South Africa

Languages

‡Ungkue gku

Northern Cape province: Siya Themba municipality, near the confluence of the Orange and Vaal rivers. Users: No known L1 speakers. Probably extinct by late 20th century. Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Vaal–Orange, ǁKxau Classification: Tuu, !Ui

Afrikaans afr

Widespread; fewer speakers in East Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Users: 17,160,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 6,860,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), decreasing. L2 users: 10,300,000 (Webb 2002). Total users in all countries: 17,631,780 (as L1: 7,331,780; as L2: 10,300,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Art 6(1)), has been designated, along with English, as an official language in all 9 provinces. Autonym: Afrikaans Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian

Angloromani rme

Users: 7,900 in South Africa (2012 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Mixed language, English-Romani

Arabic, Egyptian Spoken arz

Users: 60,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Bhojpuri bho

Users: 57,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bihari

Birwa brl

Limpopo province: Capricorn district; near Zimbabwe border. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.32)

Camtho cmt

Gauteng province: Soweto, Johannesburg, other urban settings. Users: No known L1 speakers. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Status: 9 (Second language only). Alternate Names: Iscamtho, Isicamtho, Tsotsitaal Classification: Mixed language, Zulu-Bantu

Chinese, Mandarin cmn

KwaZulu-Natal coast. Users: 10,000 in South Africa (2012 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese

Chinese, Yue yue

KwaZulu-Natal coast. Users: 15,000 in South Africa (1993). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese

Dutch nld

Users: 15,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian

English eng

Gauteng province: Cape Town area; KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape provinces; Tugela river to Port Edward area, and inland to Eastern Cape province; urban concentrations, Johannesburg, suburbs. Users: 19,640,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 5,640,000 in South Africa (2019). L2 users: 14,000,000 (2019). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)), has been designated, along with Afrikaans, as an official language in all 9 provinces. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English

Flaaitaal fly

Major cities. Users: No known L1 speakers. Ethnic population: No ethnic community (Makhudu 2002). Status: 9 (Second language only). Alternate Names: Bika, Flaai Taal, Fly Taal, Himbul, Himli, Hova, Iscamtho, Isikhumsha, Lingam, Lingo, Sepantsula, Setsotsi, Shalambombo, Sjita, Taal, Tsotsitaal, Withi Classification: Creole, Afrikaans based

French fra

Users: 11,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French

Gail gic

Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape provinces; mainly urban settings: Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria. Users: 20,000, all users. L1 users: No known L1 speakers. L2 users: 20,000. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Status: 9 (Second language only). Classification: Unclassified

German, Standard deu

Users: 15,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German

Greek ell

Users: 21,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic

Gujarati guj

Users: 32,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Gujarati

Hindi hin

KwaZulu-Natal province. Users: 463,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani

Italian ita

Users: 20,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian

Khoekhoe naq

Northern Cape province. Users: 2,000 in South Africa (Brenzinger 2013b). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Bergdamara, Dama, Damaqua, Damara, Khoekhoegowab, Khoekhoegowap, Khoi, Nama, Namakwa, Naman, Namaqua, Tama, Tamakwa, Tamma, “Hottentot” (pej.) Classification: Khoe-Kwadi, Khoe, Khoekhoe, Nama

Khwedam xuu

Northern Cape province: Platfontein and Smithsdrift. Users: 1,200 in South Africa (Brenzinger 2013b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Khoe-Kwadi, Khoe, Kalahari Khoe, Northwest

Korana kqz

Northern Cape province. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last known speakers survived into the 1980s. Ethnic population: 10,000 (1972 D. Barrett, M. Hronek, G. Mambo et al.). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: !Kora, !Ora, Gorachouqua, Koranna, Koraqua Classification: Khoe-Kwadi, Khoe, Khoekhoe, Nama

Lower Nossob nsb

Northern Cape province: ZF Mgcawu district municipality, Dawid Kruiper local municipality. Users: No known L1 speakers in South Africa. Last known speaker died in 2015 (2018 UNESCO). Total users in all countries: none known. Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Lower-Nosop Classification: Tuu, Taa

