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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Sudan > Zaghawa

Zaghawa

A language of Sudan

ISO 639-3: zag

Population  75,000 in Sudan (2000 SIL). Population total all countries: 169,000.
Region  North, northwest Dar Fur, and scattered south; Kordofan. Also in Chad, Libya.
Language map  Sudan
Alternate names   Beri, Beri-Aa, Berri, Kebadi, Kuyuk, Merida, Soghaua, Zagaoua, Zagawa, Zauge, Zeggaoua, Zeghawa, Zorhaua
Dialects  Wagi (Twer), Kube, Tuba (Bideyat). Wagi is the main dialect in Sudan. Ethnic subgroups are Kobe, Dor, Anka, with slight dialect differences.
Classification  Nilo-Saharan, Saharan, Eastern
Language use  Also use Sudanese Spoken Arabic [apd].
Writing system  Beria script. Latin script.
Comments  Beri is their own name for the people.

Also spoken in:

Chad

Language name   Zaghawa
Population  87,000 in Chad (2006). 3,000 Bideyat.
Region  Wadi Fira region, Kobé Department, Iriba Subprefecture; Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti region, Ennedi Est and Ennedi Ouest departments.
Language map  Chad, reference number 11
Alternate names  Beri, Beri-Aa, Beria, Berri, Kebadi, Kuyuk, Merida, Soghaua, Zagaoua, Zagawa, Zauge, Zeggaoua, Zeghawa, Zorhaua
Dialects  Tuer-Gala (Bideyat, Baele, Anna, Awe, Terawia, Beria), Kobe-Kapka, Dirong-Guruf.
Language use  Most also use Chadian Spoken Arabic [shu].
Comments  The dialects Bideyat and Zaghawa are sometimes called ‘Beria’ (Beri). Animal husbandry: livestock, hides, butter, salt; agriculturalists. Muslim.