Encyclopedia
Languages
Some 250 languages spoken in Cameroon, with their speakers and families.
145–192 of 298
- Jukun Takum languageJukun (Njikun) or more precisely Jukun Takum, is a Jukunoid language of Cameroon used as a trade language in Nigeria.
- Kare languageKare (Kãrɛ̃, Kareng; autonym nzáà kã́rĩ́, where nzáà = 'mouth') is a southern Mbum language of the Central African Republic, spoken by the Kare people in the mountains of the northeasterly Ouham-Pendé prefecture around Bocaranga.
- Kendem languageKendem, or Bokwa-Kendem, is a minor Southern Bantoid language of the Mamfe family. It is spoken in three villages in Cameroon, Kendem, Kekpoti and Bokwa.
- Kpwe languageKpwe (Mokpwe) is a Bantu language of Cameroon. It is mutually intelligible with Kole, and probably with Mboko (Wumboko) as well.
- Kuteb languageKuteb (also known as Kutep, Ati, Kutev, Mbarike) is a Benue–Congo language. The Kuteb people mostly live in the southern part of Taraba State in Nigeria, with a thousand-or-so speakers across the border in Cameroon.
- Limba languageLimba (Malimba, Mulimba) is a Bantu language of Cameroon. It is very closely related to Duala. Speakers report some degree of mutual intelligibility with Tanga (Batanga), which they call "Old Malimba". Most speak Duala as the local lingua franca.
- Luo languageThe Luo language (Kasabe) is an extinct language of Cameroon, formerly spoken around Mambila in the Nyalang area, spoken in a section of the Atta region of Cameroon. The last speaker, a man named Bogon, died on 5 November 1995; he was said to be "well over" 100 years old at the time of his death.
- Mandi languageThe Mandi language, Nomaande (also Lemande or Maande), is an Mbam language of Cameroon.
- Maslam languageMaslam is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in northern Cameroon, with a few in southwestern Chad. Dialects are Maslam and Sao. Maslam is in rapid decline.
- Matal languageMatal, also known as Muktele and Balda, is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in northern Cameroon.
- Mbili-Mbui languageMbili (Bambili) and Mbui (Bambui) are dialects of a Grassfields Bantu language spoken in Cameroon.
- Mbum languageMbum Proper (also Mboum, Buna, Mboumtiba and Wuna) is a Adamawa–Ubangi language of Central Africa. It is spoken by about 50,000 people in Cameroon and the Central African Republic.
- Mefele languageMefele is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in northern Cameroon. Dialects are Mefele, Muhura, Serak, and Shugule. Blench (2006) considers Shugule (Shügule) a separate language.
- Mesaka languageMesaka, or Ugarə, is a Tivoid language spoken in Cameroon.
- Mono languageMono is a moribund Mbum language spoken by older adults in northern Cameroon.
- Musgu languageMusgu is a cluster of closely related language varieties of the Biu–Mandara subgroup of the Chadic languages spoken in Cameroon and Chad. The endonym is Mulwi. Blench (2006) classifies the three varieties as separate languages.
- Ngaʼka languageThe Ngaʼka language, or Mungaʼka, also known as Bali, is a Grassfields language spoken by the people of Bali Nyonga in Cameroon. They are the descendants of the Chamba of northern Nigeria.
- Ngombale languageNgombale, or Ngombale Bamileke, is a Bamileke language of Cameroon.
- Nimbari languageThe Nimbari language (also Niam-Niam), is an extinct Leko–Nimbari group of Savanna languages. It was spoken in northern Cameroon. ) lists Badjire, Gorimbari, and Padjara-Djabi villages as Nimbari locations in Bénoué and Mayo-Louti divisions.
- Njem languageNjem (Njyem) is a Bantu language of Congo and Cameroon. Speakers are mostly (85%) monolingual, and many Baka Pygmies speak Njema as a second language.
- Njen languageNjen is a minor Southern Bantoid language of Cameroon, spoken by the residents of the village of Njen. Many Njen residents also speak Moghamo and Ashong, the dialects of neighboring villages.
- Noni languageThe Noni language, also called Noone, is an Eastern Beboid language of the Niger–Congo family in Cameroon. The Noone, Ncane, and Mungong varieties are sometimes considered three distinct Noni languages. Ethnologue reports that Ncare is 88% lexically similar to Noone, and 84% with Saari (Nsari).
- Nzanyi languageNzanyi (also known as Njanyi, Nzangi, Njai, Njeny, Zani, Zany, Jeng, Jenge, Njei, Njeing, Kobotshi) is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Nigeria in Adamawa State in Maiha LGA, and along the border in Cameroon. Dialects are Dede, Hoode, Lovi, Magara, Maiha, Mutidi, Nggwoli, Pakka, and Rogede.
