed] About 10 percent speak Swahili,[citation needed] the lingua franca of Southeast Africa; about 5 percent speak a Berber dialect;[citation needed] and about 5 percent speak Hausa, which serves as a lingua franca in much of the Sahel. Other large West African languages are Yoruba, Igbo, Akan and Fula. Major Horn of Africa languages are Somali, Amharic and Oromo. Lingala is important in Central Africa. Important South African languages are Sotho, Tswana, Pedi, Venda, Tsonga, Swazi, Southern Ndebele, Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans.[36]

French, English, and Portuguese are important languages in Africa due to colonialism. About 320 million,[37][38] 240 million and 35 million Africans, respectively, speak them as either native or secondary languages. Portuguese has become the national language of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe, and Portuguese is the official language of Mozambique.

## Linguistic features

[edit]

Some linguistic features are particularly common among languages spoken in Africa, whereas others are less common. Such shared traits probably are not due to a common origin of all African languages. Instead, some may be due to language contact (resulting in borrowing) and specific idioms and phrases may be due to a similar cultural background.

### Phonological

[edit]

Some widespread phonetic features include:

* certain types of consonants, such as implosives (/ɓa/), ejectives (/kʼa/), the labiodental flap and in southern Africa, clicks (/ǂa/, /ᵑǃa/). True implosives are rare outside Africa, and clicks and the flap almost unheard of.
* doubly articulated labial-velar stops like /k͡pa/ and /ɡ͡ba/ are found in places south of the Sahara.
* prenasalized consonants, like /mpa/ and /ŋɡa/, are widespread in Africa but not common outside it.
* sequences of stops and fricatives at the beginnings of words, such as /fsa/, /pta/ and /dt͡sk͡xʼa/.
* nasal stops which only occur with nasal vowels, such as [ba] vs. [mã] (but both [pa] and [pã]), especially in West Africa.
* vowels contrasting an advanced or retracted tongue, commonly called "tense" and "lax".
* simple tone systems which are used for grammatical purposes.

Sounds that are relatively uncommon in African languages include uvular consonants, diphthongs and front rounded vowels

Tonal languages are found throughout the world but are especially common in Africa - in fact, there are far more tonal than non-tonal languages in Africa. Both the Nilo-Saharan and the Khoi-San phyla are fully tonal. The large majority of the Niger–Congo languages are also tonal. Tonal languages are also found in the Omotic, Chadic and South & East Cushitic branches of Afroasiatic. The most common type of tonal system opposes two tone levels, High (H) and Low (L). Contour tones do occur, and can often be analysed as two or more tones in succession on a single syllable. Tone melodies play an important role, meaning that it is often possible to state significant generalizations by separating tone sequences ("melodies") from the segments that bear them. Tonal sandhi processes like tone spread, tone shift, downstep and downdrift are common in African languages.

### Syntactic

[edit]

Widespread syntactical structures include the common use of adjectival verbs and the expression of comparison by means of a verb 'to surpass'. The Niger–Congo languages have large numbers of genders (noun classes) which cause agreement in verbs and other words. Case, tense and other categories may be distinguished only by tone. Auxiliary verbs are also widespread among African languages; the fusing of subject markers and TAM/polarity auxiliaries into what are known as tense pronouns are more common in auxiliary verb constructions in African languages than in most other parts of the world.[39]

### Semantic

[edit]

Quite often, only one term is used for both animal and meat; the word nama or nyama for animal/meat is particularly widespread in otherwise widely divergent African languages.[citation needed]

## Demographics

[edit]

The following is a table displaying the number of speakers of given languages within Africa:

Language  | Family  | Native speakers (L1)  | Official status per country

|
|
|

ǂKxʼaoǁʼae | Kxʼa | 5,000 (2003)[40] | Native to Namibia and Botswana
ǂʼAmkoe | Kxʼa | 20–50 Western ǂʼAmkoe (2015)

unknown number Eastern ǂʼAmkoe[41]

| Native to Botswana
Abon | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 800 (1990)[42] | Native to Cameroon
Abron | Niger–Congo | 1,393,000 (2013)[43] | Native to Ghana and Ivory Coast
Acheron | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 20,000 (2006)

9,800 in home area (2006)[44]

| Native to Sudan
Adara | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 300,000 (2011)[45] | Native to Nigeria
Afar | Afroasiatic | 2,500,000 (2019–2022)[46] | Official in Ethiopia

Recognised minority language in Djibouti and Eritrea, Native to Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia

Afrikaans | Indo-European | 7,200,000 (2011)[47] | National language in Namibia, co-official in South Africa
Aghem | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 27,000 (2000)[48] | Native to Cameroon
Aiki | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 19,000 Kibet (1983)

43,000 Runga (1993–1996)[49]

| Native to Chad and Central African Republic
Aja | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 200 (1993)[50] | Native to South Sudan and Central African Republic
Aka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 30,000 (1986–1996)[51] | Native to Central African Republic and Republic of Congo
Akan | Niger–Congo | 8,900,000 (2013)[52] | None. Government sponsored language of Ghana
Ambo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,000 or fewer (undated)[53] | Native to Nigeria
Amdang | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 170,000 (2024)[54] | Native to Chad and Sudan
Ambele | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 5,000 (2005)[55] | Native to Cameroon
Amharic | Afroasiatic | 35,000,000 (2020)[56] | Ethiopia
Amira | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 5,100 (1984)[57] | Native to Sudan
Anaang | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,900,000 (2020)[58] | Native to Nigeria
Áncá | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 300 Áncá (2006)[59] | Native to Cameroon
Asoa | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 26,000 (2000)[60] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Atsam | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 30,000 (1982)[61] | Native to Nigeria
Arabic | Afroasiatic | 150,000,000[62] but with separate mutually unintelligible varieties | Algeria, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania (Zanzibar), Tunisia
Aringa | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 495,000 (2014)[63] | Native to Uganda
Avokaya | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 100,000 (1989–2017)[64] | Native to South Sudan and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Awing | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 19,000 (2001)[65] | Native to Cameroon
Baba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 25,000 (2005)[66] | Native to Cameroon
Babanki | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 39,000 (2011)[67] | Native to Cameroon
Baca | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 4,500 (2007)[68] | Native to Cameroon
Bacama | Afroasiatic | 300,000 (2020)[69] | Native to Nigeria
Bade | Afroasiatic | 360,000 (2020)[70] | Native to Nigeria
Baka | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 60,000 (2017)[71] | Native to South Sudan and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Barambu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 26,000 (1990)[72] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Bariba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,100,000 (1995–2021)[73] | Recognized in Benin

Native to Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo

Bala | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 60,000 Lobala (2000)[74]

21,000 Boko[date missing][75]

| Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Balo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,200 (2000)[76] | Native to Cameroon
Bamali | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 10,800 (2008)[77] | Native to Cameroon
Bambara | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 4,200,000 (2012)[78] | Official in Mali
Bambassi | Afroasiatic | 2,300 (2011)[79] | Native to Ethiopia
Bambalang | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 29,000 (2008)[80] | Native to Cameroon
Bamukumbit | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 12,000 (2008)[81] | Native to Cameroon
Bamum | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 420,000 (2005)[82] | Native to Cameroon and Nigeria
Bamwe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 20,000 (1983)[83] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Bangala | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | A few[date missing][84] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo
Bangi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 120,000 (2000)[85] | Native to Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Bangolan | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 14,000 (2011)[86] | Native to Cameroon
Bassari | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 31,000 (2017)[87] | Native to Guinea and Senegal
Baṭḥari | Afroasiatic | 16 (2016)[88] | Native to Oman
Batu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 25,000[date missing][89] | Native to Nigeria
Bebe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,600 (2008)[90] | Native to Cameroon
Beba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,000 (2002)[91] | Native to Cameroon
Beli | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 65,000 (2009)  | Native to South Sudan
Bemba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 4,100,000 (2000–2010)[92] | Recognized minority in Zambia

Native to Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, andTanzania

Bembe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 100,000 (2007)[93] | Native to Republic of Congo
Bembe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 250,000 in DRC (1991)[94] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo andTanzania
Berber | Afroasiatic | 16,000,000[95] (estimated) (including separate mutually unintelligible varieties) | Morocco, Algeria
Berta | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 380,000 (2006–2007)[96] | Native to Sudan and Ethiopia
Besme | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,200 (1993)[97] | Native to Chad
Bhaca | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown  | Native to South Africa
Bhojpuri | Indo-European | 65,300 (2011)[98] | Native to Mauritius
Bina | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 7,000 (2000)[99] | Native to Nigeria
Binza | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 10,000 (1986)[100] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Birri | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 200 (1996)[101] | Native to Central African Republic
Biseni | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 4,800 (1977)[102] | Native to Nigeria
Bissa | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 590,000 (1999–2003)[103] | Native to Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Togo
Bitare | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 52,000 (2000–2003)[104] | Native to Cameroon and Nigeria
Bobo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 340,000 (1995–2021)[105] | Native to Burkina Faso and Mali
Bole | Afroasiatic | 250,000 (2023)[106] | Native to Nigeria
Bole | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 4,000 (2004)[107] | Native to Republic of Congo
Bolon | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 23,000 (1998)[108] | Native to Burkina Faso
Bomboli–Bozaba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 8,000 (1983–1986)[109] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Bomboma | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 23,000 (1983)[110] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Bomitaba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 9,800 (2000)[111] | Native to Republic of Congo and Central African Republic
Bomu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 320,000-380,000 (1991-2022)[112] | Native to Burkina Faso and Mali
Bongili | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 12,000 (2018)[113] | Native to Republic of Congo
Bongo | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 21,000 (2017)[114] | Native to South Sudan
Bonjo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,000[date missing][115] | Native to Republic of Congo
Bono | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,400,000 (2013)[116] | Native to Ghana and Ivory Coast
Bono | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 200,000 (2006)[117] | Native to Nigeria
Boon | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 60 (2000)[118] | Native to Somalia
Boko | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 150,000 (2012)[119] | Native to Benin, Nigeria
Boze | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown  | Native to Nigeria
Bozo | Mande | 230,000 (apart from Tieyaxo) in Mali (2003–2009)[120] | Spoken in Mali
Bube | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 51,000 (2011)[121] | Recognized minority in Equatorial Guinea and Bioko Island

