Languages of Zimbabwe
See language map.[See also SIL publications on the languages of Zimbabwe.]
Republic of Zimbabwe. Formerly Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia. 13,120,000. National or official languages: English, Shona. Literacy rate: 49%–76%. Immigrant languages: Afrikaans, American Sign Language, Gujarati (19,000). Also includes languages of Europe (90,000). Information mainly from J. Bendor-Samuel and Hartell 1989. Blind population: 15,000 (1982 WCE). Deaf institutions: 6. The number of individual languages listed for Zimbabwe is 20. Of those, 19 are living languages and 1 is a second language without mother-tongue speakers.
| Dombe | [dov]
5,430 (2006). Hwange District, Lukosi area.
Dialects: Related to Tonga [toi], with Nambya influences.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Lenje-Tonga (M.60), Tonga
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| English | [eng]
250,000 in Zimbabwe (Crystal 2005).
Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
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| Fanagalo | [fng]
Several hundred thousand in Zimbabwe (1975 J. Reinecke).
Alternate names: “Fanakalo” , “Fanekolo” , “Isikula” , Isilololo, Isipiki, Lololo, Pidgin Bantu, Piki.
Dialects: Chilapalapa.
Classification: Pidgin, Zulu based
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| Kalanga | [kck]
700,000 in Zimbabwe (Chebanne and Nthapelelang 2000). Population total all countries: 850,000. Southwest of Bulawayo and Botswana border area. Most Kalanga are in Zimbabwe; most Lilima in Botswana. Also in Botswana.
Alternate names: Bakaa, Chikalanga, Ikalanga, Kalana, Kanana, Makalaka, Sekalaña, Tjikalanga, Wakalanga, Western Shona.
Dialects: Lilima (Humbe, Limima), Nyai (Abanyai, Banyai, Wanyai), Peri, Talahundra. Talahundra extinct. Peri are an ethnic group of Birwa and Tswapong assimilated into Kalanga and speak the Lilima dialect. Humbe is ethnically different from the Lilima but now share the same language. Similar to Karanga [kth], Zezuru, and Shangwe dialects of Shona [sna].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.10)
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| Kunda | [kdn]
145,000 in Zimbabwe (2000). Population total all countries: 194,300. Mwazam’tanda River area. Also in Mozambique, Zambia.
Alternate names: Chikunda, Cikunda.
Dialects: More similar to Nyungwe [nyu] than to Sena [seh].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Senga-Sena (N.40), Sena
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| Lozi | [loz]
70,000 in Zimbabwe (1982).
Alternate names: Kololo, Rotse, Rotvi, 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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| Manyika | [mxc]
861,000 in Zimbabwe (2000 WCD). Population total all countries: 1,025,000. Manicaland Province and adjacent areas, northeast of Umtali. Also in Mozambique.
Alternate names: Bamanyeka, Chimanyika, Manika, Wamanyika, Wanyika.
Dialects: Bocha (Boka), Bunji, Bvumba, Domba, Guta, Here, Hungwe, Jindwi, Karombe, Nyamuka, Nyatwe, Unyama. A little more divergent from Shona [sna] than Karanga [kth], Zezuru [sna], and Korekore [sna]. At least partially intelligible with Shona. Lexical similarity: 74%–81% with Ndau [ndc].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.10)
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| Nambya | [nmq]
90,000 in Zimbabwe (Chebanne and Nthapelelang 2000). Population total all countries: 105,000. Matabeleland North, primarily Hwange District; Lupane and Binga districts; Bulawayo. Also in Botswana.
Alternate names: Chinambya, Nambzya, Nanzva.
Dialects: Slight pronunciation difference in Jambezi area: [Cwi] versus [Cu]. Most similar to Kalanga [kck].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.10)
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| Ndau | [ndc]
800,000 in Zimbabwe (2000 Chebanne). South of Umtali, Melsetter area.
Alternate names: Chindau, Ndzawu, Njao, Sofala, Southeast Shona.
Dialects: Changa (Chichanga, Chixanga, Shanga), Garwe, Tonga (Abatonga, Atonga, Batoka, Batonga, Watonga).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.10)
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| Ndebele | [nde]
1,550,000 in Zimbabwe (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). Population total all countries: 1,572,800. Matabeleland, Bulawayo area. Also in Botswana, Zambia.
