Somali

A language of Somalia

Location

Widespread.

Also spoken in:

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Australia

Language NameSomali

User Population

14,200 in Australia (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Canada

Language NameSomali

User Population

36,800 in Canada (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Denmark

Language NameSomali

User Population

11,300 in Denmark (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Djibouti

Language NameSomali

User Population

585,000 in Djibouti (2018). Ethnic population: 524,000 (2014 World Factbook).

Location

Ali Sabieh, Arta, and Djibouti regions.

Alternate Names

Af-Soomaali

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Nomadic. 3 clans: Issa, Gadaboursi, Issaq. Muslim.

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Ethiopia

Language NameSomali

User Population

6,815,600 in Ethiopia, all users. L1 users: 6,720,000 in Ethiopia (2018). L2 users: 95,600. 2,880,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 6,720,000 (2018).

Location

Mainly Oromia and Somali regions; areas in Afar and Dire Dawa regions.

Alternate Names

Af-Soomaali, Common Somali, Somalie, Standard Somali

Language Status

2 (Provincial). De facto language of provincial identity in Somali Region.

Language Use

A few also use Amharic [amh]. A few also use Ta’izzi-Adeni Spoken Arabic [acq] (Bender 1971). Used as L2 by Girirra [gii], Rer Bare [rer].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 7%. Taught in primary schools.

Other Comments

Daarood, Ogaadeen, Dir, Gadabuursi, Hawiye, and Isxaaq are major clan families in Ethiopia. Muslim.

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Finland

Language NameSomali

User Population

20,900 in Finland (2018 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Germany

Language NameSomali

User Population

47,500 in Germany (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Italy

Language NameSomali

User Population

50,600 in Italy (2000).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Kenya

Language NameSomali

User Population

2,240,000 in Kenya (2019 census), increasing, based on ethnicity, including 516,000 Degodia, 139,000 Murule, 698,000 Ogaden, and 66,000 Wardei (2019 census).

Location

Garissa, Mandera, and Wajir counties: entire eastern border area; northwest Lamu county.

Alternate Names

Standard Somali

Dialects

Degodia, Ogaden, Wardei (Uardai, Wadai, Warday).

Language Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Home, social gatherings. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Aweer [bob].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: Somali: 15%–25%, Ogaden: 1%.

Other Comments

Daarood, Dir, Hawiye, and Ogaadeen are nomadic clan families in Kenya. Dialect differences cut across clan differences. Muslim.

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Malta

Language NameSomali

User Population

1,200 in Malta (2018).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Netherlands

Language NameSomali

User Population

15,600 in Netherlands (2019).

Location

Major cities.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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New Zealand

Language NameSomali

User Population

1,330 in New Zealand (2013 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Norway

Language NameSomali

User Population

43,600 in Norway (2021 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Saudi Arabia

Language NameSomali

User Population

69,600 in Saudi Arabia (2018), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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South Africa

Language NameSomali

User Population

24,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Sweden

Language NameSomali

User Population

28,900 in Sweden (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United Arab Emirates

Language NameSomali

User Population

101,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Location

Scattered.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United Kingdom

Language NameSomali

User Population

85,900 in United Kingdom (2011 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United States

Language NameSomali

User Population

76,200 in United States (2012 census). Based on foreign-born population from Somalia.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Yemen

Language NameSomali

User Population

461,000 in Yemen (2020).

Location

Mainly camps near Aden.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Yemen

Somali

Primary tabs

A language of Somalia

Also spoken in:

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