Native to Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Cameroon

Budza | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 230,000 (1985)[122] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Buli | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 170,000 (2013)[123] | Native to Ghana
Bukusu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,400,000 (2009)[124] | Native to Kenya
Bulu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 860,000 (2007)[125] | Native to Cameroon
Bum | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 21,000 (2001)[126] | Native to Cameroon
Buru–Angwe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,000 speakers of Buru; potentially substantially more of Angwe (uncited)[127] | Native to Nigeria
Busa | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 110,000 (2012)[128] | Native to Benin, Nigeria
Bushong | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 160,000 (2000)[129] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Buu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 100–200 (2012)[130] | Native to Cameroon
Buyu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 10,000 (2002)[131] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Bwela | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 8,400 (2002)[132] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Caka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 5,000 (1983)[133] | Native to Cameroon
Cape Verdean Creole | Portuguese Creole | 871,000 (2017)[134] | National language in Cape Verde
Cebaara | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 860,000 (1993)[135] | Native to Ivory Coast
Central Banda | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 580,000 (1984–1996)[136] | Native to Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan
Chewa | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 7,000,000 (2007)[137] | Malawi, Zimbabwe
Chopi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,100,000 (2017)[138] | Native to Mozambique
Chung | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,400 (2001)[139] | Native to Cameroon
Comorian | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 1,100,000 (2007-2011)[140] | Comoros
Dagaare | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,300,000 (1999–2021)[141] | Native to Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Ivory Coast
Dagbani | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,200,000 (2013)[142] | Native to Ghana, Togo
Dangme | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 1,020,000 (2013)[143] | Ghana
Daza | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 700,000 (2019–2021)[144] | Native to Chad and Niger
Dciriku | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 82,000 (2004–2018)[145] | Native to Namibia, Botswana and Angola
Dendi | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 440,000 (2000-2021)[146] | Native to Benin, Niger, and Nigeria
Dengese | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 8,600 (2000)[147] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Defaka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 200 (2001)[148] | Spoken in Nigeria
Dinka | Nilo-Saharan | 4,238,400 (2007)[149] | South Sudan
Djimini | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 96,000 (1993)[150] | Spoken in Ivory Coast
Doghose | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 20,000 (1991)[151] | Native to Burkina Faso
Dogoso | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 9,000 (1999)[152] | Native to Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast
Doko | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown  | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dongo | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | Unknown  | Native to South Sudan
Dyula | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,600,000 (2012–2021)[153] | Native to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ivory Coast
Dzando | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 6,000 (1983)[154] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dzodinka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,600 (2000)[155] | Native to Cameroon and Nigeria
Ebira | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,200,000 (2020)[156] | Native to Nigeria
Ekoka ǃKung | Kxʼa | 16,500 (2013)[157] | Native to South Africa, Namibia, and Angola
Eman | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 800 (1990)[158] | Native to Cameroon
English | Indo-European | 6,500,000[159] (estimated) | See List of countries and territories where English is an official language
Esimbi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 34,800 (2005)[160] | Native to Cameroon
Eton | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,500,000 (2020)[161] | Native to Cameroon
Evant | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 10,000 (1996)[162] | Native to Cameroon and Nigeria
Ewondo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 580,000 (1982)[163] | Native to Cameroon
Fang | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,000,000 (2006–2013)[164] | Recognized minority in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon

Native to Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, and São Tomé and Príncipe

Fang | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 4,000 (2011)[165] | Native to Cameroon
Fanji | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 17,000 (2008)[166] | Native to Cameroon
Farefare | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 660,000 (1991–2013)[167] | Native to Burkina Faso and Ghana
Feʼfeʼ | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 140,000 (2005)[168] | Native to Cameroon
Fio | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown but extant (2011-2015)[169][170] | Native to Cameroon
Fon | Niger–Congo | 2,300,000 (2019–2021)[171] | Benin
Fongoro | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | a few elders (2007)[172] | Native to Chad
French | Indo-European | 1,200,000[173] (estimated) | See List of territorial entities where French is an official language and African French
Fulani | Niger–Congo | 67,000,000 (2014–2021)[174] | Northern Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gambia, Northern Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, northeastern Nigeria, Southern Niger, and Senegal
Fungor | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,700 (1984)[175] | Native to Sudan
Fur | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 790,000 (2004–2023)[176] | Native to Chad and Sudan
Furu | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 16,000 (1984–1996)[177] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fut | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 100,000 (2009)[178] | Native to Cameroon
Fwe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 15,000[date missing][179] | Native to Namibia and Zambia
Gǀui | Khoe–Kwadi | 1,500 (2013)[180] | Native to Botswana
Ga | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 745,000 (2016)[181] | Ghana
German | Indo-European |  | National language of Namibia, special status in South Africa
Gendza | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 43,000 (1986)[182] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Gengele Creole | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown  | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geme | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 550 (1996)[183] | Native to Central African Republic
Ghomalaʼ | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 350,000 (2005)[184] | Native to Cameroon
Gikuyu | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 8,100,000[185] | Spoken in Kenya
Goundo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 30 (1998)[186] | Native to Chad
Gourmanché | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,500,000 (2012–2021)[187] | Native to Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo
Gumuz | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 160,000 in Ethiopia (2007)

88,000 in Sudan (2017)[188]

| Spoken in Ethiopia and Sudan
Gwari | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,840,000 (2020)[189] | Native to Nigeria
Gyong | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 25,000 (2000)[190] | Native to Nigeria
Hakaona | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown  | Native to Angola and Namibia
Hanga | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 6,800 (2003)[191] | Native to Ghana
Ḥarsusi | Afroasiatic | 600 (2011)[192] | Native to Oman
Hassaniya Arabic | Afroasiatic | 5,200,000 (2014–2021)[193] | Mali, Recognized in Morocco
Hausa | Afroasiatic | 54,000,000 (2021–2023)[194] | Recognized in Nigeria, Ghana, and Niger
Heiban | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 4,000 (1984)[195] | Native to Sudan
Hendo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 50,000 (1982)[196] | Native to Democratic Republic of Congo
Herero | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 250,000 (2015–2018)[197] | Native to Namibia, Botswana and Angola
Hindi | Indo-European |  | Spoken in Mauritius
Hlubi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown  | Native to South Africa
Hõne | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 7,000 (1999)[198] | Native to Nigeria
Hun-Saare | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 73,000 (1985)[199] | Native to Nigeria
Humburi Senni | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 81,000 (1999–2021)[200] | Spoken in Burkina Faso, and Mali
Hyam | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 300,000 (2014)[201] | Native to Nigeria
Ibibio | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 6,300,000 (2020)[202] | Native to Nigeria
Iceve-Maci | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 12,000 (1990)[203] | Native to Cameroon and Nigeria
Idun | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 78,000 (2012)[204] | Native to Nigeria
Igala | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,600,000 (2020)[205] | Native to Nigeria
Igbo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 31,000,000 (2020)[206] | Native to Nigeria
Ik | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 14,000 (2014)[207] | Native to Uganda
Ila | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 106,000 (2010)[208] | Native to Zambia
Imraguen | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 530 (2006)[209] | Native to Mauritania
Ipulo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,500 (1990)[210] | Native to Cameroon
Isu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 15,000 (1993)[211] | Native to Cameroon
Iyive | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,000 (1996)[212] | Native to Cameroon and Nigeria
Izon | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,400,000 (2020)[213] | Spoken in Nigeria
Italian | Indo-European |  | Recognized in Eritrea and Somalia
Jagham | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 120,000 (2000)[214] | Native to Cameroon and Nigeria
Jahanka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 150,000 (2017–2022)[215] | Native to Guinea
Jarawa | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 250,000 (2006–2011)[216] | Native to Nigeria
Jelkung | Afro-Asiatic | 1,300 (2000)[217] | Native to Chad
Jiba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,000 (1977)[218] | Native to Nigeria
Jju | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 600,000 (2020)[219] | Native to Nigeria
Juǀʼhoan | Kxʼa | 4,000 (2003)[220] | Native to Namibia and Botswana
Juba Arabic | Arabic-based creole | 250,000 (2020)[221] | Native to South Sudan
Jukun Takum | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,400 (2000)[222] | Native to Cameroon and Nigeria
Jur Modo | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 180,000 (2017)[223] | Native to South Sudan
Kabalai | Afro-Asiatic | 18,000 (1993)[224] | Native to Chad
Kadugli | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 75,000 (2004)[225] | Native to Sudan
Kamara | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,000 (2003)[226] | Native to Burkina Faso and Ghana
Kanga | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 17,000 (2022)[227] | Native to Sudan
Kalabari | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 258,000 (2006)[228] | Native to Nigeria
Kalenjin | Nilo-Saharan (Probable) | 6,600,000[citation needed] | Native to Kenya and Uganda
Kanembu | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 880,000 (2019)[229] | Native to Chad
Kantosi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 6,300 (2020)[230] | Native to Burkina Faso and Ghana
Kanuri | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 9,600,000 (1993–2021)[231] | Native to Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria
Kar | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 40,000 (1995)[232] | Native to Burkina Faso
Karanga | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 10,000 (1999)[233] | Native to Chad
Kasena | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 250,000 (1998–2004)[234] | Native to Burkina Faso and Ghana
Kassonke | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,500,000 (2009–2022)[235] | Recognized in Mali
Katla | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 25,000 Julud (2009)[236]

Possibly 14,000 Katla (1984)[237]

| Native to Sudan
Keiga | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 6,100 (1984)[238] | Native to Sudan
Kemezung | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,540 (2008)[239] | Native to Cameroon
Kendeje | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 1,900 (2000)[240] | Native to Chad
Kele | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 14,000 (2000–2007)[241] | Native to Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon
Kele-Foma | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 160,000 (1980)[242] | Native to Democratic Republic of Congo
Keliko | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 42,500 (1989–2018)[243] | Native to South Sudan and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kelo | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 200 (2009)[244] | Native to Sudan
Kgalagadi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 65,400 (2015)[245] | Native to Botswana
Khwe | Khoe–Kwadi | 8,000 (2011)[246] | Native to Namibia, Angola, Botswana, South Africa, and Zambia
Khoekhoe | Khoe–Kwadi | 200,000 ± 10,000 (2011) | National language of Namibia
Ki | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 26,000 (1982)[247] | Native to Cameroon
Kim | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 15,000 (1993)[248] | Native to Chad
Kimbundu | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 1,700,000 (2015)[249] | Angola
Kinyarwanda | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 15,000,000 (2014–2024)[250] | Rwanda
Kirundi | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 13,000,000 (2021)[251] | Burundi
Kisi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 15,000 (2012)[252] | Native to Tanzania
Kissi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 910,000 (2017–2020)[253] | Native to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone
Kita Maninka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 449,000 (2001-2014)[254] | Recognized in Mali
Kituba | Kongo-based creole | 13,000,000 (2018–2022)[255] | Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo
Koalib | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 100,000 (2009)[256] | Native to Sudan
Korandje | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 3,000 (2010)[257] | Native to Algeria
Koro Wachi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 150,000 (2006–2012)[258] | Native to Nigeria
Kom | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 210,000 (2005)[259] | Native to Cameroon
Komo | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 10,000 in Sudan (1979)[260]

