Page Type: languageMakwe | Ethnologue

YMK ISO 639-3

Makwe

A language of Mozambique

ymk
Kimakwe, Macue, Palma
50,000 in Mozambique (2017). Total users in all countries: 147,700.
Cabo Delgado province: coast, Tanzania border area south to Quionga and Palma; Ruvuma river area to Pundanhar.
6b* (Threatened).
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.402)
Coastal Makwe (Palma), Interior Makwe. Not inherently intelligible with Swahili [swh]. Lexical similarity: 60% with Swahili [swh], 57% with Mwani [wmw], 48% with Yao [yao].
Some also use Mwani [wmw], especially men. Some also use Portuguese [por], especially those with schooling, for reading. Some also use Swahili [swh], especially men. Those with schooling can read Swahili. Also use Makonde [kde].
Literacy rate in L2: 20%. Motivation for literacy is high. Grammar.
Muslim.
Maraba
97,700 in Tanzania (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).
Lindi and Mtwara regions.
6b (Threatened)
Muslim.
View other languages of Tanzania
Location: Cabo Delgado province: coast, Tanzania border area south to Quionga and Palma; Ruvuma river area to Pundanhar.