Alternate names: Isinde’bele, Northern Ndebele, Sindebele, Tabele, Tebele.
Dialects: Similar to Zulu [zul].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.40)
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| Nsenga | [nse]
16,100 in Zimbabwe (1969 census).
Alternate names: Chinsenga, Senga.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Senga-Sena (N.40), Senga
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| Nyanja | [nya]
252,000 in Zimbabwe (1969 census).
Alternate names: Chinyanja.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Nyanja (N.30)
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| Shona | [sna]
10,700,000 in Zimbabwe. 4,500,000 Karanga (Chebanne and Nthapelelang 2000), 1,700,000 Korekore (Chebanne and Nthapelelang 2000), 3,200,000 Zezuru (Chebanne and Nthapelelang 2000), 1,300,000 Shona. Population total all countries: 10,759,200. Mashonaland, central, and widespread throughout the country. Also in Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia.
Alternate names: Chishona, “Swina” , Zezuru.
Dialects: Karanga (Chikaranga), Zezuru (Chizezuru, Bazezuru, Bazuzura, Mazizuru, Vazezuru, Wazezuru), Korekore (Northern Shona, Goba, Gova, Shangwe). Subdialects: Karanga: Duma, Jena, Mhari (Mari), Ngova, Nyubi, Govera; Korekore: Budya, Gova, Tande, Tavara, Nyongwe, Pfunde, Shan Gwe; Zezuru: Shawasha, Gova, Mbire, Tsunga, Kachikwakwa, Harava, Nohwe, Njanja, Nobvu, Kwazwimba (Zimba); Shona: Toko, Hwesa. Rozvi (Rozwi, Ruzwi, Chirozwi) speak Karanga dialect and do not have their own language. Ndau [ndc] and Manyika [mxc] are partially intelligible with Shona.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.10)
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| Tonga | [toi]
137,000 in Zimbabwe (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001).
Alternate names: Chitonga, Zambezi.
Dialects: Chitonga, Leya, Toka, We.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Lenje-Tonga (M.60), Tonga
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| Tsoa | [hio]
3,540 in Zimbabwe (2000).
Alternate names: Chware, Haitshuwau, Hiechware, Hietshware, Sarwa, Sesarwa, Tshuwau.
Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Tshu-Khwe, Northeast
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| Tsonga | [tso]
Southeast near Mozambique border.
Alternate names: Gwamba, Shitsonga, Thonga, Tonga, Xitsonga.
Dialects: Bila (Vila), Changana (Changa, Xichangana, Shangaan, Hlanganu, Hanganu, Langanu, Shilanganu, Shangana), Jonga (Djonga, Dzonga), Ngwalungu (Shingwalungu).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Tswa-Ronga (S.50)
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| Tswa | [tsc]
South.
Alternate names: Kitshwa, Sheetshwa, Shitshwa, Tshwa, Xitshwa.
Dialects: Hlengwe (Makakwe-Khambana), Tshwa (Dzibi-Dzonga).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Tswa-Ronga (S.50)
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| Tswana | [tsn]
29,400 in Zimbabwe (1969 census).
Alternate names: Beetjuans, Chuana, Chwana, Coana, Cuana, Sechuana, Tshwana.
Dialects: Ngwatu (Mangwato), Tlhaping.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.30), Tswana
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| Venda | [ven]
84,000 in Zimbabwe (1989). South-southeast, South Africa border area.
Alternate names: Cevenda, Chivenda, Tshivenda.
Dialects: Phani, Tavhatsindi.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Venda (S.20)
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| Zimbabwe Sign Language | [zib]
Alternate names: Zimsign.
Dialects: Zimbabwe School Sign, Masvingo School Sign, Zimbabwe Community Sign. Sign language used in Masvingo is different from that used in other schools. Sign language used in schools and that used by adults outside is different. It is not clear if they are inherently intelligible to each other. Some educators desire standardization. May be relationships to sign languages from Germany, Ireland, Australia, England, South Africa.
Classification: Deaf sign language
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