Morisyen mfe

Users: 42,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, French based

Ndebele nbl

Mpumalanga and Gauteng (Nkangala district) provinces: northeast of Pretoria. Users: 2,490,000, all users. L1 users: 1,090,000 (2011 census). L2 users: 1,400,000 (Webb 2002). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Mpumalunga province (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). Alternate Names: Isikhethu, Ndzundza, Nrebele, Southern Ndebele, Transvaal Ndebele, isiNdebele Autonym: IsiNdebele Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.407)

Northwestern !Kung vaj

Northern Cape province: Diamondfields district, Kimberley, Schmidtsdrift military base. Users: 3,700 in South Africa (Brenzinger 2013b). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: !’O!Xun, !Xun Classification: Kx’a, !Kung

Nǁng ngh

Northern Cape province: Olifantshoek and Upington towns. Users: 5 (Brenzinger 2013b), decreasing. 5 elderly women, 3 speaking the N|uu dialect in Upington, 2 speaking the Au variety in Olifantshoek. Ethnic population: 500 (1998 N. Crawhall). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Ng’uki, Nghuki, Nǀhuuki, Nǀu, Nǀuu, Nǀuuki, ‡Khomani Classification: Tuu, !Ui

Oorlams oor

Mpumalanga province. Users: 32,000 (2006 J. Leclerc). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Creole, Afrikaans based

Pidgin Bantu fng

Gauteng province: suburban Johannesburg and mining areas. Users: No known L1 speakers in South Africa. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Total users in all countries: 5,100 (as L1: 0; as L2: 5,100). Status: 9 (Second language only). Alternate Names: Basic Zulu, Fanagoloi, Isilololo, Isipiki, Lololo, Piki, Silunguboi, “Fanagalo” (pej.), “Fanakalo” (pej.), “Fanekolo” (pej.), “Isikula” (pej.) Classification: Pidgin, Zulu based

Portuguese por

Users: 300,000 in South Africa (2010 Observatório da Emigração). Ethnic population: 1,850,000 (2020 Joshua Project). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician

Ronga rng

KwaZulu-Natal province. Users: 1,000 in South Africa (2012 J. Leclerc). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Shironga Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Tswa-Rhonga (S.54)

Seroa kqu

Free State province: Xhariep district; near Swaziland border. Users: No known L1 speakers. The last speaker died in the 1870s (Traill 2002). Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Vaal–Orange Classification: Tuu, !Ui

Setswana tsn

Free State province: between Bloemfontein and Kimberley; Gauteng province: southwest of Pretoria; Limpopo province: Waterberg municipality; North-West province; Northern Cape province: northeast. Users: 11,770,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 4,070,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 7,700,000 (Webb 2002). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Northern Cape and North West provinces (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). Alternate Names: Beetjuans, Chuana, Coana, Cuana, Sechuana, Tsiwaha, Tswana Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.31)

Shona sna

Users: 18,000 in South Africa (2012 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.10)

Somali som

Users: 24,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali

Sotho, Northern nso

Gauteng province: Pretoria area; Limpopo province; Mpumalanga province: Ehlanzeni and Nkangala districts; North-West province: Mortele municipality. Users: 13,720,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 4,620,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 9,100,000 (Webb 2002). Total users in all countries: 13,731,000 (as L1: 4,631,000; as L2: 9,100,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Gauteng and Limpopo provinces (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). Alternate Names: Pedi, Sepedi, Transvaal Sotho Autonym: Sesotho sa Leboa Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.32)

Sotho, Southern sot

Eastern Cape province: Senqu municipality, south of Lesotho; Free State province; Gauteng province: Kempton and Tembisa Park; North-West and Mpumalanga provinces border areas. Users: 11,750,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 3,850,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 7,900,000 (Webb 2002). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Gauteng, East Cape, Free State, and North West provinces (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). Alternate Names: Sesotho, Sisutho, Souto, Suthu, Suto Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.33)

South African Sign Language sfs

Scattered. Users: 500,000 (Aarons and Akach 2002), all users. Estimated, including some hearing people. L1 users: 235,000 (2011 census). Approximately 0.4% of the total population. Other estimates vary widely: 12,100 (Van Cleve 1986); 400,000–500,000 (2008 WFD). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1996, Constitution, Chapter 1, Section 6(5)(a)), although not an official language, it is recognized as a language to be promoted. Alternate Names: SASL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language

