Page Type: languageKoongo | Ethnologue

KNG ISO 639-3

Koongo

Kikongo Autonym

A language of Democratic Republic of the Congo

ISO 639
kng
Alternate Names
Congo, Kikoongo, Kongo
Autonym
Kikongo
Population
8,000,000 in Democratic Republic of the Congo, all users. L1 users: 3,000,000 in Democratic Republic of the Congo (1982 UBS). L2 users: 5,000,000. Total users in all countries: 11,236,500 (as L1: 6,236,500; as L2: 5,000,000).
Location:
Kinshasa province; Kongo Central province: Mbanza Manteke area; Fioti north of Boma, and scattered along Congo River from Brazzaville to its mouth.
Language Status
4 (Educational).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, H, Kikongo (H.16)
Dialects
South Kongo, Cataract, Central Kongo (Manyanga, Mazinga), West Kongo (Fiote, Fioti), Bwende (Buende, Sonde), East Kongo (Ntandu, Santu), South East Kongo (Nkanu, Pende, Zoombo), Nzamba (Dzamba). Part of Kongo subgroup. Other languages of the Kongo group are sometimes regarded as dialects of Koongo (see entries for Beembe [beq], Doondo [dde], Kunyi [njx], Vili [vif], Munukutuba [mkw], and Kituba [ktu]). Fioti also spoken by Buende and Vili peoples. A member of macrolanguage Kongo [kon].
Typology
SVO (for Nzamba); 5 vowels.
Language Development
Radio. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1905–1962.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Koongo
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Kituba [ktu] is the language used in government even though the Constitution specifies Kikongo (Constitution (2006), Article 1(8)). Christian.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Kikongo
User Population
3,220,000 in Angola (2018). 2,490,000 Kikongo, 730,000 Fiote.
Location
Scattered. north Bengo and Malanje provinces; south Cabinda province; Kuanza Norte province: small border areas; Uíge and Zaire provinces: north, along Congo river. Cabinda (Kiyombe dialect); Angola proper (Kisikongo and San Salvador dialects).
Dialects
South Kongo, South East Kongo (Nkanu, Pende, Zoombo), West Kongo (Fiote, Fioti), Ndingi (Ndinzi), Mboka, Kisikongo, Kizombo (Zombo), Kindibu, Kimanyanga, Kiyombe (Cabinda, Ibinda, Kiwoyo, San Salvador Kongo). Kisikongo is the principal dialect. Kiyombe is the main dialect of eastern Cabinda. Together with Kiwoyo, Kiyombe is referred to as Ibinda (the language of Cabinda). Ndingi and Mboka dialects may be separate languages.
Language Status
3 (Wider communication)
Other Comments
Christian.
View other languages of Angola
Language Name
Koongo
User Population
16,500 in Congo (2007 census).
Location
Pool department: Boko district, west and northwest of Brazzaville.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Kongo-Nseke is the distinguishing name for Koongo in Congo-Brazzaville. Christian, Muslim.
View other languages of Congo

Map

Location: Kinshasa province; Kongo Central province: Mbanza Manteke area; Fioti north of Boma, and scattered along Congo River from Brazzaville to its mouth.