List of African languages

Map of the main ethno-linguistic groups in Africa (1996), prepared by the Library of Congress Geography and Map Division (mainly based on GP Murdock, Africa, its peoples and their cultural history , 1959).

This is a partial list of African languages:

The African languages are divided into four families.

Afro-Asian languages

(formerly also: Hamitosemitic languages)

General

The Afro-Asian language family comprises over 200 languages and 250 million speakers.

Subgroups

A distinction is made between the following branches:

Egyptian language
Bedscha (often still counted among the Cushitic languages)
Berber languages
Cushitic languages
Omotic languages (long counted among the Cushitic languages)
Semitic languages
Chadian languages

Niger Congo Languages

General

The Niger-Kordofan languages include:

Serer (Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania)
Shona
Swahili
Wolof (Senegal)
Yoruba (Nigeria)
Zulu

Subgroups

A distinction is made between the following branches:

Niger Congo Languages
- Atlantic languages
- Volta Congo languages
  - Benue Congo languages
  - Gur languages
    - Senufo
    - Lobi
    - Gurunsi
    - Tem
    - Buli
    - Kasem
    - Frafra
    - Mòoré
  - Kru languages
  - Kwa languages
    - Akan
      - Twi
      - Ashanti
      - Nzima
      - Fanti
      - Ahanta
    - Ewe
    - Ga (language)
    - Yoruba
    - Igboid languages
      - Igbo
  - Adamawa Ubangi languages
  - Dogon languages
- Mande languages
- Semibantu
Kordofan

Khoisan languages

General

The Khoisan languages are spoken in southern Africa. There are only about 150,000 speakers.

Subgroups

North Khoisan languages

South Khoisan languages

ǃKwi

Hua

Central Khoisan languages

Khoe
- Kxoe group : Kxoe , ǁAni , Buga , gǀAnda
- Naro-gǁAna : Naro , gǁAna , gǀUi , ǂHaba
- Shua : Cara , Deti , ǀXaise , Danisi , Ts'ixa
- Tshwa : Kua , Cua , Tsua
Khoekhoe : Nama

Nilo-Saharan languages

General

The Nilo-Saharan languages are genetically very different.

Subgroups

Remarks

↑ Note: This article contains characters from the alphabet of the Khoisan languages spoken in southern Africa . The display contains characters of the click letters ǀ , ǁ , ǂ and ǃ . For more information on the pronunciation of long or nasal vowels or certain clicks , see e.g. B. under Khoekhoegowab .

[Khivorlage-1] Note: This article contains characters from the alphabet of the Khoisan languages spoken in southern Africa . The display contains characters of the click letters ǀ , ǁ , ǂ and ǃ . For more information on the pronunciation of long or nasal vowels or certain clicks , see e.g. B. under Khoekhoegowab .