Zimbabwe Languages


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Description

Numerous languages are spoken, or historically have been spoken, in Zimbabwe.
Since the adoption of its 2013 Constitution, Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, including: [1]
Chibarwe or Barwe
English or Zimbabwean English Primary language used in education, government, commerce and media in Zimbabwe
Kalanga
Koisan or Tjwao
Nambya
Ndau
Ndebele or Northern Ndebele Spoken by 20% of the population
Shangani or Tsonga
Shona Spoken by 70% of the population
Sign language
Sotho
Tonga
Tswana or Setswana
Venda or Tshivenda
Xhosa or isiXhosa
Chewa or Nyanja

There are two vernacular languages used in Zimbabwe: [2]

  • The variety the Fanagalo language used in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) is known as Chilapalapa and is influenced by Shona. [3]
  • The variety of English spoken is Zimbabwean English. [4]

Word List(s)

Shona

Ndebele or Northern Ndebele

Fanagalo or Chilapalapa

Alphabet and Pronunciation

Shona

Ndebele or Northern Ndebele

Fanagalo or Chilapalapa

Language Aids and Dictionaries

Shona

Ndebele or Northern Ndebele

Fanagalo or Chilapalapa

Additional Resources

References

  1. Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Zimbabwe," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Zimbabwe, accessed 8 May 2023.
  2. Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Zimbabwe," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Zimbabwe, accessed 8 May 2023.
  3. Wikipedia contributors, "Fanagalo," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanagalo#Language_features_and_variants, accessed 8 May 2023.
  4. Wikipedia contributors, "Zimbabwean English," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwean_English, accessed 8 May 2023.