Swahili swh

KwaZulu-Natal province: Chatsworth 1, southwest of Durban proper on the coast. Users: 2,000 in South Africa (2012 J. Leclerc). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Kiswahili Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.42)

Swati ssw

KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces. Users: 3,700,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 1,300,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 2,400,000 (Webb 2002). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Mpumalanga province (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). Alternate Names: Siswati, Siswazi, Swazi, Tekela, Tekeza, Thithiza, Yeyeza, siSwati Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.43)

Tamil tam

KwaZulu-Natal province. Users: 32,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Ethnic population: 1,030,000 (2012 J. Leclerc). Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil

Telugu tel

Users: 4,900 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Dravidian, South-Central, Telugu

Tsonga tso

Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. Users: 5,680,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 2,280,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 3,400,000 (Webb 2002). Total users in all countries: 10,003,500 (as L1: 6,603,500; as L2: 3,400,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Limpopo province (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). Alternate Names: Shangaan, Shangana, Shitsonga, Thonga, Tonga, Vatsonga Autonym: Xitsonga Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Tswa-Rhonga (S.53)

Tswa tsc

Limpopo province: near South Africa-Zimbabwe-Mozambique shared border. Users: 20,000 in South Africa (2012 J. Leclerc). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Kitshwa, Sheetshwa, Shitshwa, Tshwa, Xitshwa Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Tswa-Rhonga (S.51)

Urdu urd

KwaZulu-Natal province: Durban coastal and urban areas; Gauteng province: Johannesburg area, and scattered smaller towns. Users: 15,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani

Venda ven

Limpopo province. Users: 2,910,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 1,210,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 1,700,000 (Webb 2002). Total users in all countries: 3,001,400 (as L1: 1,301,400; as L2: 1,700,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Limpopo province (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). Alternate Names: Chivenda, Luvenda Autonym: Tshivenḓa‎ (Tshivenda) Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Venda (S.21)

Xhosa xho

Eastern Cape province: east of Middelburg and Port Elizabeth; Northern Cape province: southeast Pixley ka Seme municipality; KwaZulu-Natal province: Ugu and Sisonke municipalities; Free State: border area, west of Lesotho. Users: 19,150,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 8,150,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 11,000,000 (Webb 2002). Total users in all countries: 19,216,300 (as L1: 8,216,300; as L2: 11,000,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, and Western Cape (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)), official language in 5 provinces. Alternate Names: Isixhosa, Koosa, Xosa, “Cauzuh” (pej.) Autonym: isiXhosa Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.41)

Xiri xii

Northern Cape province: near Namibia border. Users: 87 in South Africa (2000). Total users in all countries: 187. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Cape Hottentot, Gri, Grikwa, Griqua, Gry, Xirikwa, Xrikwa Classification: Khoe-Kwadi, Khoe, Khoekhoe, Nama

Yiddish, Eastern ydd

Major cities. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, Yiddish

Zulu zul

KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga (Gert Sibande muni) provinces; northeast Free State and southeast Gauteng provinces; Eastern Cape province: Harding area. Users: 27,300,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 11,600,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 15,700,000 (Webb 2002). Total users in all countries: 27,804,600 (as L1: 12,104,600; as L2: 15,700,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)). Alternate Names: Isizulu, Zunda, isiZulu Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.42)

ǀXam xam

Northern Cape province. Users: No known L1 speakers. The last speakers survived into the 1910s (Traill 1995). Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: !Kham, /Kam, /Kama-ka !Ke, /Xam, Xam, ǀKamka!e, ǀKham-Ka-!k’e, ǀXam-Ka-!k’e Classification: Tuu, !Ui

ǁXegwi xeg

Limpopo province. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last known speaker, Jopi Mabinda, died in 1988 (Traill 2002). Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Abathwa, Amabusmana, Amankgqwigqwi, Batwa, Boroa, Bush-C, Giǀkxigwi, Kiǁkxigwi, Kloukle, Lxloukxle, Nkqeshe, Tloue, Tloutle, ǁXegwe, ǁXekwi Classification: Tuu, !Ui