- Oblo languageOblo is a poorly attested, unclassified, and possibly extinct language of northern Cameroon. It is, or was, spoken in a tiny area including Gobtikéré, Ouro Bé, and Ouro Badjouma, in Pitoa, Bénoué Department.
- Oku languageOku (Ebkuo, Ekpwo, Ukfwo, Bvukoo, Kuɔ) is a Grassfields Bantoid language that is primarily spoken by the Oku people of northwest Cameroon, a fondom of the Tikar people. They are a different ethnic group from the Oku people of Sierra Leone.
- Oroko languageOroko, also Bakundu-Balue or Balundu-Bima, is a group of Bantu languages spoken in Cameroon.
- Pol languagePol is a Bantu language of Cameroon. Pol proper is spoken in central Cameroon; the Pomo and Kweso dialects are spoken in Congo and the CAR near the Cameroonian border.
- Psikyɛ dialectPsikye (Psikya, Kapsiki) is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in northern Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. Varieties include Psikyɛ and Zləngə. Blench (2006) classifies it as a dialect of Kamwe.
- Rombi languageRombi (Lombi) is a Bantu language spoken in the Meme department of the Southwest Province of southwestern Cameroon by the Barombi (Barumbi, Balombi) people. It has a lexical similarity of 86% with Bankon, which is spoken in the nearby Moungo department of Littoral Province.
- Suwu languageSuwu (Su), or Subu (also Isuwu, Isu, Isubu), also known as Bimbia, is a Bantu language of Cameroon.
- Swo languageSwo is a Bantu language of the Akonolinga area, Cameroon. Spellings of the name are quite variable, including So, Sso, Shwo, and Fo. One dialect has been influenced by Beti.
- Usaghade languageUsaghade, Isanguele or Isangele is a small Lower Cross River language spoken in the southwestern region of southern Cameroon, with some speakers across the border in Cross River State, Nigeria.
- Vemgo-Mabas languageVemgo-Mabas is an Afro-Asiatic language of Cameroon and Nigeria. Dialects are Vemgo, Mabas. Blench (2006) considers these to be separate languages. Ethnologue lists a third dialect, Visik in Nigeria, which is not well attested; Blench suspects it may be a dialect of Lamang instead.
- Wushi languageWushi (Babessi) is a Grassfields language of Cameroon.
- Wuzlam languageWuzlam, also called Uldeme (Ouldémé), Udlam, Ouzlam, Uzam, Uzlam, and Mizlime, is an Afro-Asiatic language of the Chadic branch. It is spoken in northern Cameroon.
- Yamba languageYamba is a Grassfields language of the Northwest region of southern Cameroon, with a small number of speakers in Eastern Nigeria. Mbem village has the largest population of Yamba speakers in the region.
- YangbenLe yangben, aussi appelé nuasue, est une langue bantoïde méridionale parlée au Cameroun dans la région du Centre, le département du Mbam-et-Inoubou, l'arrondissement de Bokito, le canton de Yangben au sud de Bokito.
- Ɗugwor languageƊugwor is a Chadic language spoken in northern Cameroon. Blench (2006) considers Mikere dialect to be a separate language.
- Bafaw-Balong languageBafaw-Balong is a Bantu language of Cameroon. There are two divergent varieties, Fo’ (Bafaw, Bafo, Bafowu, Afo, Nho, Lefo’) and Long (Balong, Balon, Balung, Nlong, Valongi, Bayi, Bai), which are sometimes considered distinct languages.
- Bamali languageThe Bamali language, Chopechop, is a Grassfields Bantu language of Cameroon.
- Beba languageBeba’ (Bebadji, Mubadji) is a Grassfields Bantu language spoken in Cameroon.
- Central KanuriCentral Kanuri or Yerwa Kanuri, is a variety of the Kanuri language spoken mainly in adjacent parts of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, as well as by a diaspora community residing in Sudan.
- Faʼ languageThe Faʼ language, Ləfaʼ (also Fak or Lefa), is one of the Bantu languages of Cameroon.
- Kemezung languageKemezung (Dumbo, Dumbu, Dzumbo, Kumaju) is a Southern Bantoid (Eastern Beboid) language of Cameroon. According to Ethnologue, it's 85% lexically similar to Bebe.
- Kol languageKol is a Niger–Congo language of the Bantu family, associated with the Bikélé ethnic group. It is spoken in the East Province of Cameroon, in the vicinity of Messaména. Alternate names for Kol language include Bikele-Bikay, Bikele-Bikeng, Bikélé, and Bekol.
- Koma languageThe Koma language is a language cluster belonging to the Duru branch of Savannas languages of Cameroon.
- Korop languageThe Korop language, Durop – also known as Ododop or Erorop, is an Upper Cross River language of Nigeria.
- Kuo languageKuo (Koh) is an Mbum language of northern Cameroon and southern Chad.
