Ladino

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A language of Israel

Alternate Names
Cudeo-Espanyol, Djudeo-Espagnol, Djudezmo, Djudyó, Dschudeo-Espanjol, Dzhudeo-Espanyol, Dzhudezmo, Dzidió, Dzsudeo-Eszpanyol, Dzudezmo, Dżudeo-Espańol, Džudeo-Espanjol, Eshpanyol, Eshpanyolit, Espanyol, Espanyolit, Español sefardita, Franco Espanyol, Giudeo-Espagnol, Giudeo-Espaneol, Jidió, Jidyo, Jūdeo-Esupanyōru, Judeo Spanish, Judeo-Espagnol, Judeo-Espaniol, Judeo-Espanýol, Judeo-Español, Judesmo, Judezmo, Judyo, Judío, Lešon Sepharadim, Romance, Romance Espanyol, Sefardi, Sepharadi, Sephardi, Sephardic, Shpanyol, Shpanyolit, Spanyol, Spanyolit, Spanyolo, Tzoudeo-Espaniol, Xhudeo-Espanjol, Zargon, Ġudeo-Espanjol, Ǧudéo-Españól
Autonym
גﬞודיאו־איספאנייול‎ (Djudeo-espanyol), לאדינו‎ (Ladino)
User Population

43,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Total users in all countries: 51,016.

Location

Jerusalem district and scattered.

Language Status

8a (Moribund).

Dialects

Judezmo (Dzhudezmo, Jidyo, Judyo), Ladino, Haquetiya (Haketia, Haketiya, Hakitia, Haquetía). The Balkan dialect is more influenced by Turkish [tur] and Greek [ell]. The North African dialect is more influenced by Arabic [arb]and French [fra].

Language Use

Not the dominant language for most. Formerly the main language of Sephardic Jewry. Used in literary and music contexts. Older adults only. The youngest speakers are over 50 years old. Shifted to Hebrew [heb].

Language Development

Newspapers. Radio. Dictionary. Bible: 1829.

Writing

Cyrillic script [Cyrl], used by Sephardic speakers in the Balkans. Hebrew script [Hebr]. Latin script [Latn], used in Turkey.

Other Comments

Different from Ladin [lld] in the Rhaeto-Romansch group. Jewish.

Also spoken in:

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