Malawi

Languages

Afrikaans afr

Scattered. Users: 3,600 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian

Chichewa nya

West central and southwest. Users: 10,500,000 in Malawi (2020 World Factbook), based on ethnicity. 7,271,000 Chewa, 2,200,000 Ngoni, 678,000 Manganja, and 382,000 Nyanja (2020 World Factbook). Total users in all countries: 14,380,700. Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Originated in what is today the Democratic Republic of Congo, and brought to Malawi in the 14th or 15th century. Gained speakers when Dutch Reformed missionaries came to the Chewa area of Malawi in 1888 from South Africa. In 1968, was made an official language. Used in media and education. Alternate Names: Chewa, Chinyanja, Nyanja, Nyanja-Chewa Autonym: Chicheŵa Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Chewa-Nyanja (N.31)

English eng

Users: 1,091,000 in Malawi, all users. L1 users: 11,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. L2 users: 1,080,000 (2020). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1994, Constitution, Articles 51.1b, 56.5, 94.2b). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English

Greek ell

Users: 5,400 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic

Gujarati guj

Users: 54,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Gujarati

Kacchi kfr

Blantyre, Lilongwe, Nkhata Bay, and Zomba districts; Mzuzu and urban centers. Users: 13,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Cuchi, Cutch, Kachchi, Kachi, Katchi Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern, Sindhi

Kokola kzn

Mulanje district; Thyolo district: Sandama area. Users: 319,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 482,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Ekokhola, Kokhola Autonym: iKokola Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, P, Makhuwa (P.31)

Lambya lai

Chitipa and Karonga districts: along Tanzania and Zambia borders. Users: 59,500 in Malawi (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 106,900. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Ichilambya, Kilambya, Lambia, Lambwa, Rambia Autonym: ChiLambya Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Nyiha-Safwa (M.201)

Lomwe, Malawi lon

Blantyre, Machinga, Mulanje, Phalombe, Thyolo, and Zomba districts. Users: 3,990,000 (2020 World Factbook), based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Anguru, Elhomwe, Nguru Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, P, Makhuwa (P.331)

Malawian Sign Language lws

Scattered. Users: 93,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 55,000–110,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of total population. Deaf Action estimates 200,000 deaf overall (Baer 2013). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: MSL, Malawi Sign, Malawi Sign Language Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language

Ndali ndh

Chitipa district: Sukwa Hills. Users: 70,000 in Malawi (2003 SIL). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Chindali Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Nyakyusa-Ngonde (M.301)

Nyakyusa-Ngonde nyy

Chitipa district: northeast; Karonga district: west of Lake Malawi. Users: 149,000 in Malawi (2009 UNSD). 18,800 Nyakyusa, 130,000 Nkonde (2009 UNSD). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Ikingonde, Ikinyikyusa, Kɨnyakyʉsa, Kinyakyusa, Konde, Kukwe, Mombe, Ngonde, Nkhonde, Nkonde, Nyakusa, Nyakyusa, Nyekyosa, Sochile, Sokile Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Nyakyusa-Ngonde (M.31)

Nyiha, Malawi nyr

Chitipa district: Kameme town area villages. Users: 10,000 (2007). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Kinyiha, Shinyiha Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Nyiha-Safwa (M.23)

Nyika nkv

Chitipa district: Chisenga area villages; Karonga district: west. Users: 5,000 in Malawi (2007). Total users in all countries: 14,300. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Chinyika, Kinyika Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Nyiha-Safwa (M.23)

Portuguese por

Users: 18,000 in Malawi (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician

Sena, Malawi swk

Chikwawa district: south; Nsanje district; along Mozambique border. Users: 805,000 (2020 World Factbook), based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Chisena, Cisena Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Senga-Sena (N.441)

Shona sna

Users: 93,000 in Malawi (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.10)

Tonga tog

Nkhata Bay district: Lake Malawi west shore; Nkhotakota, Mzimba, and Rumphi districts. Users: 382,000 (2020 World Factbook), based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Kitonga, Siska, Sisya, Western Nyasa Autonym: Chitonga Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Manda (N.15)

Tumbuka tum

Chitipa and Karonga districts: Lake Malawi west shore; Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Rumphi, and Mzimba districts. Users: 1,950,000 in Malawi (2020 World Factbook), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 2,316,000. Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Citumbuka, Tamboka, Tambuka, Timbuka, Tombucas, Tumboka Autonym: Chitumbuka Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Tumbuka (N.21)

Yao yao

Balaka, Machinga, Mangochi, and Zomba districts: bordering Mozambique, between southeast tip of Lake Kilwa and Lake Malawi; Chiradzulu district: small area. Users: 2,800,000 in Malawi (2020 World Factbook), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 3,728,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Achawa, Adsawa, Adsoa, Ajawa, Ayao, Ayawa, Ayo, Chiyao, Chiyawo, Ciyaawo, Ciyao, Djao, Haiao, Hiao, Hyao, Jao, Veiao, Wajao, Yawo, chiYao, ciYao, waYao Autonym: Ciyawo Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, P, Yao (P.21)

Zulu zul

Dedza, Karonga, Mzimba, and Ntcheu districts. Users: 72,000 in Malawi (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Isizulu, Kingoni, Ngoni, Zunda Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.42)