Guinea

Languages

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc

Users: 5,200 in Guinea (Leclerc 2014a). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Badyara pbp

Boké region: Koundara prefecture. Users: 12,400 in Guinea (2017 census). Total users in all countries: 20,510. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Badara, Badian, Badjara, Badyaranke, Bigola, Gola, Pajade, Pajadinka Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Eastern Senegal-Guinea, Tenda

Baga Kaloum bqf

Boké region. Users: No known L1 speakers. The last speakers either died or assimilated to Susu [sus] by the 1950s (Camara et al 2014). Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Baga Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Baga

Baga Koga bgo

Kindia region: between Pongo and Konkouré rivers, to Île de Kito. Users: Ethnic population: 5,000. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Baka, Koba, Koga Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Baga

Baga Manduri bmd

Boké region: Kanfarandé and Sansale subprefectures, 39 villages on delta islands between Nunez river and Komponi river. Users: 4,000 (2011 NTM). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Baga Mandori, Baga Mandouri, Baka, Barka, Madouri, Maduri, Mandari, Mandore, Mandori, Mandouri, Manduri Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Baga

Baga Pokur bcg

Boké region: Boké prefecture, coast east of Nunez river; Binari and Mboteni villages on Boteni island. Users: 3,700 (2015 NTM). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Baga, Baga Binari, Baga Mboteni, Baga Poukour, Baga de Binari, Baka, Barka, Binari, Binari-Kouffin, Bohere, Era, Kaloum, Kalum, Mborin, Mboténi, Poukour, Pukur Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Baga

Baga Sitemu bsp

Boké region: Boffa prefecture, Tougnifil subprefecture; Boké prefecture, Port-Kamsar subprefecture, Nunez river south bank. Users: 40,000 (2018 PBT). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Baka, Rio Pongo Baga, Sitemuú, Stem Baga, Tchitem Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Baga

Baga Sobané bsv

Boké region: Boffa prefecture, between Kapatchez and Pongo rivers. Users: No known L1 speakers. The last speaker either died or shifted to Susu [sus] by the 1950s (Camara et al 2014). Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Baga, Baga Kakissa, Baka, Barka, Sobane, Sobané, Temne Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Baga

Bandi bza

Nzérékoré region: Macenta prefecture, scattered. Users: 12,000 in Guinea (Leclerc 2014a). Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Bandé Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Mende-Loma, Mende-Bandi, Bandi

Bassari bsc

Boké region: Gaoual prefecture; Labe region: Mali prefecture; border area northwest of Touba town, some northeast corner. Users: 12,400 in Guinea (2017 census). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Ayan, Basari, Biyan, Oneyan, Onian, Oniyan, Tenda Basari, Wo Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Eastern Senegal-Guinea, Tenda

Bullom So buy

Kindia region: a few speakers in Forecariah prefecture near Sierra Leone border. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Bolom, Bulem, Bullin, Bullun, Mandenyi, Mandingi, Mani, Mmani, Northern Bullom Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Bullom-Kissi, Bullom, Northern

Dan dnj

Nzérékoré region: Lola prefecture, Kogota village on Côte d’Ivoire border. Users: 800 in Guinea (2001 G. Pruett). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Da, Dàn, Dã̀ã̀, Gio, Gio-Dan, Gyo, Yacouba, Yakuba Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Southeastern, Guro-Tura, Tura-Dan-Mano, Tura-Dan

French fra

Users: 3,782,800 in Guinea, all users. L1 users: 2,800 in Guinea (2022 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. L2 users: 3,780,000 (Marcoux et al 2022). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2010, Constitution, Article 1). Alternate Names: Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French

Guinean Sign Language gus

Conakry region. Users: 64,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 38,000–76,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of total population. Other estimates: 528 deaf signers (2008 WFD); 27,000 total deaf in Guinea (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language

Jahanka jad

Boké region: central Gaoual prefecture, more than 60 villages on Tamine river upper reaches between Boké and Sangea towns. Users: 137,000 in Guinea (2017 census). Total users in all countries: 147,500. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Diakanka, Diakhanke, Diakkanke, Dyakanke, Jahanque, Jahonque, Jaxanka Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding

Kakabe kke

Faranah region: Dabola prefecture, west and southwest of Faboula and Koumboulou towns; Mamou region: Sokotoro, Wure Kaba, and 33 other villages. Users: 10,000 (2012 V. Vydrin). Ethnic population: 50,000 (2012 V. Vydrin). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Fulajon Kan, Fulajonkan, Jon Kule, Ourekabakan Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Mokole

Kissi, Northern kqs

Faranah region: Kissidougou prefecture; Nzérékoré region: Gueckedou and western Macenta prefectures. Users: 509,000 in Guinea (2017 census). Total users in all countries: 570,500. Status: 5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Gizi, Kisie, Kissien, kìsìéí Autonym: Kisi Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Bullom-Kissi, Kissi

Kla-Dan lda

Nzérékoré region: Fakolidou, Farakouroudougou, Gbogboda, and Goh villages near Côte d’Ivoire border. About 30 villages between Beyla and Sinko. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Kla Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Southeastern, Guro-Tura, Tura-Dan-Mano, Tura-Dan

Kono knu

Nzérékoré region: Lola prefecture, east of Morissimandougou to Cote d’Ivoire border. Users: 99,300 (2017 census). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Kpelle

Kpelle, Guinea gkp

Nzérékoré region: between Dondano and Nzebola towns. Users: 497,000 (2017 census). Status: 5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Akpese, Gbese, Gerse, Gerze, Guerzé, Kpele, Kpelese, Kpelesetina, Kperese, Kpese, Kpwessi, Northern Kpele, Pessa, Pessy Autonym: Kpɛlɛwoo Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Kpelle

Kuranko knk

Faranah region: south Faranah and southeast Kissidougou prefectures; Kerouane prefecture, south Kouroussa; Kankan region: southwest. Users: 236,000 in Guinea (2017 census). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Koranko Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Mokole

Landoma ldm

Boké region: between Guinea Bissau border and Kogon river, and Boke-Centre subprefecture southeast; Kindia region: north border Boffa and Telimele prefectures; Gaoual prefecture, 2 enclaves near Kambala and Koumbia. Users: 62,100 (2017 census). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Cocoli, Landouman, Landuma, Tiapi, Tyapi, Tyopi Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Baga

Lele llc

Faranah and Nzérékoré regions: main centers are Kassadou, Tangalto, and Yombiro. Users: 48,700 (2017 census). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Mokole

Limba, East lma

Mamou region: Mamou prefecture, Oure-Kaba subprefecture, on Sierra Leone border. Users: 4,000 in Guinea (Johnstone 1993). 2,000 speakers of the Ke subdialect of Northern Limba (1991 J. Kaiser). Total users in all countries: 4,800. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Yimba, Yumba Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Limba

Mandingo man

Users: Population total all languages (L1 only): 8,875,560. Status:

Maninka, Konyanka mku

Kankan and Nzérékoré regions: national reserve; Beyle, Kankan, Kerouane, Lola, and Macenta prefectures; Balanfe, Boukorodou, Diatela, Dyibarou, Kabadian Mallerou, and Ouanino villages along Beyla-Sinko road and north of Sinko (Gbasando dialect); Lola (Karagba dialect); Sokourala (Woroduu dialect). Users: 559,000 in Guinea (2017 census). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Koniaka, Konya, Konyakakan, Konyanka, Maninya Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding

Maninka, Sankaran msc

Kankan region: east Kouroussa prefecture; Faranah region and prefecture; along Niger tributary, Serekoroba area. Users: 100,000 (2019 PBT). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Faranah, Sankarankan Autonym: Sankaran Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding

Maninkakan, Eastern emk

Widespread and in all urban areas. Users: 3,100,000 in Guinea (2017 census). 73,500 Wasulu. Total users in all countries: 3,722,300. Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Originated in one of the Mali empires (1235-1670). Language of court and government during the Mali empire. Widely spoken in the 1890s during French colonization. Native to Guinea, Mali, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Maninka people have high regard for their language. Alternate Names: Eastern Malinke, Kankan Maninka, Malinké, Mande, Maninga, Maninkakan, Maninkaxan, Southern Maninka Autonym: Maninka Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding

Mano mev

Nzérékoré region: Lola prefecture south of Lola town; Nzérékoré prefecture; Yomou prefecture, Dieke subprefecture. Users: 86,900 in Guinea (2017 census). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Mã́ã́, Maa, Maan, Mah, Manon, Mawe Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Southeastern, Guro-Tura, Tura-Dan-Mano, Mano

