Languages of Namibia
See language map.[See also SIL publications on the languages of Namibia.]
Republic of Namibia. Formerly South West Africa. 2,020,000. National or official languages: English, regional languages: Diriku, Herero, Kwangali, Kwanyama, Lozi, Mbukushu, Nama, Ndonga, Tswana. Literacy rate: 16% (1989 WA). Immigrant languages: Chokwe (5,580), Fanagalo, Kgalagadi (100), Luchazi (1,000), Luyana (180,000), Nkhumbi (100), Nyemba (9,540), Standard German (22,500), Umbundu (2,880), Xiri (100). Information mainly from M. Brenzinger 1997; T. Güldemann 1998, 2003; T. Güldemann and R. Vossen 2000; W. Haacke and E. Elderkin 1997; J. Maho 1998; G. Stanley 1968. Blind population: 1,400 (1982 WCE). The number of individual languages listed for Namibia is 28. Of those, all are living languages.
| Afrikaans | [afr]
89,900 in Namibia (2006).
Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
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| Diriku | [diu]
10,200 in Namibia (2006). Population total all countries: 36,200. Okavango. Also in Angola, Botswana.
Alternate names: Diriko, Gciriku, Mbogedo, Mbogedu, Rugciriku, Shimbogedu.
Dialects: May be similar to Saam [raq], Kwangali [kwn].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Diriku (K.70)
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| English | [eng]
10,200 in Namibia (2006).
Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
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| Fwe | [fwe]
10,200 (2006). Western East Caprivi.
Dialects: Similar to Kuhane [sbs].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Subia (K.50)
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| Hai||om | [hgm]
18,400 in Namibia (2006). Population total all countries: 48,400. Mangetti Dune, Omataku, Grootfontein, Baghani, Tsintsabis. ‘Maroelaboom’ is next to Agricultural gate entering former Bushmanland. Some moved to Kimberley, South Africa. Possibly in Angola, where they are reportedly came from. Also in Botswana, South Africa.
Alternate names: “Saan” , “San”.
Dialects: Kedi (Kedde, Keddi), Chwagga, Hain||um (Hei||om, Heikom, Heikum, Heikom Bushman). Somewhat intelligible with Kung-Tsumkwe [ktz] (Ju|’hoan).
Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Hainum
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| Herero | [her]
206,000 in Namibia (2006). Population total all countries: 237,000. Damaraland and northwest Ovamboland territory, Kaokoveld. Also in Botswana.
Alternate names: Ochiherero, Otjiherero.
Dialects: Mbandieru.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Herero (R.30)
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| Ju|’hoan | [ktz]
28,600 in Namibia (2006). Northeast.
Alternate names: !Xo, Dobe Kung, Dzu’oasi, Ju’oasi, Kung, Kung-Tsumkwe, Tshumkwe, Xaixai, Xû, Xun, Zhu’oasi.
Dialects: Dzu’oasi (Ssu Ghassi, Zhu’oase), Nogau (Agau).
Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Northern
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| Khwe | [xuu]
4,000 in Namibia. 3,600 in West Caprivi and 400 in East Caprivi. Population total all countries: 7,990. West Caprivi is ‘core land’ of Kxoe people by Kxoe and Namibian government; also in East Caprivi. Also in Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia.
Alternate names: “Barakwena” “Barakwengo” , Khoe, Kxoe, Kxoedam, “Mbarakwena” , “Water Bushmen” , Xun.
Dialects: ||Xo-Kxoe, ||Xom-Kxoe, Buma-Kxoe, Buga-Kxoe. Minor dialect differences within Khwe. Related to ||Ani [hnh], Naro [nhr], Nama [naq] but is quite distinct from each of these and not mutually intelligible.
Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Tshu-Khwe, Northwest
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| Kuhane | [sbs]
26,600 in Namibia (2006). Population total all countries: 35,090. East Caprivi. Also in Botswana, Zambia.
Alternate names: Chikuahane, Chikwahane, Ciikuhane, Echisubia, Mbalangwe, Subia, Subiya, Supia.
Dialects: Lexical similarity: 61% with Luyana [lyn], 60% with Tonga [toi].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Subia (K.50)
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| Kung-Ekoka | [knw]
1,760 in Namibia (2000). Population total all countries: 6,900. Okavango and Ovamboland Territory. Also in Angola, South Africa.
Alternate names: !Hu, !Khung, !Ku, !Kung, !Xu, !Xun, !Xung, Ekoka-!Xû, Kung, Qxü.
Dialects: Akhoe.
Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Northern
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| Kwambi | [kwm]
32,700 (2006). Ovamboland north. Possibly also in Angola.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Ndonga (R.20)
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| Kwangali | [kwn]
73,100 in Namibia (2000). 2,000 Sambyu. Population total all countries: 84,000. Okavango. Also in Angola.
