Zimbabwe

Languages

Afrikaans afr

Users: 93,000 in Zimbabwe (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian

Barwe bwg

Manicaland province: Nyanga district, Nyamaropa area, Mashumba, Mbiriyade, Mukatsa, Mukwewa, and Sangoma wards; possibly Mashonaland East province: Mudzi district. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Alternate Names: ChiBarwe Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Senga-Sena (N.44)

Birwa brl

Matabeleland South province: Beitbridge, Bulilimamangwe, Gwanda and Matobo districts. Users: 56,000 in Zimbabwe (1982 census). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Alternate Names: Sotho Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.32)

Chichewa nya

Mashonaland Central province; possible communities in Harare and other urban areas. Users: 405,000 in Zimbabwe (2012). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Alternate Names: Chicheŵa, Chinyanja, Nyanja Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Chewa-Nyanja (N.31)

Dombe dov

Matabeleland North province: Hwange district, Lukosi area; southwest of confluence of Shangani and Zambezi rivers. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Toka-Leya-Dombe Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Lenje-Tonga (M.64)

English eng

Users: 5,585,000 in Zimbabwe, all users. L1 users: 485,000 in Zimbabwe (2019). L2 users: 5,100,000 (2019). Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English

Greek ell

Users: 7,800 in Zimbabwe (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic

Gujarati guj

Users: 30,000 in Zimbabwe (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Gujarati

Kalanga kck

Matabeleland South province: Bulilimamangwe and Matobo districts; Matabeleland North province: Tsholotsho district. Users: 196,000 in Zimbabwe (2012). Total users in all countries: 367,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Alternate Names: Bakaa, Chikalanga, Ikalanga, Kalana, Kanana, Makalaka, Sekalaña, Wakalanga, Western Shona Autonym: Tjikalanga Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.16)

Kunda kdn

Mashonaland Central province: Guruve district. Users: 145,000 in Zimbabwe (2000). Total users in all countries: 162,760. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Achikunda, Chikunda, Cikunda Autonym: Mu Chikunda Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Senga-Sena (N.42)

Lozi loz

Matabeleland North province: Zambia border west of Victoria Falls. Users: 70,000 in Zimbabwe (1982). Status: 7 (Shifting). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Alternate Names: Kololo, Rotse, Rotvi, Rozi, Rutse, Silozi, Tozvi Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Lozi (K.21)

Manyika mxc

Manicaland province: Makoni, Mutasa, Mutare, and Nyanga districts, northwest of Umtali. Users: 405,000 in Zimbabwe (2012). Total users in all countries: 551,000. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Bamanyeka, Chimanyika, Manika, Manyika Shona, Wamanyika, Wanyika Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.13)

Nambya nmq

Matabeleland North province: primarily Hwange district; Binga and Lupane districts; Bulawayo. Users: 90,000 in Zimbabwe (Chebanne and Nthapelelang 2000). Total users in all countries: 105,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Alternate Names: Banyai, Chinambya, Nambzya, Nanzva Autonym: chiNambya Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.16)

Ndau ndc

Manicaland province: Melsetter area south of Umtali; Masvingo province: Bikita district. Users: 800,000 in Zimbabwe (Chebanne and Nthapelelang 2000). Status: 5* (Developing). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Alternate Names: Chindau, Ndzawu, Njao, Sofala, Southeast Shona Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.15)

Ndebele nde

Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, and Matabeleland South provinces; Midlands province: Gokwe South, Gueru, Kwekwe, Mberengwa, and Shurugwi districts. Users: 3,010,000 in Zimbabwe, all users. L1 users: 1,610,000 in Zimbabwe (2012). L2 users: 1,400,000 (2019). Total users in all countries: 3,046,200 (as L1: 1,646,200; as L2: 1,400,000). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Offshoot of the Nguni language, Ndebele tribe broke away from the Zulu empire in the early 19th century. Gained vitality under the powerful indigenous kingdom of Mzilikazi in the 19th century. Used in daily life. Alternate Names: Isinde’bele, Ndebele of Zimbabwe, Northern Ndebele, Sindebele, Tabele, Tebele Autonym: isiNdebele Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.44)

Nsenga nse

Mashonaland Central province: Mozambique border; Mount Darwin, Muzarabani, and Rushinga districts. Users: 16,100 in Zimbabwe (1969 census). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Chinsenga, Cinsenga, Senga Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Senga-Sena (N.41)