8,500 in Ethiopia (2007)[261]

| Native to Sudan, South Sudan, and Ethiopia
Kongo | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 6,000,000 cited 1982–2021)[262] | Angola, recognised national language of Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo
Konkomba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 920,000 (2012–2013)[263] | Native to Ghana and Togo
Konni | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,800 (2003)[264] | Native to Ghana
Koshin | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,000 (2011)[265] | Native to Cameroon
Koyra Chiini | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 200,000 (1999)[266] | Native to Mali
Koyraboro Senni | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 430,000 (2007)[267] | Native to Mali
Kulango | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 470,000 (2021)[268] | Native to Ghana and Ivory Coast
Kunda | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 160,000 (2000)[269] | Native to Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique
Kusaal | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 121,000 (2021 census)[270] | Native to Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Togo
Kusu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 26,000 (1971)[271] | Native to Democratic Republic of Congo
Kresh | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 16,000 including Dongo (2013)[272] | Native to South Sudan
Krio | English Creole | 860,000 (2021)[273] | Native to Sierra Leone
Krongo | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 54,000 (2022)[274] | Native to Sudan
Kuba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 30,000 (2000)[275] | Native to Democratic Republic of Congo
Kuk | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,000 (1993)[276] | Native to Cameroon
Kukelle | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 180,000 to 200,000 (2011)[277] | Native to Nigeria
Kunama | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 180,000 (2022)[278] | Native to Eritrea, and Ethiopia
Kung | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 12[date missing][279] | Native to Cameroon
Kurama | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 40,000 (2000)[280] | Native to Nigeria
Kuranko | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 670,000 (2017–2021)[281] | Native to Guinea and Sierra Leone
Kuvale | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 70,000 (2015)[282] | Native to Angola
Kwaʼ | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,000 (2000)[283] | Native to Cameroon
Kwala | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 45,000 (2000)[284] | Native to Republic of the Congo
Kwama | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 15,000 (2015)[285] | Native to Ethiopia
Kwambi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 33,000 (2006)[286] | Native to Namibia and Angola
Kwangali | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 152,000 (2018)[287] | Native to Namibia and Angola
Kwangwa | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,400 (2010)[288] | Native to Zambia
Kwanyama | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 670,000 (1993-2006)[289] | Native to Namibia and Angola
Kyenga | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 12,000 (1995–2012)[290] | Native to Benin and Nigeria
Kyoli | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 7,000-8,000 (2020)[291] | Native to Nigeria
Lala | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown but extant (1999)[292] | Native to South Africa
Lala-Bisa | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 350,000 (2010)[293] | Native to Zambia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lamba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 200,000 (2010)[294] | Native to Zambia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Laimbue | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 5,000 (1994)[295] | Native to Cameroon
Laro | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 40,000 (2010)[296] | Native to Sudan
Lega | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 450,000 (1982–2000)[297] | Native to Democratic Republic of Congo
Lele | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 26,000 (1971)[298] | Native to Democratic Republic of Congo
Lendu | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 760,000 (1996)[299] | Native to Democratic Republic of Congo
Lenje | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 130,000 (2010)  | Native to Zambia
Leti | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | "small population" (2014)[300] | Native to Cameroon
Lia-Ntomba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 200,000 (1980-2000)[301] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ligbi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 19,000 (1991–2003)[302] | Native to Ghana
Limba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,200 (2001)[303] | Native to Cameroon
Limba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 520,000 (1993-2019)[304] | Native to Guinea and Sierra Leone
Limbum | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 130,000 (2005)[305] | Native to Cameroon
Lingala | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 21,000,000 (2021)[306] | National language of Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo
Lobedu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,000,000 (estimated)[307] | Native to South Africa
Logol | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 13,000 (2022)[308] | Native to Sudan
Loki | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 4,200[date missing][309] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Londo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,000 (1983)[310] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lorhon | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 8,000 (1991–1999)[311] | Native to Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast
Losengo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 67,000 (1983–2002)[312] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lozi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 725,000 (1982–2010)[313] | Native to Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
Luganda | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 5,600,000 (2014)[314] | Native to Uganda
Lugbara | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 1,600,000 (2014)[315] | Native to Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo
Kuhane | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 45,000[316] | Native to Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia
Luhya | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 6,800,000[317] | Spoken in Kenya
Lumun | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 15,000 (2014)[318] | Native to Sudan
Luo | Nilo-Saharan (Probable) | 4,200,000 (2009)[319] | Kenya, Tanzania
Luyana | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,380 (2010)[320] | Native to Zambia
Maba | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 570,000 (2019)[321] | Native to Chad
Ma'di | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 310,000 (1982–2002)[322] | Native to Uganda and South Sudan
Mada | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 100,000 (not counting Nunku) (1993)[323] | Native to Nigeria
Malagasy | Austronesian | 18,000,000[324] | Madagascar
Marfa | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 5,000 (1999)[325] | Native in Chad
Marka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 190,000 (2009–2014)[326] | Spoken in Burkina Faso
Mama | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,000–3,000 (2001)[327] | Native to Nigeria
Mampruli | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 230,000 (2004)Dagbani  | Native to Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Togo
Mandinka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,100,000 (2017–2022)[328] | Recognized in Senegal
Mangbetu | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 662,000 (1985)[329] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Maninka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 4,600,000 (2012–2021)[330] | Spoken in Nigeria
Mankon | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 19,000 (2002)[331] | Native to Cameroon
Manta | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 5,300 (2001)[332] | Native to Cameroon
Masaba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,700,000 (2002 & 2009)[333] | Native to Kenya
Masalit | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 410,000 (2019–2022)[334] | Native to Chad and Sudan
Mashi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 22,000 (2000–2010)[335] | Native to Zambia and Angola
Massa | Afro-Asiatic | 340,000 (1982–2019)[336] | Native to Cameroon and Chad
Mauritian Creole | French Creole | 1,100,000 (2016)[337] | Native to Mauritius
Mbamba Bay | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 6,000 (2004)[338] | Native to Tanzania
Mbandja | Ubangian | 360,000 (2000)[339] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo and Central African Republic
Mbati | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 60,000 (2010)[340] | Native to Central African Republic
Mbe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 65,000 (2011)[341] | Native to Nigeria
Mbəʼ | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,500 (2000)[342] | Native to Cameroon
Mbessa | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 25,000 (2020)[343] | Native to Cameroon
Mbili-Mbui | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 10,000 (1983)[344] | Native to Cameroon
Mbowe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 460 (2010)[345] | Native to Cameroon
Mbre | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 50 (2017)[346] | Native to Ivory Coast
Mbuʼ | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 200 (2011)[347] | Native to Cameroon
Mbuk | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 600 (2020)[348] | Native to Cameroon
Mbuko | Afro-Asiatic | 15,000 (2008)[349] | Native to Cameroon
Mbukushu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 95,000 (2020)[350] | National language in Namibia and Native to Angola, Botswana, and Zambia
Mbwasa | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown[351] | Native to Cameroon
Medumba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 210,000 (1991)[352] | Native to Cameroon
Mehri | Afro-Asiatic | 230,000 (2020)  | Native to Yemen, Oman and Saudi Arabia
Menchum | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,000 (2000)[353] | Native to Cameroon
Mendankwe-Nkwen | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 28,000 (2005)[354] | Native to Cameroon
Mengaka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 20,000 (1993)[355] | Native to Cameroon
Menyam | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 4,000 (1994)[356] | Native to Cameroon
Mesaka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 14,000 (1982)[357] | Native to Cameroon
Mfumte | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 30,700 (1982-2000)[358] | Native to Cameroon
Minyanka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 740,000 (2000)[359] | Native to Mali
Missong | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 400 (2012)[360] | Native to Cameroon
Mmen | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 35,000 (2001)[361] | Native to Cameroon
Mmuock | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown  | Native to Cameroon
Moba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 440,000 (2004–2012)[362] | Native to Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Togo
Moro | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 79,000 (2022)[363] | Native to Sudan
Morokodo | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 3,400 (2011)[364] | Native to South Sudan
Moru | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 230,000 (2017)[365] | Native to South Sudan
Mossi | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 12,000,000 (2012–2022)[366] | Recognised regional language in Burkina Faso
Mono | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 65,000 (1984)[367] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mongo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 400,000 (1995)[368] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mooré | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 12,000,000 (2012–2022)[369] | Official in Burkina Faso

Native to Burkina Faso, Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Mali, Togo, Niger, and Senegal

Mundabli | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 500 (2011)[370] | Native to Cameroon
Mündü | Ubangian | 26,000[date missing][371] | Native to South Sudan and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mundum | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown  | Native to Cameroon
Mungbam | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,900–2,200 (2012)[372] | Native to Cameroon
Munka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 31,000 (2008)[373] | Native to Cameroon
Nabit | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 30,000 (estimated) (2015)[374] | Native to Burkina Faso, Ghana
Nafanan | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 89,000 (2017)[375] | Native to Ghana and the Ivory Coast
Nambya | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 100,000 (2000–2004)[376] | Native to Zimbabwe
Nancere | Afroasiatic | 144,000 (2019)[377] | Native to Chad
Nanerigé | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 50,000 (1985)[378] | Native to Burkina Faso
Naro | Khoe–Kwadi | 9,000 (2011-2014)[379][380] | Native to Botswana and Namibia
Nateni | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 110,000 (2021)[381] | Native to Benin
Naki | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,000 (1993)[382] | Native to Cameroon, Nigeria
Ntcham | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 390,000 (2004–2013)[383] | Native to Ghana and Togo
Ndaʼndaʼ | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 10,000 (1990)[384] | Native to Cameroon
Ndau | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 2,400,000 (2000–2006)[385] | Zimbabwe
Ndebele | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 1,100,000 (2011)[386] | Statutory national language in South Africa
Ndemli | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 10,000 (1999)[387] | Native to Cameroon
Nding | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 400 (2020)[388] | Native to Sudan
Ndombe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 22,300 (2000)[389] | Native to Angola
Ndonga | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 810,000 (2006)[390] | Native to Namibia and Angola
Ndolo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 8,000 (1983)[391] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ndrulo | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 110,000 (2014–2018)[392] | Native language of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo
Ndzerem | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | <1,000[date missing][393] | Native to Cameroon
Ngaʼka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 50,000 (1982)[394] | Native to Cameroon
Ngambwe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown  | Native to Angola
Ngando | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 5,000 (1996)[395] | Native to Central African Republic
Ngangam | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 200,000 (2012–2021)[396] | Native to Benin and Togo
Ngbundu | Ubangian | 16,000 (1984)[397] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ngelima | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 14,000 (2000)[398] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ngiemboon | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 250,000 (2007)[399] | Native to Cameroon
Ngile | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 39,000 (2024)[400] | Native to Sudan
Ngiri | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 80,000 (2000–2002)[401] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ngiti | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 100,000 (1991)[402] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ngondi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,000 (2004)[403] | Native to Republic of Congo
Ngomba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 63,000 (1999)[404] | Native to Cameroon
Ngombale | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 53,500 (2005)[405] | Native to Cameroon
Ngombe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 150,000 (1971)[406] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ngwe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 73,000 (2001)[407] | Native to Cameroon
Nigerian Pidgin | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 4,700,000[when?][408] | Native to Nigeria
Ninzo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 35,000 (1973)[409] | Native to Nigeria
Nkoroo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 4,500 (1989)[410] | Native to Nigeria
Nkumbi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 150,000 (1996)[411] | Native to Angola
Nkutu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 40,000 (1972)[412] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Nsei | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 25,000 (2008)[413] | Native to Cameroon
Nsenga | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 600,000 in Zambia and Mozambique (2006 – 2010)

