Lomwe, Malawi

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Malawi

ISO 639-3
lon
Alternate Names
Anguru, Elhomwe, Nguru
User Population

3,990,000 (2020 World Factbook), based on ethnicity.

Location

Blantyre, Machinga, Mulanje, Phalombe, Thyolo, and Zomba districts.

Language Maps
Language Status

5* (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, P, Makhuwa (P.331)
Dialects

Mihavane, Muhavani. Not intelligible of Lomwe [ngl] of Mozambique. Different from Ngulu [ngp] (Kingulu) of Tanzania. Reportedly similar to Takwane [tke].

Typology

SVO.

Language Use

Vigorous. Also use Chichewa [nya].

Language Development

Approved orthography. Radio. Dictionary. Texts. Bible: 2019.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Lomwe, Malawi
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Nguru is derogatory if used by an outsider; a signal of close identity if used by an insider. Elhomwe is the official name. Traditional religion, Christian.