mos ISO 639

Mòoré Autonyms

Mòoré

  • Geography

    BF Widespread. Central Ouagadougou area.
  • Language Cloud

A language of Burkina Faso

mos
Mole, Moose, More, Moré, Moshi, Mossi
Mòoré
6,360,000 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 7,984,800.
Widespread. Central Ouagadougou area.
Burkina Faso, Central Mali, Central Mali: Enlarged area, Togo
3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. The Mossi (who are Mòoré speakers) settled in Burkina Faso in the 10th century and were the most powerful and influential ethnic group. Mòoré is spoken by more than half of the population of Burkina Faso. Spread throughout the central part of the country, with sub-populations in all major cities.
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Western, Northwest
Saremdé, Taolendé, Yaadré, Ouagadougou, Yaande, Zaore (Joore), Yana (Jaan, Yanga). Yana dialect has over 90% intelligibility with the Ouagadougou dialect 75%–80% with the Joore dialect. Joore with Ouagadougou varies from 88% in Tibga to 95% in Diabo. Yanga in Togo, completely intelligible with Central Mòoré.
SVO; postpositions; genitives, articles, adjectives, numerals after noun heads; question word final; word order distinguishes subjects, objects; CV, CVC, CVV, CCV; tonal.
Dominant African language of Burkina Faso. Used by all. Also use Jula [dyu]. Used as L2 by Bisa [bib], Dagaari Dioula [dgd], Gourmanchéma [gux], Kasem [xsm], Koromfé [kfz], Lyélé [lee], Malba Birifor [bfo], Matya Samo [stj], Maya Samo [sym], Sininkere [skq], Southern Nuni [nnw], Southern Samo [sbd].
Literacy rate in L1: 24% (2006 census). Used in adult literacy classes (2021 SIL). Taught as subject in some primary schools through grades 3–5. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1983.
Braille script [Brai], developed in 2010. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.
Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.
OLAC resources in and about Mòoré
Mòoré
1,360,000 in Côte d’Ivoire (Leclerc 2017c).
6a (Vigorous)
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Côte d’Ivoire
Mòoré
140,000 in Ghana (2013 UNSD).
Unestablished
Used as L2 by Bisa [bib].
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Ghana
Mòoré
46,700 in Mali (2018).
Mopti region: Koro circle on Burkina Faso border, border area south of Koro town.
6a (Vigorous)
Used by all.
Came from Burkina Faso during the colonial period. Traditional religion, Muslim.
View other languages of Mali
Mòoré
44,800 in Senegal (2017).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Senegal
Mòoré
33,300 in Togo (Gblem-Poidi and Kantchoa 2012).
Savanes region: Cinkassé prefecture, Cinkassé, Tabi, and Timbou villages north of Dapaong.
Yanga (Jaan, Timbou, Yaan, Yam, Yan, Yana).
6a (Vigorous)
Used by all. Also use French [fra]. Used as L2 by Bissa [bib], Kusaal [kus], Mampruli [maw].
Literacy rate in L2: Many in the younger generation can read French [fra].
View other languages of Togo