16,000 in Zimbabwe (1969)[414]

| Native to Zambia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe
Nso | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 240,000 (2005)[415] | Native to Cameroon
Noni | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 50,000 (2005–2008)[416] | Native to Cameroon
Noon | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 33,000 (2007)[417] | Official in Senegal
Northern Ndebele | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 2,600,000 (2023)[418] | Official in Zimbabwe
Northern Sotho | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 4,700,000 (2011)[419] | Official in South Africa
Nubi | Arabic-based creole | 50,000 (2014-2019)[420] | Native to Uganda, Kenya
Nuer | Nilo-Saharan | 1,700,000 (2007–2017)[421] | Native to South Sudan and Ethiopia
Numana | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 50,000 (2008)[422] | Native to Nigeria
Nupe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,800,000 (2020)[423] | Native to Nigeria
Nyaneka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 300,000 to 1.2 million[date missing] (before 1996)[424] | Native to Angola
Nyanga | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 150,000 (1994)[425] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Nyankpa | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 70,000 (2012)[426] | Native to Nigeria
Nyarafolo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 60,000 (2009)[427] | Native to Ivory Coast
Nyungwe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 490,000 (2017)[428] | Native to Mozambique
Nzakara | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 50,000 (1996)[429] | Native to Central African Republic, and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Okodia | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,600 (1977)[430] | Native to Nigeria
Oku | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 87,000 (2005)[431] | Native to Cameroon
Ombo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 8,400 (2002)[432] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Omi | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 91,000 (2005)[433] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Osatu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 400 (2002)[434] | Native to Cameroon
Oluʼbo | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 33,000 (2017)[435] | Native to South Sudan
Opuo | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 20,000 (2014–2019)[436] | Native to Ethiopia and South Sudan
Oromo | Afroasiatic | 37,071,900 (2020) [437] | Official in Ethiopia

Recognized minority in Kenya Native to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia

Oruma | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 5,000 (1995)[438] | Native to Nigeria
Otank | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 15,000 (2006)[439] | Native to Cameroon and Nigeria
Otoro | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 17,000 (2023)[440] | Native to Sudan
Ovambo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,441,000 (1990)[441] | Native to Angola and Namibia
Palaka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 8,000 (1995)[442] | Native to Ivory Coast
Paleni | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 260 (2012)[443] | Native to Burkina Faso
Pambia | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 21,000 (1982)[444] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Pande | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 8,870 (2010)[445] | Native to Central African Republic
Phuthi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 20,000 (1999)[446][447] | Native to Lesotho and South Africa
Pichinglis | English Creole | 6,000 (2011)[448] | Native to Bioko and Equatorial Guinea
Pinyin | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 25,000 (2001)[449] | Native to Cameroon
Piti | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 8,100 (2013)[450] | Native to Niger
Portuguese | Indo-European | 17,000,000[451] | Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe
Pretoria Sotho | Sotho-Tswana language creole | Unknown  | Native to South Africa
Rigwe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 40,000 (1985)[452] | Native to Niger
Ronga | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 720,000 (2006)[453] | Native to Mozambique and South Africa
Saari | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 7,600 (2008)[454] | Native to Cameroon
Saba | Afroasiatic | 1,300 (2000)[455] | Native to Chad
Saho | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 180,000 (2007–2022)[456] | Native to Eritrea and Ethiopia
Samo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 230,000 (1995–1999)[457] | Native to Burkina Faso and Mali
Samwe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 4,500 (1993)[458] | Native to Burkina Faso
Sakata | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 75,000 (1982)[459] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Saya | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 300,000 (2013)[460] | Native to Niger
Sekele | Kxʼa | 20,000 (2013–2019)[461] | Native to Namibia, Angola
Sena | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 2,869,000 (2017–2020)[462] | Official in Zimbabwe

Recognized in Malawi Native to Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe

Senara | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 210,000 (1995–2010)[463] | Native to Burkina Faso and Mali
Sengele | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 17,000 (2002)[464] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sepedi | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 4,700,000 (2011)[465] | Official in South Africa
Sesotho | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 5,600,000 (2001–2011)[466] | Official in Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe
Setlôkwa | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown (Possibly ~670,000)  | Native to Lesotho and South Africa
Seychellois Creole | French Creole | 73,000 (1998)[467] | Official in Seychelles
Shabo | Language isolate or possible Nilo-Saharan | 400 (2000)[468] | Native to Ethiopia
Shanjo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 4,400 (2010)[469] | Native to Zambia
Shi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 660,000 (1991)[470] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Shona | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 8,400,000 (2012–2017)[471] | Official in Zimbabwe

Recognized minority in Mozambique

Shwai | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,500 (1989)[472] | Native to Sudan
Sighu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,000 (1990)[473] | Native to Gabon
Simaa | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 17,000 (2010)[474] | Native to Zambia
Sinyar | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 33,000 (2023)[475] | Native to Chad
Siwu | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 27,000 (2003)[476] | Native to Ghana
Somali | Afroasiatic | 21,937,940[477] | Official in Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya

Recognized minority in Kenya

Soninke | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,300,000 (2017–2021)[478] | Official in Mauritania, Mali, Senegal and The Gambia

Native to Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal

Soli | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 34,000 (2010)[479] | Native to Zambia
Sotho | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 5,600,000 (2001–2011)[480] | Native to Lesotho, South Africa, and Zimbabwe
South Banda | Ubangian | 200,000 (1996)[481] | Native to Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Southeast Ijo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 72,000 (1977)[482] | Native to Nigeria
Southern Birifor | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 190,000 (2017)[483] | Native to Ghana and Ivory Coast
Suba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 140,000 (2009)[484] | Native to Kenya
Suba-Simbiti | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 110,000 (2011)[485] | Native to Tanzania
Sucite | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 38,000 (1999–2007)[486] | Native to Burkina Faso
Suku | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 50,000 (1980)[487] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sukur | Afroasiatic | 15,000 (1992)[488] | Native to Nigeria
Supyire | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 460,000 (1996–2007)[489] | Native to Mali
Sumayela Ndebele | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown but extant[490][491][492][493] | Native to South Africa
Susu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,400,000 (2017–2019)[494] | Native to Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Guinea Bissau
Suwu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | "few" (2007)[495] | Native to Cameroon
Spanish | Indo-European | 1,100,000 (2018)[496] | Equatorial Guinea, Spain (Ceuta, Melilla, Canary Islands), still marginally spoken in Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, recognized in Morocco
Songhoyboro Ciine | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 946,000 (2014)[497] | Native to Niger
Southern Ndebele | Niger–Congo | 1,100,000 (2011)[498] | Official in South Africa
Surbakhal | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 7,900 (2000)[499] | Native to Chad
Syer-Tenyer | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 30,000 (1991)[500] | Native to Burkina Faso
Swahili | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 5,300,000 (2019–2023)[501] | Official in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Swazi | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 2,300,000 (2013–2019)[502] | Official in South Africa, Swaziland
Taa | Tuu | 2,500 (2011)[503] | Native to Botswana and Namibia
Tadaksahak | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 170,000 (2022)[504] | Native to Mali and Niger
Tagdal | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 65,000 (2021)[505] | Native to Niger
Tagoi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 29,000 (2022)[506] | Native to Sudan
Tagwana | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 140,000 (1993)  | Native to Ivory Coast
Talodi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,500 (1989)  | Native to Sudan
Talni | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 100,000 (estimated) (2015)[507] | Native to Burkina Faso and Ghana
Tamil | Dravidian |  | Native to Mauritius
Tasawaq | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 21,000 (2021)[508] | Native to Niger
Teda | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 130,000 (2020–2024)[509] | Native to Chad, Libya, and Niger
Tegali | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 110,000 (2022)[510] | Native to Sudan
Tegem | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 5,100 (1984)[511] | Native to Sudan
Telugu | Dravidian |  | Native to Mauritius
Tembo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 150,000 (1994)[512] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tetela | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 760,000 (1991)[513] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tigrinya | Afroasiatic | 9,700,000 (2022)[514] | Official in Eritrea and Ethiopia
Tikar | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 110,000 (2005)[515] | Native to Cameroon
Tiro | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 34,000 (2022)[516] | Native to Sudan
Tima | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,300 (2000)[517] | Native to Sudan
Tiv | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 5,200,000 (2024)[518] | Native to Nigeria
Tocho | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,700 (2013)[519] | Native to Sudan
Tondi Songway Kiini | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 3,000 (1998)[520] | Native to Mali
Tonga | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 1,500,000 (2001–2010)[521] | Official in Zimbabwe

Recognized minority in Zambia

Tonga | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 330,000 (2017)[522] | Native to Mozambique
Tonga | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 165,000 (2018)[523] | Recognized minority language in Malawi
Totela | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,220 (2010)[524] | Native to Namibia and Zambia
Tsamai | Afroasiatic | 18,000 (2007)[525] | Native to Ethiopia
Tsotsitaal and Camtho, aka Iscamtho | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 500,000 (estimated)[526] | Native to South Africa
Tshiluba | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 6,300,000 (1991)[527] | National language of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tsonga or Xitsonga | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 3,700,000 (2006–2011)[528] | Official in South Africa and Zimbabwe

Recognized minority in Mozambique

Native to Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe

Tshivenda | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 1,300,000 (2011)[529] | Official in South Africa and Zimbabwe
Tswa | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,200,000 (2006)[530] | Native to Mozambique
Tswana | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 5,800,000 (2015)[531] | Official in Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe

Recognized minority in Namibia Native to Botswana and South Africa

Tulishi | Nilo-Saharan | 2,500 (2007)[532] | Native to Sudan
Tumbuka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 7,100,000 (2024)[533] | Recognized minority language in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia
Tumtum | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 17,000 (2022)[534] | Native to Sudan
Twi | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 630,000[citation needed] | Regional language in Ghana
Tyap | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 875,000 (2020)[535] | Native to Nigeria
Uduk | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 22,000[date missing] (presumably after 2005)[536] | Native to Sudan and South Sudan
Umbundu | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 7,000,000 (2018)[537] | Official in Angola
Venda | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 1,300,000 (2011)[538] | Official in South Africa, Zimbabwe