Pidgin Bantu fng

Mashonaland Central province; widespread in Shona speaking areas, mining camps, and urban centers. Users: No known L1 speakers in Zimbabwe. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Status: 9 (Second language only). Alternate Names: Isilololo, Isipiki, Lololo, Piki, “Fanagalo” (pej.), “Fanakalo” (pej.), “Fanekolo” (pej.), “Isikula” (pej.) Classification: Pidgin, Zulu based

Portuguese por

Users: 17,000 in Zimbabwe (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician

Setswana tsn

Matabeleland South province: Bulilimamangwe district, between Ramoquabane and Simukwe rivers. Users: 29,400 in Zimbabwe (1969 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Alternate Names: Beetjuans, Chuana, Chwana, Coana, Cuana, Sechuana, Tshwana, Tswana Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.31)

Shona sna

Harare, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, and Midlands provinces. Manicaland province, Nyanga district (Hwesa dialect); Mashonaland East, Mudzi and Mutoko districts (Budja dialect). Users: 10,660,000 in Zimbabwe, all users. L1 users: 7,160,000 in Zimbabwe (2012). L2 users: 3,500,000 (2019). Total users in all countries: 10,865,590 (as L1: 7,365,590; as L2: 3,500,000). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Migrated to what is today’s Zimbabwe during the great Bantu expansion in the first half of the first millennium; became widespread in the 11th century. Gained vitality duiring British control at the end of the 19th century. Used in trade, literary tradition, and education. Alternate Names: chiShona, “Swina” (pej.) Autonym: Chishona Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.10)

Tonga toi

Mashonaland Central: Mount Darwin district; Mashonaland West province: Kariba district; Matabeleland North province: Binga district; Midlands province: Gokwe North and Gokwe South districts. South shore of Lake Kariba and inland. Users: 200,000 in Zimbabwe (Hachipola 1998). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Alternate Names: Batonga, Chitonga, Zambezi Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Lenje-Tonga (M.64)

Tsoa hio

Matabeleland North province: Hwange and Tsholotsho districts; Matabeleland South province: Bulilimamangwe district; Botswana border. Users: 3,540 in Zimbabwe (2000). Status: 7 (Shifting). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)), listed as ‘Koisan’. Alternate Names: Amasili, Bakhwa, Basarwa, Chware, Haitshuwau, Hiechware, Hietshware, Khoisan, Koi-san, Koisan, Tjwao, Tshikwa, Tshuwau, Tshwa, Tshwao, Tshwawo Classification: Khoe-Kwadi, Khoe, Kalahari Khoe, Northeast

Tsonga tso

Masvingo province, Chiredzi, Mwenezi, and Zaka districts; near Mozambique border. Users: 100,000 in Zimbabwe (Hachipola 1998). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Alternate Names: Gwamba, Shangani, Shitsonga, Thonga, Tonga, Vatsonga, Xitsonga Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Tswa-Rhonga (S.53)

Tswa tsc

Manicaland province: southern area; Masvingo province; Matabeleland South province: Beitbridge; Midlands province: Mberengwa. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Kitshwa, Sheetshwa, Shitshwa, Tshwa, Xitshwa Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Tswa-Rhonga (S.51)

Venda ven

Matabeleland South province: Beitbridge, Bulilimamangwe, and Gwanda districts; Midlands province: Mberengwa district. Users: 91,400 in Zimbabwe (2012). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Alternate Names: Cevenda, Chivenda, Luvenḓa, Tshivenḓa Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Venda (S.21)

Xhosa xho

Matabeleland North: Bubi district, Kenilworth and Motapa areas; Matabeleland South: Insiza and Umzingwane districts, Bembesi, Filabusi, and Fort Rixon areas. Users: 33,000 in Zimbabwe (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Ethnic population: 200,000 (Kunju 2017). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.41)

Zimbabwe Sign Language zib

Mashonaland Central province: Muzarabani district, Centenary area. Users: 73,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 44,000–88,000, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of the total population. However, there are 280,000 deaf members reported for the Zimbabwe National Association of the Deaf (2008 WFD), which is almost 2%. Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2010, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Alternate Names: Zimsign Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language