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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Swaziland > Swati

Swati

A language of Swaziland

ISO 639-3: ssw

Population  980,000 in Swaziland (2006). Population total all countries: 2,034,200.
Region  Also in Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa.
Language map  Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland, reference number 9
Alternate names   Isiswazi, Phuthi, Siswati, Swazi, Tekela, Tekeza
Dialects  Baca, Hlubi, Phuthi.
Classification  Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.40)
Language use  Official language.
Language development  Literacy rate in L1: High. Taught in all national schools. Newspapers. Radio programs. TV. Bible: 1996.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  ‘Siswati’ is the Swati name, ‘Swazi’ is the Zulu [zul] name. The people are highly educated. Christian, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

Lesotho

Language name   Phuthi
Population  43,000 in Lesotho (2002).
Language map  Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland, reference number 6
 

Mozambique

Language name   Swati
Population  1,200 in Mozambique (2006).
Language map  Mozambique, reference number 33
Alternate names  Siswati, Siswazi, Swazi, Tekela, Tekeza
 

South Africa

Language name   Swati
Population  1,010,000 in South Africa (1996 census).
Language map  Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland, reference number 9
Alternate names  Siswati, Siswazi, Swazi, Tekela, Tekeza, Thithiza, Yeyeza
Dialects  Baca, Hlubi, Phuthi.
Language use  Official language.
Comments  Christian, traditional religion.