Alternate names: Kwangare, Kwangari, Rukwangali, Sikwangali.
Dialects: Sambyu (Shisambyu, Sambiu, Sambio). May be intelligible with Diriku [diu].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Kwangwa (K.40)
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| Kwanyama | [kua]
247,000 in Namibia (2006). North Okavangoland.
Alternate names: Humba, Kuanyama, Kwancama, Kwanjama, Ochikwanyama, Otjiwambo, Ovambo, Owambo.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Ndonga (R.20)
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| ‡Kx’au||’ein | [aue]
4,000 in Namibia (2006). Population total all countries: 7,000. Ovamboland Territory, Ekoka. Also in Botswana.
Alternate names: ‡Kx’au||’ei, ||Au||ei, ||X’au||’e, Auen, Kaukau, Koko, Kung-Gobabis.
Dialects: Nogau.
Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Northern
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| Lozi | [loz]
28,600 in Namibia (2006). East Caprivi Strip.
Alternate names: Kololo, Rotse, Rozi, Rutse, Silozi, Tozvi.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.30)
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| Mashi | [mho]
200 in Namibia (2006). East Caprivi.
Alternate names: Masi.
Dialects: North Kwandu, South Kwandu, Mashi.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Kwangwa (K.40)
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| Mbalanhu | [lnb]
200 (2006). North.
Alternate names: Mbaanhu, Mbalantu, Mbaluntu.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Ndonga (R.20)
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| Mbukushu | [mhw]
6,100 in Namibia (2006). Population total all countries: 35,100. Northwest Ovambo and northeast Okavango area, Andara. Also in Angola, Botswana, Zambia.
Alternate names: Gova, Kusso, Mambukush, Mampukush, Mbukuhu, Mbukushi, Thimbukushu.
Dialects: Similar to Kwangali [kwm].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Kwangwa (K.40)
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| Nama | [naq]
200,000 in Namibia (2006). Population total all countries: 251,100. South central to Orange River, Great Namaland. Also in Botswana, South Africa.
Alternate names: Berdama, Bergdamara, “Hottentot” , Kakuya Bushman, “Khoekhoegowab” , “Khoekhoegowap” , Maqua, Namakwa, Naman, Namaqua, Nasie, Rooi Nasie, Tama, Tamakwa, Tamma.
Dialects: Damara, Sesfontein Damara, Namidama, Central Damara, Nama. Sesfontein Damara reportedly unintelligible to other dialect speakers.
Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Nama
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| Namibian Sign Language | [nbs]
Classification: Deaf sign language
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| Naro | [nhr]
4,000 in Namibia (1998 Maho). East.
Alternate names: Nharo.
Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Tshu-Khwe, Southwest
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| Ndonga | [ndo]
807,000 in Namibia (2006). 713,919 in Namibia, including Kwanyama and Kwambi; 1991 census. Population total all countries: 1,070,000. Ovamboland. Also in Angola.
Alternate names: Ambo, Ochindonga, Oshindonga, Osindonga, Otjiwambo, Owambo.
Dialects: Ngandyera, Eunda Kolonkadhi, Kwaludhi. Ngandyera may be a separate language. Partially intelligible with Kwanyama [kua].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Ndonga (R.20)
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| Totela | [ttl]
100 in Namibia (2006). East Caprivi.
Alternate names: Echitotela.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Subia (K.50)
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| Tswana | [tsn]
12,300 in Namibia (2006). East central; east Caprivi.
Dialects: Tlharo, Tlhaping, Tawana.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.30), Tswana
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| Vasekela Bushman | [vaj]
61,300 (2006). West Caprivi area.
Alternate names: !’O-!Khung.
Dialects: May be the same as Kung-Ekoka [knw].
Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Northern
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| !Xóõ | [nmn]
200 in Namibia (Traill 1985). East central Botswana border, Aranos and Leonardville area.
Dialects: Auni (|Auni, |Auo), Kakia (Masarwa), Ki|hazi, Ng|u|en (Nu||en, |U||en, Ng|u|ei, |Nu||en, ||U||en), Nusan (Ng|usan, Nu-San, Noosan), Xatia (Katia, Khatia, Kattea, Vaalpens, |Kusi, |Eikusi), !Kwi.
Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Southern, Hua
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| Yeyi | [yey]
4,000 in Namibia (2006). East Caprivi strip.
Alternate names: Ciyei, Koba, Kuba, Shiyeyi, Yeei, Yei.
Dialects: Shirwanga.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Yeye (R.40)
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| Zemba | [dhm]
4,000 in Namibia (2006). Northwest, Kunene region, Etoto and Ruacana areas, near the Herero [her].
Alternate names: Dhimba, Himba, Luzimba, Oluthimba, Otjidhimba, Simba.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Herero (R.30)
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