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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Senegal > Pulaar

Pulaar

A language of Senegal

ISO 639-3: fuc

Population  2,740,000 in Senegal (2006). Population total all countries: 3,691,000.
Region  Fulbe Jeeri and Toucouleur primarily in Senegal River Valley and Mauritania; Fulacunda in Upper Casamance region, west of Kolda to Gambia River headwaters east, from Senegal south border to Gambian border north. Also in Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania.
Language map  Senegal and the Gambia, reference number 26
Alternate names   Peul, Peulh, Pulaar Fulfulde
Dialects  Toucouleur (Tukolor, Tukulor, Tokilor, Pulaar, Haalpulaar, Fulbe Jeeri), Fulacunda (Fulakunda, Fulkunda). Fulbe Jeeri and Toucouleur (Haalpulaar’en) are separate ethnic groups. Jeeri is a geographical region in which a large number of diverse lineages still follow a seminomadic life. 3 families are subdivided into at least 20 lineages, each of which has dialect differences; all are inherently intelligible. Bunndu is a Fula geopolitical state composed of a mix of Toucouleur and Fulbe Jeeri. Fuuta Tooro (Fouta Toro) was a major Toucouleur geopolitical state, which has its seat in northern Senegal, and is also in Mauritania. Fulacunda is an ethnic group whose region is called Fuladu in the Upper Casamance area of Senegal. Different enough from Pular to need separate literature. Related to Maasina Fulfulde [ffm].
Classification  Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fulani-Wolof, Fula, Western
A member of macrolanguage Fulah [ful] (Senegal).
Language use  Official language.
Language development  Literacy rate in L1: 10%–30%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Grammar. NT: 1997.
Writing system  Arabic script, Ajami style. Latin script.
Comments  Fulbe Jeeri: seminomadic pastoralists. Muslim.

Also spoken in:

Gambia

Language name   Pulaar
Population  295,000 in Gambia (2006).
Language map  Senegal and the Gambia, reference number 26
Alternate names  Fulani, Fulbe Jeeri, Fulfulde-Pulaar, Peul, Peulh, Pulaar Fulfulde
Dialects  Fulacunda (Fulakunda, Fulkunda), Toucouleur (Tukolor, Tukulor, Halpulaar, Haalpulaar).
Language use  Fulbe Jeeri, Toucouleur, and Fulacunda are ethnic groups that speak Pulaar. Also use Mandinka [mnk].
Language development  An official literacy committee is concerned with Pulaar.
Comments  Muslim, Christian.
 

Guinea

Language name   Pulaar
Population  24,000 in Guinea (1991).
Region  Dinguiray (Pulaar), 1 village; near Sareboido, a few villages.
Language map  Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, reference number 35
Alternate names  Fulfulde Pulaar, Haalpulaar, Peul, Peulh
Dialects  Toucouleur (Tukulor, Tukolor, Pulaar, Futa Toro), Fulacunda (Fulakunda, Fulkunda, Fula Preto).
Comments  Many Arabic loans. The official orthography is different from that used elsewhere. Muslim.
 

Guinea-Bissau

Language name   Pulaar
Population  265,000 in Guinea-Bissau (2006).
Region  North central and northeast.
Language map  Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, reference number 35
Alternate names  Fulfulde-Pulaar, Peul, Peulh, Pulaar Fulfulde
Dialects  Fulacunda (Fulakunda, Fulkunda, Fula Preto, Fula Forro).
Comments  Fula Forro are ‘free’ Fulas; Fulacunda are ‘slave’ Fulas. Muslim.
 

Mali

Language name   Pulaar
Population  175,000 in Mali (1995). 40,000 Fulbe Jeeri.
Region  Settled primarily in northwestern Mali around Nioro and Kayes. Pockets found in Segou and Bandiagara, which are remnants of Umar Tal’s conquest in the middle 1800s.
Language map  Mali, Enlarged Area
Alternate names  Peuhl, Peul, Pulaar Fulfulde
Dialects  Toucouleur (Tukolor, Tukulor, Pulaar, Halpulaar, Haalpulaar, Fulbe Jeeri).
Language use  Fulbe Jeeri is an ethnic group which speaks Pulaar as L1.
Comments  Muslim.
 

Mauritania

Language name   Pulaar
Population  192,000 in Mauritania (2006).
Language map  Mauritania
Alternate names  Peul
Dialects  Toucouleur (Tukulor, Pulaar, Haalpulaar).
Language use  National language. Home, religion, market. All ages. Positive attitude. Also use Hassaniyya [mey].
Language development  Literacy rate in L2: 30% Arabic [arb]; 40% French.
Comments  Fuuta Tooro (Fouta Toro) was a major Toucouleur geopolitical state, which has its seat in northern Senegal and is also in Mauritania. Muslim.
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

HARRISON, Annette, author. 2003. "Fulfulde language family report."  Available online