Page Type: languageNdebele | Ethnologue

NDE ISO 639-3

Ndebele

isiNdebele Autonym

A language of Zimbabwe

ISO 639
nde
Alternate Names
Isinde’bele, Ndebele of Zimbabwe, Northern Ndebele, Sindebele, Tabele, Tebele
Autonym
isiNdebele
Population
3,010,000 in Zimbabwe, all users. L1 users: 1,610,000 in Zimbabwe (2012). L2 users: 1,400,000 (2019). Total users in all countries: 3,046,200 (as L1: 1,646,200; as L2: 1,400,000).
Location:
Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, and Matabeleland South provinces; Midlands province: Gokwe South, Gueru, Kwekwe, Mberengwa, and Shurugwi districts.
Language Status
3 (Wider communication). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.44)
Dialects
None known. Reportedly similar to Zulu [zul].
Language Use
Also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Birwa [brl], Chichewa [nya], Kalanga [kck], Lozi [loz], Nambya [nmq], Setswana [tsn], Tsoa [hio], Venda [ven].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 55%. Dictionary. Bible: 1978.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ndebele
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Different from Ndebele [nbl] of Transvaal, South Africa.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Ndebele
User Population
23,200 in Botswana (2020).
Location
Central district: Zimbabwe border; North East district: a few villages; North West district: Chobe area.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
View other languages of Botswana
Language Name
Ndebele
User Population
13,000 in Zambia (2017 J. Leclerc).
Location
Central province: Mumbwa district.
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Zambia

Map

Location: Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, and Matabeleland South provinces; Midlands province: Gokwe South, Gueru, Kwekwe, Mberengwa, and Shurugwi districts.