Native to South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe

Vengo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 27,000 (2008)[539] | Native to Cameroon
Viemo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 8,000 (1995)[540] | Native to Burkina Faso
Viti | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown (one village)[541] | Native to Nigeria
Vori | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 3,000 (2016)[542] | Native to Nigeria
Voro  | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | Unknown  | Native to Nigeria
Wannu | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | a few thousand (1998)[543] | Native to Nigeria
Wali | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 85,000 (2013)[544] | Native to Ghana
Wali | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 9,000 (2007)[545] | Native to Sudan
Wapan | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 100,000 (1994)[546] | Native to Nigeria
Weh | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 8,000 (1993)[547] | Native to Cameroon
Werni | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,100 (1956)[548] | Native to Sudan
West Banda | Ubangian | 7,500 (1982–1996)[549] | Native to Central African Republic and South Sudan
Wolof | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 7,100,000 (2020–2021)[550] | Lingua franca in Senegal
Wongo | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 13,000 (2000)[551] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Wushi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 27,000 (2008)[552] | Native to Cameroon and possibly Nigeria
Xhosa | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 7,600,000 (2013)[174] | Official in South Africa, Zimbabwe

Recognized minority in Botswana Native to South Africa and Lesotho

Yamba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 80,000 (2000)[553] | Native to Cameroon and Nigeria
Yangere | Ubangian | 27,000 (1996)[554] | Native to Central African Republic
Yalunka | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 181,000 (2002–2017)[555] | Native to Guinea
Yela-Kela | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 213,000 Kela (1972-1977)[556] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Yemba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 500,000 estimated (2023)[557] | Native to Cameroon
Yeyi | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 55,000 (2001)[558] | Native to Namibia and Botswana
Yobe | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 22,000 (1991–2012)[559] | Native to Benin and Togo
Yoruba | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 45,000,000 (2021)[174] | Nigeria, Benin, Togo
Yulu | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 13,000 (1987–2011)[560] | Native to Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Sudan
Zaghawa | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 450,000 (2019–2022)[561] | Native to Chad and Sudan
Zande | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 1,800,000 (1996–2017)[562] | Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan
Zarma | Nilo-Saharan (Probable)  | 6,000,000 (2021)[563] | Native to Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria
Zemba | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 25,000 (2011-2016)[564] | Native to Angola and Namibia
Zhire | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 11,000 to 15,000 (2021)[565] | Native to Nigeria
Zhoa | Niger–Congo (Probable)  | 2,000 (1995)[566] | Native to Cameroon
Zulu | Niger–Congo (Probable) | 12,000,000 (2013–2017)[89] | South Africa

### By region

[edit]

Below is a list of the major languages of Africa by region, family and total number of primary language speakers in millions.

North Africa

* Afroasiatic
* Semitic
* Arabic: 200
* Berber: 30–40
* Kabyle
* Atlas
* Tuareg
* Zenaga
* Nilo-Saharan
* Nubian: 5+[567]
* Fur: 5+[42][568][569]
* Zaghawa[570]
* Masalit
* Niger–Congo
* Kordofanian languages
* Nuba[571]

Central Africa

* Niger–Congo, Bantu
* Lingala[572]
* Kinyarwanda:12[573]
* Kongo:5+[572][574][575]
* Tshiluba[572]
* Kirundi[576]

Eastern Africa

* Niger–Congo, Bantu:
* Swahili: 5–10
* Gikuyu: 8+[577]
* Ganda:6[578]
* Luhya: 6+[577]
* Austronesian
* Malagasy: 20+[324]
* Niger–Congo, Ubangian
* Gbaya:2[579]
* Banda:1–2[579]
* Zande[580]
* Nilo-Saharan
* Kanuri:10[581][174][582]
* Luo:5+[577][578]
* Sara:3–4[582][579]
* Kalenjin:6+[577]
* Dinka[580]
* Nuer[580]
* Shilluk[580]
* Maasai:1–2[583][584]
* Afroasiatic
* Semitic
* Amharic: 20+
* Tigrinya: 5
* Cushitic
* Somali: 10–15
* Oromo: 30–35
* Nilo-Saharan: 1[585][586]
* Gumuz
* Anuak
* Kunama
* Nara
* Niger–Congo: 1[587][588]
* Zigula

Southern Africa

* Niger–Congo, Bantu
* Zulu: 10[589]
* Xhosa: 8[589]
* Chokwe[590]
* Shona: 7
* Sotho: 5
* Tsonga: 12
* Tswana: 4[589][591]
* Umbundu: 4[574]
* Sepedi: 4[589]
* Chichewa: 8[592][593]
* Makua: 8[594]
* Indo-European
* Germanic
* Afrikaans: 7
* English: 5
* Romance
* Portuguese: 14

West Africa

* Niger–Congo
* Benue–Congo
* Ibibio (Nigeria): 7[581]
* Volta–Niger
* Igbo (Nigeria): 30–35[581]
* Yoruba: 40[581]
* Kwa:
* Akan (Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire): 11
* Gur
* More: 5
* Senegambian
* Fula (West Africa): 40[581][174][595][596][597]
* Wolof: 8[595][596]
* Afroasiatic
* Chadic
* Hausa: 50[581][174]
* Nilo-Saharan
* Saharan
* Kanuri: 10[174][582]
* Songhai:5[174][598]
* Zarma:5[174][598]

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## See also

[edit]

* Africa portal
* Language portal

### General

[edit]

* Writing systems of Africa
* Journal of West African Languages
* List of extinct languages of Africa

### Works

[edit]

* Polyglotta Africana
* The Languages of Africa

### Classifiers

[edit]

* Karl Lepsius
* Lionel Bender
* Wilhelm Bleek
* Christopher Ehret
* Carl Meinhof
* Diedrich Westermann
* Joseph Greenberg

### Colonial and migratory influences

[edit]

* Arabization
* Asian Africans
* Dutch Language Union
* French West Africa
* German colonization of Africa
* Islamization of Egypt
* Italian East Africa — including Italian Ethiopia
* Italian North Africa
* North African Arabs
* Maghrebi Arabic — via Muslim conquest of the Maghreb
* Portuguese language in Africa — predominant in Portuguese-speaking African countries
* Spanish Guinea — presently Equatorial Guinea
* Spanish West Africa
* Spanish North Africa
* West African Pidgin English
* White Africans of European ancestry

