Languages of Ethiopia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ethiopia has many indigenous languages (some 84 according to SIL), most of them Afro-Asiatic (Semitic, Cushitic, Omotic) and Nilo-Saharan.

English is the most widely spoken foreign language and is the medium of instruction secondary schools and universities. Amharic was the language of primary school instruction, but has been replaced in many areas by local languages such as Oromifa and Tigrinya.

Afro-Asiatic languages

• Ethiopian Semitic languages
  • North
    • Tigrinya language
    • Tigre language
    • Ge'ez language (extinct, liturgical)
  • South
    • Transverse
      • Amharic language
      • Argobba language
      • Gafat language (extinct)
      • Harari language
      • East Gurage languages
        • Silt'e language (Wolane, Ulbareg, Inneqor)
        • Zay language
    • Outer
      • West Gurage languages
        • Argobba language
        • Inor language
        • Mesmes language (extinct)
        • Mesqan language
        • Sebat Bet Gurage
      • Kistane language (Selti)
      • Soddo language
• Cushitic
  • Agaw languages
    • Awngi language
    • Kunfal language
    • Qemant language
    • Xamtanga language
  • East Cushitic
    • Afar language
    • Alaba language
    • Arbore language
    • Baiso language
    • Bussa language
    • Burji language
    • Daasanach language
    • Dirasha language
    • Gawwada language
    • Gedeo language
    • Hadiyya language
    • Kambaata
    • Konso language
    • Libido language
    • Oromo language
    • Saho language
    • Sidamo language
    • Somali language
    • Tsamai language
    • Xamtanga language
• Omotic
  • Aari language
  • Anfillo language
  • Bambassi language
  • Basketo language
  • Bench language
  • Boro language
  • Chara language
  • Dime language
  • Dizi language
  • Dorze language
  • Gamo-Gofa-Dawro
  • Ganza language
  • Hamer-Banna
  • Hozo language
  • Kachama-Ganjule
  • Kafa language
  • Karo language
  • Koorete language
  • Male language
  • Melo language
  • Nayi language
  • Oyda language
  • Seze language
  • Shekkacho language
  • Sheko language
  • Welayta language
  • Yemsa language

Nilo-Saharan

• Anuak language
• Berta language
• Gumuz language
• Kacipo-Balesi
• Komo language
• Kwama language
• Kwegu language
• Majang language
• Me'en language
• Murle language
• Mursi language
• Nuer language
• Nyangatom language
• Opuuo language
• Rer Bare language (extinct)
• Shabo language
• Suri language
• Turkana language
• Uduk language
• Zayse-Zergulla language

Unclassified

• Weyto language (extinct)
• Ongota (moribund; possibly Omotic or its own branch of Afro-Asiatic or not Afro-Asiatic at all)

[edit] External links

• Ethnologue page on Ethiopian languages
• PanAfriL10n page on Ethiopia