Languages of Kenya

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kenya is a multilingual country. Its official languages are Swahili and English. There are a total of 62 languages spoken in Kenya (according to Ethnologue), most being African languages with a minority of Middle-Eastern and Asian languages spoken by descendants of settlers. The African languages of Kenya come from three different language families - Bantu languages are spoken in the center and southeast, Nilotic languages in the west, and Cushitic languages in the northeast.

[edit] List of Languages

• • Arabic, Omani and Hadhrami dialects spoken
  • Baluchi , mixed with Swahili
  • Boni
  • Borana
  • Bukusu
  • Burji
  • Chonyi
  • Chuka
  • Cutchi-Swahili
  • Daasanach
  • Dahalo
  • Digo
  • Dholuo
  • Duruma
  • El Molo
  • Embu
  • Endo
  • English
  • Garreh-Ajuran
  • Gikuyu
  • Giryama
  • Gujarati
  • Gusii (Kisii)
  • Idakho-Isukha-Tiriki
  • Kachchi
  • Kalenjin
  • Kamba
  • Kenyan Sign Language
  • Konkani, Goanese
  • Kuria
  • Logooli
  • Luyia
  • Maasai
  • Malakote
  • Meru
  • Mwimbi-Muthambi
  • Nubi
  • Nyala, East
  • Nyore
  • Okiek
  • Omotik
  • Orma
  • Panjabi, Eastern
  • Pokomo, Lower
  • Pokomo, Upper
  • Pökoot
  • Rendille
  • Sabaot
  • Sagalla
  • Samburu
  • Sanye
  • Somali
  • Suba
  • Swahili
  • Taita
  • Talai
  • Taveta
  • Teso
  • Tharaka
  • Tugen, North
  • Turkana
  • Yaaku

[edit] External links

• Ethnologue page for Kenya
• National Public Radio story about Kisii language from All Things Considered program, April 29, 2006
• PanAfriL10n page on Kenya