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Heine & Nurse (2000)
2. ^ Epstein, Edmund L.; Kole, Robert, eds. (1998). The Language of African Literature. Africa World Press. p. ix. ISBN 0-86543-534-0. Retrieved 23 June 2011. "Africa is incredibly rich in language—over 3,000 indigenous languages by some counts, and many creoles, pidgins, and lingua francas."
3. ^ "Ethnologue report for Nigeria". Ethnologue Languages of the World.
4. ^ Oluwole, Victor (12 September 2021). "A comprehensive list of all the English-speaking countries in Africa". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
5. ^ Stein-Smith, Kathleen (17 March 2022). "Africa and the French language are growing together in global importance". The Conversation. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
6. ^ Yates, Y. "How Many People Speak Portuguese, And Where Is It Spoken?". Babbel Magazine. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
7. ^ "African Union Summit 2006: Khartoum, Sudan". Southern African Regional Poverty Network. Archived from the original on 30 May 2006.
8. ^ Bender, M. Lionel (1985). "Review of Ehred & Posnansky (eds.), The archaeological and linguistic reconstruction of African history". Language. 61 (3–4). Linguistic Society of America: 695. doi:10.2307/414395. JSTOR 414395. Retrieved 31 January 2017.3–4&rft.pages=695&rft.date=1985&rft_id=info:doi/10.2307/414395&rft_id=https://www.jstor.org/stable/414395#id-name=JSTOR&rft.aulast=Bender&rft.aufirst=M.+Lionel&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=sG8KAQAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Languages+of+Africa" class="Z3988">
9. ^ Ehret, Christopher (2000). "Language and History". In Heine, Bernd; Nurse, Derek (eds.). African Languages: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 290\. ISBN 0-521-66629-5. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
10. ^ Campbell, Lyle; Mixco, Mauricio J. (2007). A Glossary of Historical Linguistics. University of Utah Press. ISBN 9780874808926.
11. ^ Matthews, P.H. (2014). Oxford Concise Dictionary of Linguistics (3rd ed.). OUP Oxford. ISBN 9780199675128.
12. ^ Pithouse, Kathleen; Mitchell, Claudia; Moletsane, Relebohile (16 December 2023). Making Connections: Self-Study & Social Action. Peter Lang. p. 91\. ISBN 9781433105012.
13. ^ Heese, J. A. (1971). Die herkoms van die Afrikaner, 1657–1867 [The origin of the Afrikaner, 1657–1867] (in Afrikaans). Cape Town: A. A. Balkema. OCLC 1821706. OL 5361614M.
14. ^ Kloeke, G.G. (1950). Herkomst en groei van het Afrikaans (PDF). Leiden: Universitaire Pers Leiden.
15. ^ Heeringa, Wilbert; de Wet, Febe (2007). "The origin of Afrikaans pronunciation: a comparison to west Germanic languages and Dutch dialects". CiteSeerX 10.1.1.222.5044.
16. ^ Coetzee, Abel (1948). Standaard Afrikaans (PDF). Afrikaner Pers. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
17. ^ Tibategeza, Eustard (January 2023). "Language-in-Education Policy and Practice in the Democratic Republic of Congo".
18. ^ Hugues Steve Ndinga-Koumba-Binza, Hugues Steve Ndinga-Koumba-Binza (August 2011). "From foreign to national: a review of the status of French in Gabon".
19. ^ Hombert, Jean-Marie; Philippson, Gérard (2009). "The linguistic importance of language isolates: the African case". In Austin, Peter K.; Bond, Oliver; Charette, Monik; Nathan, David; Sells, Peter (eds.). Proceedings of Conference on Language Documentation and Linguistic Theory 2 (PDF). London: SOAS. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 May 2013.
20. ^ Vossen, Rainer; Dimmendaal, Gerrit J., eds. (2020). The Oxford Handbook of African Languages. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 392–407.
21. ^ Lau, Charles (30 April 2020). "Language differences between interviewers and respondents in African surveys (Chapter 5)". In Sha, Mandy (ed.). The Essential Role of Language in Survey Research. RTI Press. pp. 101–115\. doi:10.3768/rtipress.bk.0023.2004. ISBN 978-1-934831-24-3.
22. ^ AfricaNews (26 July 2023). "Mali drops French as official language". Africanews. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
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25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "JOURNAL OFFICIEL DE LA REPUBLIQUE DU MALI" (PDF). sgg-mali.ml. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2023. "Langues nationales : langues considérées comme propres à une nation ou à un pays. Selon la Loi n°96- 049 du 23 août 1996, les langues nationales du Mali sont : le bamanankan (bambara), le bomu (bobo), le bozo (bozo), le dTgTsT (dogon), le fulfulde (peul), le hasanya (maure), le mamara (miniyanka), le maninkakan (malinké) le soninke (sarakolé), le soKoy (songhoï), le syenara (sénoufo), le tamasayt (tamasheq), le xaasongaxanKo (khassonké)."
26. ^ CIA – The World Factbook.
27. ^ According to article 7 of The Transitional Federal Charter of the Somali Republic Archived 18 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine: "The official languages of the Somali Republic shall be Somali (Maay and Maxaatiri) and Arabic. The second languages of the Transitional Federal Government shall be English and Italian".
28. ^ Spencer, Erika Hope. "Research Guides: France & French Collections at the Library of Congress: Sub-Saharan Africa". guides.loc.gov. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
29. ^ Fehn, Anne-Maria (2019), Wolff, H. Ekkehard (ed.), "African Linguistics in Official Portuguese- and Spanish-Speaking Africa", A History of African Linguistics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 189–204, ISBN 978-1-108-41797-6, retrieved 28 March 2024
30. ^ "ABOUT EQUATORIAL GUINEA | Equatorial Guinea Embassy USA". EG Embassy USA. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
31. ^ "The languages of South Africa" Archived 4 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine. southafrica.info.
32. ^ "ETHIOPIA TO ADD 4 MORE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES TO FOSTER UNITY". Ventures Africa. Ventures. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
33. ^ "Ethiopia is adding four more official languages to Amharic as political instability mounts". Nazret. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
34. ^ Shaban, Abdurahman. "One to five: Ethiopia gets four new federal working languages". Africa News. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
35. ^ African languages for Africa's development Archived 24 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine ACALAN (French & English).
36. ^ "Tongues under threat". The Economist. 22 January 2011. p. 58.
37. ^ 327 millions de francophones dans le monde en 2023 odsef.fss.ulaval.ca (in French)
38. ^ Verdeau, Paul (20 March 2023). "En 2023, 327 millions de personnes parlent français dans le monde, dont près de la moitié en Afrique". RTBF (in French). Retrieved 27 November 2023.
39. ^ Anderson, Gregory D. S. (2011). "Auxiliary verb constructions in the languages of Africa". Studies in African Linguistics. 40 (1 & 2): 1–409\. doi:10.32473/sal.v40i1.107282.
40. ^ International Encyclopedia of Linguistics: AAVE-Esperanto. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press. 2003. p. 363. ISBN 978-0-19-513977-8
41. ^ Gerlach (2015: 14–15)
42. ^ a b "CORRECTION: Census shows South Sudan population at 8.2 million: report – Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan". www.sudantribune.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
43. ^ Abron at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
44. ^ Acheron at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
45. ^ Adara at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
46. ^ Afar at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
47. ^ Census 2011: Census in brief (PDF). Pretoria: Statistics South Africa. 2012. ISBN 978-0-621-41388-5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 May 2015.
48. ^ Aghem at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
49. ^ Kibet at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Runga at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
50. ^ Aja at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
51. ^ Aka at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
52. ^ Akan at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Abron at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Wasa at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
53. ^ Ambo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
54. ^ Amdang at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
55. ^ Ambele at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
56. ^ Amharic at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
57. ^ Amira at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
58. ^ Anaang at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
59. ^ Áncá (?) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
60. ^ Asoa at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
61. ^ Atsam at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
62. ^ "Arabic". Ethnologue.
63. ^ Aringa at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
64. ^ Avokaya at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
65. ^ Awing at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
66. ^ Baba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
67. ^ Babanki at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
68. ^ Baca at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
69. ^ Bacama at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
70. ^ Bade at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
71. ^ Baka at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
72. ^ Barambu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
73. ^ Bariba at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
74. ^ Lobala at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
75. ^ Iboko at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
76. ^ Balo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
77. ^ Bamali at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
78. ^ "Bamanankan | Ethnologue Free". Ethnologue (Free All) (27th ed.). 2024. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
79. ^ "Màwés Aasʼè". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2018-08-01
80. ^ Bambalang at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
81. ^ Bamukumbit at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
82. ^ Bamum at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
83. ^ Bamwe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
84. ^ Bangala at Ethnologue (15th ed., 2005)
85. ^ Bangi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Moi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
86. ^ Bangolan at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
87. ^ Basari at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
88. ^ Bathari at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
89. ^ a b Zulu at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
90. ^ Bebe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
91. ^ Beba’ at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
92. ^ Bemba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
93. ^ Bembe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
94. ^ Bembe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Mwenga Lega at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
95. ^ "Berber". Ethnologue.
96. ^ Berta at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
97. ^ Besme at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
98. ^ "Bhojpuri". Ethnologue. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
99. ^ Bina at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
100. ^ Binza at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
101. ^ Birri at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
102. ^ "Biseni". Ethnologue (18th ed.). 2015. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
103. ^ Bissa at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
104. ^ Bitare at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
105. ^ Southern at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Northern at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
106. ^ Bole at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
107. ^ Bole at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
108. ^ Bolon at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
109. ^ Bomboli at Ethnologue (24th ed., 2021) Bozaba at Ethnologue (24th ed., 2021)
110. ^ Bomboma at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
111. ^ Bomitaba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
112. ^ "Bomu | Ethnologue Free". Ethnologue (Free All) (26th ed.). 2023. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
113. ^ Bongili at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
114. ^ Bongo at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
115. ^ Bonjo at Ethnologue (16th ed., 2009)
116. ^ Abron at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
117. ^ Tangale at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
118. ^ Boon at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
119. ^ Boko at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
120. ^ Hainyaxo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Tiemacèwè at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Tiéyaxo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Jenaama at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
121. ^ Bube at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Bubia (Wovea) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
122. ^ Budza at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Tembo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
123. ^ Buli at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
124. ^ Bukusu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
125. ^ Bulu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
126. ^ Bum at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
127. ^ Buru–Angwe at Ethnologue (15th ed., 2005)
128. ^ Busa at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Busa-Bokobaru at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
129. ^ Bushong at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
130. ^ Pierpaolo Di Carlo & Jeff Good (2012) What are we trying to preserve? Diversity, change, and ideology at the edge of the Cameroonian Grassfields
131. ^ Buyu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
132. ^ Bwela at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
133. ^ Caka at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
134. ^ Cape Verdean Creole at Ethnologue (19th ed., 2016)
135. ^ Cebaara at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
136. ^ Banda-Bambari at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Banda-Banda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Banda-Mbrès at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Banda-Ndélé at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Togbo-Vara Banda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Mid-Southern Banda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
137. ^ Mikael Parkvall, "Världens 100 största språk 2007" (The World's 100 Largest Languages in 2007), in Nationalencyklopedin
138. ^ Chopi at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
139. ^ Chung at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
140. ^ Lafon, Michel. "Le système Kamar-Eddine : une tentative originale d'écriture du comorien en graphie arabe". pp. (14–15): 29–48. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023.
141. ^ Southern Dagaare at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Dagaari Dioula at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Northern Dagara at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
142. ^ Dagbani at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
143. ^ Dangme at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
144. ^ Daza at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
145. ^ Dciriku at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
146. ^ Dendi at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
147. ^ Dengese at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
148. ^ Blench, Roger (2019). "An Atlas of Nigerian Languages". Ethnologue (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
149. ^ Dinka at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
150. ^ Djimini at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
151. ^ Dogosé at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
152. ^ Dogoso at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
153. ^ Dyula at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
154. ^ Dzando at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
155. ^ Dzodinka at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
156. ^ Ebira at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
157. ^ Ekoka ǃKung at Ethnologue (24th ed., 2021)
158. ^ Eman at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
159. ^ "English". Ethnologue.
160. ^ Esimbi at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
161. ^ Eton at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Mengisa (duplicate code) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
162. ^ Evant at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
163. ^ Ewondo at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
164. ^ Fang at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
165. ^ Fang at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
166. ^ Fanji at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
167. ^ Farefare at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
168. ^ Feʼfeʼ at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
169. ^ Di Carlo, Pierpaolo (2011). "Lower Fungom linguistic diversity and its historical development: proposals from a multidisciplinary perspective". Africana Linguistica. XVII: 53–100. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
170. ^ Ivoline, Budji K. (2015). Spotlight on a Threatened Language: The Fio Language of the Bamenda Grassfields of North western Cameroon (MA thesis). Bamenda: Catholic University of Cameroon.
171. ^ Fon at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
172. ^ Fongoro at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
173. ^ "French". Ethnologue.com. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
174. ^ a b c d e f g h i Fulani at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Pulaar (Senegambia, Mauritania) at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Pular (Guinea, Sierra Leone) at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Maasina Fulfulde (Mali, Ghana) at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Borgu Fulfulde (Benin, Togo) at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Western Niger Fulfulde (Burkina, Niger) at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Central–Eastern Niger Fulfulde (Niger) at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
175. ^ Fungor at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
176. ^ Fur at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
177. ^ Furu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
178. ^ Bafut at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
179. ^ ""The Mafwe People Group In All Countries"". Joshua Project. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
180. ^ Gǀui at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
181. ^ Ga at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
182. ^ Gendza at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
183. ^ Geme at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
184. ^ Ghomala at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
185. ^ "Gikuyu". Ethnologue.
186. ^ Goundo at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
187. ^ Gourmanchéma at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
188. ^ Gumuz at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
189. ^ Gbagyi at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Gbari at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
190. ^ Gyong at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
191. ^ Hanga at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
192. ^ Harsusi at Ethnologue (19th ed., 2016)
193. ^ "Hassaniyya | Ethnologue Free". Ethnologue (Free All) (27th ed.). 2024. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
194. ^ Hausa at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
195. ^ Heiban at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
196. ^ Hendo at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
197. ^ OvaHerero at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
198. ^ Hõne at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
199. ^ Us-Saare at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Ut-Hun at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
200. ^ Humburi Senni at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
201. ^ Hyam at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
202. ^ Ibibio at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
203. ^ Ceve at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
204. ^ Idun at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
205. ^ Igala at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
206. ^ Igbo at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
207. ^ Ik at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
208. ^ Ila at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Sala at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
209. ^ "Language Representative Counts". Retrieved 2023-09-01.
210. ^ Ipulo at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
211. ^ Isu at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
212. ^ Iyive at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
213. ^ Izon at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
214. ^ Ekoi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
215. ^ Jahanka at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
216. ^ Zhár (Bankal) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Zugur (Duguri) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Mbat (Bada) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Gwak (Gingwak) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required
217. ^ Jelkung at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
218. ^ Jiba at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
219. ^ Jju at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
220. ^ Güldemann, Tom (2003). "Khoisan Languages". International Encyclopedia of Linguistics. Vol. 1: AAVE-Esperanto. Oxford University Press. p. 362. ISBN 978-0-19-513977-8
221. ^ Juba Arabic at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
222. ^ Jukun at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
223. ^ Jur Modo at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
224. ^ Kabalai at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
225. ^ Kadugli at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
226. ^ Kamara at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
227. ^ Kanga at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
228. ^ "2006 Funded Projects". Endangered Language Fund. 15 August 2013. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
229. ^ Kanembu at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Old Kanembu at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
230. ^ Kantosi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
231. ^ Kanuri at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Central Kanuri at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Manga Kanuri at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Tumari Kanuri at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Bilma Kanuri at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Kanembu at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Old Kanembu at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
232. ^ Kar at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
233. ^ Karanga at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
234. ^ Kasena at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
235. ^ Kassonke at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
236. ^ Katla at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
237. ^ Katla language at Ethnologue (17th ed., 2013)
238. ^ Keiga at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
239. ^ Kemezung at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
240. ^ Kendeje at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
241. ^ West Kele, Bubi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Ngom at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
242. ^ Kele at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Foma at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
243. ^ Keliko at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
244. ^ Kelo at Ethnologue (16th ed., 2009)
245. ^ Kgalagadi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
246. ^ Brenzinger, Matthias (2011) "The twelve modern Khoisan languages." In Witzlack-Makarevich & Ernszt (eds.), Khoisan languages and linguistics: proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium, Riezlern / Kleinwalsertal (Research in Khoisan Studies 29). Cologne: Rüdiger Köppe Verlag.
247. ^ Ki at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Leti at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Mengisa (duplicate code) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
248. ^ Kim at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
249. ^ Kimbundu at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
250. ^ Kinyarwanda at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
251. ^ Rundi at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
252. ^ Kisi at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
253. ^ Southern Kissi at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Northern Kissi at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
254. ^ Kita Maninka at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
255. ^ Kituba (RC) at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Kituba (DRC) at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
256. ^ Koalib at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
257. ^ Korandje at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
258. ^ Ashe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Begbere-Ejar at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
259. ^ Kom at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
260. ^ Komo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
261. ^ Ethiopia 2007 Census
