shu ISO 639

العربية‎ (alearabia), العربية التشادية‎ (alearabiat alttshadia) Autonyms

Arabic, Chadian Spoken

  • Geography

    TD Widespread, center and south.
  • Language Cloud

A language of Chad

shu
Arabe Choa, Chad Arabic, Chadian Arabic, Chowa, L’arabe du Tchad, Shua, Shua Arabic, Shuwa, Shuwa Arabic, Suwa, Western Sudanic Arabic
العربية‎ (alearabia), العربية التشادية‎ (alearabiat alttshadia)
1,640,000 in Chad (2019), increasing. Total users in all countries: 2,062,120 (as L1: 1,992,120; as L2: 70,000).
Widespread, center and south.
Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Map 5, Northern Cameroon, Southwestern Chad
3 (Wider communication). Derived from a variety of Arabic used in Sudan; used by 11 groups as a primary language. Became a langage of wider communication at the start of the 20th century under French colonial period. Used in trade, religion, literature, music, and folklore.
Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Dialects depend on whether their speakers are sedentary or nomads, rural or urban, and on migration routes. A pidginized variety, commonly called, Bongor Arabic, is spoken as L2 by many in the Mayo-Kebbi and other parts of south Chad. A member of macrolanguage Arabic [ara].
Positive attitudes. Used as L2 by Amdang [amj], Assangori [sjg], Bagirmi [bmi], Barein [bva], Berakou [bxv], Besme [bes], Bidiyo [bid], Bolgo [bvo], Bon Gula [glc], Boor [bvf], Bua [bub], Buduma [bdm], Buso [bso], Dangaléat [daa], Dar Daju Daju [djc], Dar Sila Daju [dau], Dazaga [dzg], Fania [fni], Gula [glu], Gula Iro [glj], Jaya [jyy], Kanembu [kbl], Kenga [kyq], Kibet [kie], Koke [kou], Kulfa [kxj], Lagwan [kot], Maba [mde], Mabire [muj], Mararit [mgb], Marfa [mvu], Masalit [mls], Maslam [msv], Masmaje [mes], Massalat [mdg], Mawa [mcw], Mbara [mpk], Migaama [mmy], Mogum [mou], Mser [kqx], Mubi [mub], Mukulu [moz], Naba [mne], Runga [rou], Saba [saa], Sinyar [sys], Sokoro [sok], Tama [tma], Tamki [tax], Tedaga [tuq], Toram [trj], Tunia [tug], Zaghawa [zag], Zan Gula [zna], Zerenkel [zrn].
Taught as subject in primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2021.
Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Latin script [Latn].
Shuwa Arabic is the name used in other countries for the dialect near Lake Chad. Muslim.
OLAC resources in and about Arabic, Chadian Spoken
Arabic, Shuwa
63,000 in Central African Republic (1996).
Unestablished
Used as L2 by Runga [rou].
Non-indigenous.
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Arabic, Shuwa
145,000 in Cameroon, all users. L1 users: 75,000 in Cameroon (2005 SIL). L2 users: 70,000 (2013 SIL).
Far North region: Diamaré, Logone-and-Chari, Mayo-Danay, and Mayo-Sava divisions; along Chari river between Lake Chad and Kousséri, pockets south of Kousséri.
3 (Wider communication)
Some also use French [fra]. A few also use Afade [aal]. A few also use Hausa [hau]. A few also use Mpade [mpi]. Used as L2 by Afade [aal], Buduma [bdm], Jina [jia], Lagwan [kot], Malgbe [mxf], Mambai [mcs], Masana [mcn], Mpade [mpi], Mser [kqx], Musgu [mug], Ngambay [sba], Wandala [mfi].
Muslim.
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Arabic, Shuwa
12,900 in Niger (2021).
Diffa region: Lake Chad north shore.
5 (Dispersed)
Muslim.
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Arabic, Shuwa
200,000 in Nigeria (2020 Joshua Project).
Borno state: Bama, Dikwa, Konduga, and Ngala LGAs; widespread in Borno and Yobe states following livestock movement.
3 (Wider communication)
The term, Shua, considered perjorative by some. Muslim.
View other languages of Nigeria