Dzongkha

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Bhutan

ISO 639-3
dzo
Alternate Names
Bhotia of Bhutan, Bhotia of Dukpa, Bhutanese, Drukha, Drukke, Dukpa, Jonkha, Zongkhar
Autonym
རྫོང་ཁ་‎ (Dzongkha)
User Population

304,000 in Bhutan (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 315,080.

Location

Haa, Paro, Punakha, and Wangdue Phodrang districts.

Language Maps
Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (2008, Constitution, Article 1(8)).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Bodish, Central Bodish, Central, Southern
Dialects

Wang-The (Thimphu-Punakha), Ha, Northern Thimphu, Adap. As different from Central Tibetan [bod] as Nepali [npi] is from Hindi [hin]. Partially intelligible with Sikkimese [sip] (Denjoke). Dialects may be separate languages. Lexical similarity: 77% with Adap dialect, 48% with Tshangla [tsj], 47%–52% with Bumthangkha [kjz].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 54%. Literacy rate in L2: Below 5%. Taught in many primary schools in early grades and as subject thereafter. Taught as subject in all secondary schools. Taught as subject in some tertiary schools. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2010.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dzongkha
Writing

Tibetan script [Tibt], official usage.

Other Comments

Buddhist.

Also spoken in:

Expand All
Collapse All