262. ^ Kongo at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Koongo at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Ladi, Laadi, Lari or Laari at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) San Salvador Kongo (South) at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Yombe at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
263. ^ Konkomba at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
264. ^ Konni at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
265. ^ Koshin at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
266. ^ Koyra Chiini at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
267. ^ Koyraboro Senni at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
268. ^ Bouna at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Bondoukou at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
269. ^ Kunda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
270. ^ Kusaal at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
271. ^ Kusu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
272. ^ Kresh at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
273. ^ Sierra Leonean Creole at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
274. ^ Krongo at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
275. ^ Kuba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
276. ^ Kuk at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
277. ^ Kele at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
278. ^ Kunama at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
279. ^ Kung at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
280. ^ Kurama at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
281. ^ Kuranko at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
282. ^ Kuvale language at Ethnologue (19th ed., 2016)
283. ^ Kwaʼ at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
284. ^ Kwala at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
285. ^ Kwama at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
286. ^ Kwambi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
287. ^ "Kwangali". Ethnologue. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
288. ^ Luyana at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
289. ^ Kwanyama at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
290. ^ Kyenga at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
291. ^ Decker, Ken, John Muniru, Julius Dabet, Benard Abraham and Jonah Innocent. 2020. A Sociolinguistic Profile of the Kyoli (Cori) [cry] Language of Kaduna State, Nigeria. SIL Electronic Survey Reports.
292. ^ "A comparative phonological and morphological analysis of the North and South Lala dialects of Tekela Nguni". University of South Africa (UNISA). 1999-12-01. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
293. ^ Lala-Bisa at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
294. ^ Lamba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
295. ^ Laimbue at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
296. ^ Laro at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
297. ^ Shabunda Lega at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Mwenga Lega at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Kanu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Kwami at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
298. ^ Lele at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
299. ^ Lendu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
300. ^ Leti at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Mengisa (duplicate code) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
301. ^ Ntomba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Bolia at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
302. ^ Ligbi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
303. ^ Limba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
304. ^ "Limba, East". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2018-08-11. "Limba, West-Central". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
305. ^ Limbum at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
306. ^ Lingala at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
307. ^ Cohen, C (1968). Rider Haggard: His life and works. United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 1-349-00602-5.
308. ^ Logol at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
309. ^ Loki at Ethnologue (15th ed., 2005)
310. ^ Londo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
311. ^ Lorhon at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
312. ^ Losengo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Boloki at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Ndolo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
313. ^ Lozi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
314. ^ Ganda at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
315. ^ Lugbara at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Southern Ma'di at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
316. ^ Kuhane at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
317. ^ "Luhya". Ethnologue.
318. ^ Lumun at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
319. ^ Luo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
320. ^ Luyana at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
321. ^ Maba at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
322. ^ Ma'di at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
323. ^ Mada at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
324. ^ a b "Malagasy". Ethnologue.
325. ^ Marfa at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
326. ^ Marka at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
327. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-09-07. Retrieved 2015-02-20.
328. ^ Mandinka at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
329. ^ Mangbetu at Ethnologue (13th ed., 1996). Lombi at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
330. ^ Konyanka at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Eastern Maninkaka at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Sankaran Maninkaka at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Manya (Liberia) at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Wojenaka (Odienné Jula) at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
331. ^ Mankon at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
332. ^ Manta at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Áncá (?) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
333. ^ Masaba (Gisu, Kisu, Dadiri, Buya) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Bukusu (Tachoni) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Tachoni at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
334. ^ Masalit at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Massalat at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
335. ^ Mashi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Kwandu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
336. ^ Massa at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
337. ^ "Morisyen". Ethnologue.
338. ^ Mwera at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
339. ^ Mbandja at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
340. ^ Mbati at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
341. ^ Mbe at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
342. ^ Mbəʼ at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
343. ^ Mbessa at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
344. ^ Mbili-Mbui at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
345. ^ Mbowe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
346. ^ Mbre at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
347. ^ Mbuʼ at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
348. ^ Mbuk at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
349. ^ Mbuko at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
350. ^ Mbukushu at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
351. ^ Blench, Roger, 2011. The membership and internal structure of Bantoid and the border with Bantu. Bantu IV, Humboldt University, Berlin.
352. ^ Medumba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
353. ^ Menchum at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
354. ^ Mendankwe-Nkwen at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
355. ^ Mengaka at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
356. ^ Bamenyam at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
357. ^ Mesaka at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
358. ^ Mfumte at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Fum at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Kwaja (East Mfumte) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
359. ^ "Sénoufo, Mamara". Ethnologue (18th ed.). 2015. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
360. ^ Pierpaolo Di Carlo & Jeff Good. 2012. What are we trying to preserve?: Diversity, change, and ideology at the edge of the Cameroonian Grassfields
361. ^ Mmen at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
362. ^ Moba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Bimoba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
363. ^ Moro at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
364. ^ Morokodo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Nyamusa-Molo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Mo’da (Gberi) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Mittu (extinct) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
365. ^ Moru at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
366. ^ Mooré at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
367. ^ Mono at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
368. ^ Mongo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Yamongeri at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
369. ^ Mooré at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
370. ^ Mundabli at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required
371. ^ Mündü at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
372. ^ Di Carlo, Pierpaolo; Good, Jeff (30 October 2014). Endangered Languages. British Academy.
373. ^ Munka at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
374. ^ Naden, Tony (2014-11-08). "Request for New Language Code Element in ISO 639: nbz" (PDF). SIL International.
375. ^ Nafaanra at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
376. ^ Nambya at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
377. ^ Nancere at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
378. ^ Nanerigé at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
379. ^ Brenzinger, Matthias (2011) "The twelve modern Khoisan languages." In Witzlack-Makarevich & Ernszt (eds.), Khoisan languages and linguistics: proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium, Riezlern / Kleinwalsertal (Research in Khoisan Studies 29). Cologne: Rüdiger Köppe Verlag.
380. ^ Naro at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
381. ^ Nateni at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
382. ^ Naki (Cameroon) at Ethnologue (16th ed., 2009) Bukwen at Ethnologue (16th ed., 2009) Mashi at Ethnologue (16th ed., 2009)
383. ^ Ntcham at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Akaselem at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
384. ^ Ndaʼndaʼ at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
385. ^ Ndau at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
386. ^ "Ndebele" (18th ed.). Ethnologue. 2015 [2011 census]. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
387. ^ Ndemli at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
388. ^ Eberhard, David M.; Simons, Gary F.; Fenning, Charles D. (2020). Ethnoloɠue: Languages in Africa and Europe (23rd ed.). Dallas: SIL International Publications. p. 279\. ISBN 978-1-55671-458-0.
389. ^ Ndombe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
390. ^ Ndonga at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
391. ^ Ndolo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
392. ^ Ndrulo at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
393. ^ Roger Blench & Cameron Hamm (n.d.) The Nun Languages of the Grassfields of Cameroon
394. ^ Ngaʼka at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
395. ^ Ngando at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
396. ^ Ngangam at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
397. ^ Ngbundu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
398. ^ Ngelima at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
399. ^ Anderson, Stephen C. (2007). ""PRÉCIS D'ORTHOGRAPHE POUR LA LANGUE NGIEMBOON"". Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
400. ^ Ngile at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
401. ^ Loi (Baloi) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Likila (Balobo) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Ndobo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Mabaale at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
402. ^ Ngiti at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
403. ^ Ngondi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
404. ^ Ngomba or Nguemba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
405. ^ Ngombale at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
406. ^ Ngombe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
407. ^ Ngwe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
408. ^ Nigerian Pidgin at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
409. ^ Ninzo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
410. ^ "Nkoroo". Ethnologue (18th ed.). 2015. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
411. ^ Nkumbi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
412. ^ Nkutu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
413. ^ Nsei at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
414. ^ Nsenga at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Phimbi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
415. ^ Nsɔ at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
416. ^ Noone at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Ncane at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
417. ^ Noon at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
418. ^ Ndebele at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
419. ^ Northern Sotho at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) [2011 Census) (subscription required)
420. ^ Nubi Arabic at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
421. ^ Nuer at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
422. ^ Numana at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
423. ^ Nupe at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
424. ^ Nyaneka at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
425. ^ Nyanga at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
426. ^ Nyankpa at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
427. ^ Nyarafolo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
428. ^ Nyungwe at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
429. ^ Nzakara at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
430. ^ "Okodia". Ethnologue (25th ed.). 2022.
431. ^ Oku at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
432. ^ Ombo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
433. ^ Omi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
434. ^ Osatu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
435. ^ Oluʼbo at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
436. ^ Opuuo at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
437. ^ "Oromo first-language speakers at Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)". Retrieved 27 November 2023.
438. ^ "Oruma". Ethnologue (25th ed.). 2022.
439. ^ Otank at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
440. ^ Otoro at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
441. ^ Kwanyama at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Ndonga at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Kwambi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Mbalanhu (Central Wambo) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Ngandjera at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
442. ^ Palaka at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
443. ^ Paleni at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
444. ^ Pambia at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
445. ^ Pande at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
446. ^ Swati at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
447. ^ Donnelly 1999:114–115.
448. ^ Pichinglis at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
449. ^ Pinyin at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
450. ^ Piti at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
451. ^ Eberhard, David M.; Simons, Gary F.; Fennig, Charles D. "Ethnologue report for Portuguese". Ethnologue. SIL International. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
452. ^ Rigwe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
453. ^ Ronga at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
454. ^ Saari at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
455. ^ Saba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
456. ^ Saho at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
457. ^ Matya at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Maya at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Southern at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
458. ^ Samwe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
459. ^ Sakata at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
460. ^ Saya at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
461. ^ Sekele at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Ekoka ǃKung at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
462. ^ Mozambiquean Sena at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Malawian Sena at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Barwe at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
463. ^ Senara at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
464. ^ Sengele at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
465. ^ Northern Sotho at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) [2011 Census] (subscription required)
466. ^ Sotho at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
467. ^ Seychellois Creole at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
468. ^ Shabo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
469. ^ Tonga at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
470. ^ Shi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Nyindu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
471. ^ Shona (Zezuru, Karanga, Korekore) at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Tavara (Korekore) at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Manyika at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Tewe (Manyika) at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
472. ^ Shwai at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
473. ^ Sigu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
474. ^ Simaa at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
475. ^ Sinyar at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
476. ^ Siwu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
477. ^ "Somali". SIL International. 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
478. ^ Soninke at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
479. ^ Soli at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
480. ^ Sotho at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
481. ^ South Central Banda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Langbashe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
482. ^ "Ijo, Southeast". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
483. ^ Southern Birifor at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
484. ^ Suba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
485. ^ Suba-Simbiti at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
486. ^ Siccité at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
487. ^ Suku at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
488. ^ Sukur at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
489. ^ Supyire at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
490. ^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
491. ^ Skhosana, Philemon Buti (2009). The Linguistic Relationship between Southern and Northern Ndebele (PDF) (DLitt thesis). University of Pretoria. hdl:2263/28563
492. ^ "SiNdebele saseNyakatho". Northern Ndebele. 2017-06-09. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
493. ^ "South African Languages | Northern Ndebele". Salanguages.com. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
494. ^ Susu at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
495. ^ Suwu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
496. ^ "Spanish". Ethnologue. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
497. ^ "L'aménagement: linguistique dans le monde". Archived from the original on 24 February 2021.
498. ^ Ndebele at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
499. ^ Surbakhal at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
500. ^ Syer-Tenyer at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) (Paywalled)
501. ^ Swahili at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Congo Swahili at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Coastal Swahili at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Makwe (?) at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Mwani (?) at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
502. ^ Swazi at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
503. ^ Taa at Ethnologue (19th ed., 2016)
504. ^ Tadaksahak at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
505. ^ Tagdal at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
506. ^ Tagoi at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
507. ^ ISO change request
508. ^ Tasawaq at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
509. ^ Teda at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
510. ^ Tegali at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
511. ^ Tegem at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
512. ^ Tembo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
513. ^ Tetela at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Hamba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
514. ^ "Tigrigna". Ethnologue (27th ed.). 2024.
515. ^ Tikar at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
516. ^ Tiro at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
517. ^ Tima language at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
518. ^ Tiv at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
519. ^ Tocho at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
520. ^ Tondi Songway Kiini at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
521. ^ Tonga at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Dombe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
522. ^ Tonga at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
523. ^ Tonga at Ethnologue (23th ed., 2020) (subscription required)
524. ^ Totela at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
525. ^ Tsamai at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
526. ^ Tsotsitaal at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Camtho at Ethnologue (19th ed., 2016)
527. ^ "Luba-Kasai". Ethnologue.
528. ^ Tsonga at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
529. ^ TshiVenda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
530. ^ Tswa at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
531. ^ "Tswana". 19 November 2019.
532. ^ Tulishi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
533. ^ "Chitumbuka,Citumbuka,Tamboka,Tambuka,Tumboka,Tumbuka to English dictionary ". Lughayangu. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
534. ^ Tumtum at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
535. ^ Tyap at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
536. ^ Uduk at Ethnologue (17th ed., 2013)
537. ^ Umbundu at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
538. ^ TshiVenda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
539. ^ Vengo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
540. ^ Viemo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
541. ^ "Viti". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-08-12.
542. ^ Vori at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
543. ^ Wannu at Ethnologue (16th ed., 2009)
544. ^ Wali at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
545. ^ Wali at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
546. ^ Wapan at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
547. ^ Weh at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
548. ^ Werni at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
549. ^ West Banda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
550. ^ Wolof at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Gambian Wolof at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
551. ^ Wongo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
552. ^ Vengo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Nshi (?) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
553. ^ Yamba at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
554. ^ Yangere at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
555. ^ Yalunka at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
556. ^ Kela at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Yela at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
557. ^ Yemba at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
558. ^ Yeyi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
559. ^ Miyobe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
560. ^ Yulu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
561. ^ Zaghawa at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
562. ^ Zande at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
563. ^ Zarma at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
564. ^ Zemba at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
565. ^ Muniru, John; Decker, Kendall D.; Dabet, Julius; Abraham, Benard; Innocent, Jonah. "A Sociolinguistic Profile of the Zhire [zhi] Language of Kaduna State, Nigeria". SIL International Publications.
566. ^ Zhoa at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
567. ^ Mannan, Nuraddin (31 May 2006). "Memories of Utopia- Infoshop, World Bank" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2015. "There is no exact census for the Nubian population but some researchers estimate their number in Sudan for about 5 millions and about three millions in Egypt."
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## References

