South Africa
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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.
Bengali
[ben] Users: 300,000 in South Africa (2019), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese.
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. Users: 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. Users: 1,760 in South Africa (Louw and van Schalkwyk 2019). 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: !Gora, !Kora, !Ora, Gorachouqua, Kora, Koranna, Koraqua, “Korana Hottentot” (pej.). 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: 4,570 in South Africa (Louw and van Schalkwyk 2019). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: !’O!Xun, !Xun. Classification: Kx’a, !Kung.
Nǁng
[ngh] Northern Cape province: Olifantshoek and Upington towns. Users: 3 (2021), decreasing. 1 speaker of N|u dialect and 2 speakers of ||Au dialect. 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).
‡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.
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. Users: 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.