Manya mzj

Faranah and Nzérékoré regions: west Beyla and southeast Kissidougou prefectures; Macenta-Centre to Liberia border; Kankan region: Keroane prefecture, Diarradou. Users: 25,000 in Guinea (1997 G. Pruett). Ethnic population: 77,000 (Leclerc 2014a). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Mandingo, Maninya, Maninyakan, Maniya, Manya Kan, “Toma Maninya” (pej.), “Tuu Kɔlɔ Maninya” (pej.) Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding

Mbulungish mbv

Boké region: Boké prefecture, Kanfarande subprefecture, 22 coastal villages north of Nunez river. Users: 5,000 (1998 B. Willits). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Baga Foré, Baga Monson, Black Baga, Bulunits, Longich, Mbulongish, Monchon, Monshon Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Mbulungish-Nalu

Mogofin mfg

Boké region: Boffa and Boké prefectures. Users: 24,800 (2017 census). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Mikifore, Mixifore Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Mokole

N’ko nqo

Widespread. Users: No known L1 speakers in Guinea. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Total users in all countries: none known. Status: 9 (Second language only). Classification: Mixed language

Nalu naj

Boké region: Boké prefecture; Nunez river mouth area and estuary. Users: 12,400 in Guinea (2017 census). Total users in all countries: 21,600. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Nalou Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Mbulungish-Nalu

Pulaar fuc

Boké region: Koundara prefecture, north of Tamine river. Extreme northwest corner. Users: 5,700 in Guinea (Leclerc 2014a). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Fulfulde Pulaar, Haalpulaar, Peul, Peulh Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Fula, Western

Pular fuf

Widespread. Users: 4,300,000 in Guinea (2017 census). Total users in all countries: 4,778,200. Status: 2 (Provincial). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Foula Fouta, Fouta Djallon, Fulbe, Fulfulde Jalon, Fullo Fuuta, Futa Fula, Futa Jallon, Fuuta Jalon, Jalon, Poular Autonym: Pular Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Fula, West Central

Sarakolé snk

Boké region: Boké and Koundara; Kankan region: Kankan; Kindia region: Conakry and Kindia; Labé region: Badougoula, Linsan, and Manda. Users: 24,800 in Guinea (2017 census). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Northwestern, Soninke-Bobo, Soninke-Boso, Soninke

Susu sus

Widespread in southwest. Users: 2,200,000 in Guinea (2017 census). Total users in all countries: 2,433,480. Status: 5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Sose, Soso, Soussou, Susoo Autonym: Sosoxui Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Susu-Yalunka

Toma tod

Faranah and Nzérékoré regions: Macenta, Kissidougou, and Gueckedou prefectures, between Macenta and Kissidougou towns. Users: 261,000 (2017 census). Status: 5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Toa, Toale, Toali, Tooma Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Mende-Loma, Loma

Wamey cou

Boké region: Koundara prefecture, Youkounkoun-Koundara area, to Senegal border; small border area in Gaoual prefecture, south bank, Tamine river. Users: 24,800 in Guinea (2017 census). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Cogniagui, Conhague, Coniagui, Koniagi, Konyagi, Tenda, Wamay, Wamei, Wameỹ, Wey Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Eastern Senegal-Guinea, Tenda

Yalunka yal

Faranah region: south toward Sierra Leone border, and Dinguiraye prefecture, Bafing river, Boukaria area; Labé region: northwest Mali prefecture; north Koubia and north Tougue subprefecture, Senegal-Mali border; Dinguiraye prefecture, Bafing river, Boukaria area; Boké region: Gaouala prefecture, enclave between Guinea-Bissau border and Koumbia. Users: 112,000 in Guinea (2017 census). Total users in all countries: 180,700. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Dialonke, Djallonke, Dyalonke, Jalonke, Jalunga, Jalungas, Yalunke Autonym: Jalunga xuwiina’ Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Susu-Yalunka

Zialo zil

Nzérékoré region: Macenta prefecture, Zembezou and Panziazou subprefectures. 45 villages. About third of Zialo speakers live in the cities of Guinea. Users: 25,000 (2010 V. Vydrin). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Shialu, Zialu, Ziolo, Ziyolo Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Mende-Loma