[edit]

* Childs, George Tucker (2003). An Introduction to African Languages. Amsterdam: John Benjamin. ISBN 9781588114211. OCLC 52766015.
* Chimhundu, Herbert (2002). Language Policies in Africa (PDF). Intergovernmental Conference on Language Policies in Africa (Revised ed.). Harare: UNESCO. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2017.
* Cust, Robert Needham (1883). Modern Languages of Africa.
* Ellis, Stephen, ed. (1996). Africa Now: People, Policies, and Institutions. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS). ISBN 9780435089870.
* Elugbe, Ben (1998). "Cross-border and major languages of Africa". In Legère, K. (ed.). Cross-border Languages: Reports and Studies, Regional Workshop on Cross-Border Languages, National Institute for Educational Development (NIED), Okahandja, 23–27 September 1996. Windhoek: Gamsberg Macmillan.
* Ethnologue.com's Africa: A listing of African languages and language families.
* Gerlach, Linda (2015). Phonetic and phonological description of the Nǃaqriaxe variety of ǂʼAmkoe and the impact of language contact (PhD dissertation). Berlin: Humboldt University.
* Greenberg, Joseph H. (1983). "Some areal characteristics of African languages". In Dihoff, Ivan R. (ed.). Current Approaches to African Linguistics. Publications in African Languages and Linguistics. Vol. 1\. Dordrecht: Foris. pp. 3–21.
* Greenberg, Joseph H. (1966). The Languages of Africa (2nd ed.). Bloomington: Indiana University.
* Heine, Bernd; Nurse, Derek, eds. (2000). African Languages: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
* Webb, Vic; Kembo-Sure, eds. (1998). African Voices: An Introduction to the Languages and Linguistics of Africa. Cape Town: Oxford University Press Southern Africa.
* Westphal, E.O.J. (1963). "The Linguistic Prehistory of Southern Africa: Bush, Kwadi, Hottentot, and Bantu Linguistic Relationships". Africa. 33 (3): 237–265\. doi:10.2307/1157418. JSTOR 1157418. S2CID 143635864.

## External links

[edit]

* one of the largest online resources for African languages at Mofeko
* African language resources for children Archived 3 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine
* Web resources for African languages
* Linguistic maps of Africa from Muturzikin.com
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Niger–Congo branches

Atlantic–Congo|

| Savannas|

| Adamawa|

* Bena–Mboi
* Bikwin–Jen
* Bua
* Day
* Fali
* Kim
* Kwah (Baa)
* Longuda
* Mbum (Kebi–Benue)
* Mumuye
* Nyingwom (Kam)
* Samba–Duru
* Tula–Waja
* Yendang (Maya)

|

Gur|

* Central Gur
* Kulango
* Miyobe
* Samo (Burkina) ?
* Senufo
* Tiefo
* Tusian
* Viemo

Ubangian|

* Banda
* Gbaya
* Mba
* Ngbaka (Mundu–Baka)
* Ngbandi
* Sere (Ndogo)
* Zande

Volta–Congo|

| Benue–Congo|

| Platoid|

* Jukunoid
* Kainji
* Plateau

|

Cross River|

* Central Delta
* Lower Cross River
* Ogoni
* Upper Cross River

Northern Bantoid|

* Dakoid
* Mambiloid
* Tikar

Southern Bantoid|

* Bantu
* Beboid
* Bendi
* Ekoid
* Grassfields
* Tivoid

Volta–Niger|

* Akoko
* Akpes
* Ayere–Ahan
* Edoid
* Gbe
* Idomoid
* Igboid
* Nupoid
* Oko
* Ukaan
* Yoruboid

West Atlantic|

* Bak
* Bijago
* Gola
* Limba
* Mel
* Nalu
* Rio Nunez
* Senegambian
* Sua

Others (Ghana
and Ivory Coast)|

* Dompo
* Ega
* Kru
* Kwa
* Mangree ?
* Mbre
* Mpra ?
* Siamou

Mande|

| Southeast|

| Eastern|

* Bissa
* Busa–Boko
* Samo (Burkina) ?
* Shanga–Tyenga

|

Southern|

* Dan–Goo–Tura
* Gban–Beng
* Guro–Yaure
* Mano
* Mwa–Wan

West|

| Central West
(Manding–Kpelle)|

* Jogo
* Manding
* Mokole
* Soso–Jalonke (Susu–Yalunka)
* Southwestern Mande
* Vai–Kono

|

Northwest
(Samogo–Soninke)|

* Bobo
* Jowulu (Jɔ)
* Samogo (partial: Duun–Sembla)
* Soninke–Bozo

Kordofanian|

* Katla
* Lafofa
* Rashad
* Talodi–Heiban

Others|

* Defaka
* Dogon
* Ijoid

Isolates|

* Bangime
* Jalaa ?
* Komta ?
* Laal

Unclassified|

* Degere ?
* Dima-Bottego ?
* Omaio ?
* Rimba ?
* "Serengeti-Dorobo" ?
* Wawu ?

Proto-languages|

* Proto-Niger–Congo
* Proto-Bantu
* Proto-Yoruboid

* v
* t
* e

Nilo-Saharan branches

Ethiopia-Sudan
border region|

* Berta
* Bʼaga
* Koman
* Gule ?
* Kuliak
* Kunama
* Ongota ?
* Shabo ?

Sahel region|

* Furan
* Kadu
* Maban
* Saharan
* Songhay

Central Sudanic|

* Birri ?
* Bongo–Bagirmi
* Kresh ?
* Lendu
* Mangbetu
* Mangbutu–Lese
* Moru–Madi
* Sinyar ?

Eastern Sudanic|

* Daju
* Eastern Jebel
* Nara
* Nilotic
* Surmic

"Astaboran"|

* Nubian
* Nyimang
* Tama
* Temein

Authority control databases

National|

* Germany
* United States
* 2
* France
* BnF data
* Czech Republic
* Spain
* Latvia
* Israel
* 2

Other|

* IdRef
* Yale LUX

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