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{{breadcrumb | link1=[[Namibia Genealogy|Namibia]] | link2= | link3= | link4= | link5=[[Namibia Languages|Languages]] }} ==Description== English is the sole official language in Namibia but only 3% speak it as a home language.<br> Oshiwambo is the most common language spoken.<br> Afrikaans is the most widely understood national language.<br> Most of the white population speaks either German or Afrakaans. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Namibia," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia#:~:text=Languages, accessed 9 Apr 2022.</ref> Languages most often spoken in Namibian households are: * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovambo_language '''Oshiwambo'''] - also known as '''Ovambo''' (48.9% of households) * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoekhoe_language '''Khoekhoegowab'''] - also known as '''Khoekhoe''' (11.3%) * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrikaans '''Afrikaans'''] - (10.4%) * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herero_language '''Otjiherero'''] - also known as '''Herero''' (8.6%) * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwangali_language '''RuKwangali'''] - also known as '''Kwangali''' (8.5%) * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lozi_language '''siLozi'''] - also known as '''Lozi''' (4.8%) * '''English''' - (3.4%) * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_language '''German'''] - (0.9%) * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_people '''San'''] - (0.8%) * other - (2.4%) <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Namibia," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Namibia#:~:text=Languages%20most%20often%20spoken, accessed 9 Apr 2022.</ref> ==Word List(s)== * [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/khoekhoe.htm Useful phrases in Khoekhoe (Nama)] - Omniglot * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoekhoe_language#:~:text=Common%20words%20and%20phrases Khoekhoe Common words and phrases] - Wikipedia * [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/afrikaans.php Useful Afrikaans phrases] - Omniglot * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrikaans#:~:text=Afrikaans%20phrases Afrikaans phrases] - Wikipedia * [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/herero.htm Useful phrases in Herero] - Omniglot * [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/lozi.htm Useful phrases in Lozi] - Omniglot ==Alphabet and Pronunciation== '''Alphabet''' * [https://omniglot.com/writing/oshiwambo.php#:~:text=Oshiwambo%20alphabet Oshiwambo alphabet] - Omniglot * [https://omniglot.com/writing/khoekhoe.htm#:~:text=Khoekhoe%20alphabet Khoekhoe alphabet] - Omniglot * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoekhoe_language#:~:text=Phonology Khoekhoe Vowels, Consonants, Clicks] - Wikipedia * [https://omniglot.com/writing/afrikaans.htm#:~:text=Afrikaans%20alphabet Afrikaans alphabet] - Omniglot * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrikaans#:~:text=Phonology Afrikaans Vowels & Consonants] - Wikipedia * [https://omniglot.com/writing/herero.php#:~:text=Herero%20alphabet Herero alphabet] - Omniglot * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herero_language#:~:text=Phonology Herero Vowels & Consonants] - Wikipedia * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwangali_language#:~:text=Phonology Kwangali Vowels & Consonants] - Wikipedia * [https://omniglot.com/writing/lozi.htm#:~:text=Lozi%20alphabet Lozi alphabet] - Omniglot * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lozi_language#:~:text=Phonology Lozi Vowels & Consonants] - Wikipedia '''Pronunciation''' * [https://omniglot.com/writing/oshiwambo.php#:~:text=Oshiwambo%20pronunciation Oshiwambo pronunciation] - Omniglot * [https://omniglot.com/writing/khoekhoe.htm#:~:text=pronunciation Khoekhoe pronunciation] - Omniglot * [https://omniglot.com/writing/afrikaans.htm#:~:text=Afrikaans%20pronunciation Afrikaans pronunciation] - Omniglot * [https://omniglot.com/writing/herero.php#:~:text=pronunciation Herero pronunciation] - Omniglot * [https://omniglot.com/writing/lozi.htm#:~:text=pronunciation Lozi pronunciation] - Omniglot ==Language Aids and Dictionaries== '''Dictionaries''' * Haacke, Wilfrid H. G and Eliphas Eiseb. ''A Khoekhoegowab dictionary.'' Windhoek: Gamsberg Macmillan, 2002. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/231983874 WorldCat]. * Kromhout, Jan. ''Afrikaans-English, English-Afrikaans dictionary.'' New York, N.Y: Hippocrene Books, 2006. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/71196783 WorldCat]. * Nguaiko, Nduvaa Erna. ''The new Otjiherero dictionary : English-Herero, Otjiherero-Otjiingirisa.'' Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2011. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/648936290 WorldCat]. * Gestwicki, Ronald. ''An English-Herero, Herero-English dictionary.'' n.p.: n.p., 1966. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/659375 WorldCat]. * Kloppers, J. K., D. Nakare, and L. M. Isala. ''Burenkango Rukwangali - English = English Rukwangali dictionary.'' Windhoek: Gamsberg Macmillan, 1994. '''''Available at:'''''[https://www.worldcat.org/title/824634751 WorldCat]. * O'Sullivan, Owen. ''English-Silozi dictionary.'' Lusaka: Zambia Educational Pub. House, 1993. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/35810377 WorldCat]. * ''Concise Oxford-Duden German dictionary : German-English, English-German.'' Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/69483654 WorldCat]. '''Online Dictionaries''' * [https://glosbe.com/en/af Dictionary English - Afrikaans] - Glosbe * [https://glosbe.com/en/hz Dictionary English - Herero] - Glosbe * [https://glosbe.com/en/kwn Dictionary English - Kwangali] - Glosbe * [https://glosbe.com/en/loz Dictionary English - Lozi] - Glosbe * [https://glosbe.com/de/en Dictionary German - English] - Glosbe '''Language Aids''' * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoekhoe_language#:~:text=Grammar Khoekhoe Grammar] - Wikipedia * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrikaans#:~:text=Grammar Afrikaans Grammar] - Wikipedia * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otjiherero_grammar Otjiherero grammar] - Wikipedia * Fivaz, Derek and Sakaria Shikomba. ''A reference grammar of Oshindonga (Oshiwambo).'' Windhoek, Namibia: Out of Africa Publishers, 2003. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/56640839 WorldCat]. * Donaldson, B.C. ''A grammar of Afrikaans.'' Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, 1993. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/782135976 WorldCat]. * Möhlig, Wilhelm J.G. and Jekura U. Kavari. ''Reference grammar of Herero (Otjiherero) : Bantu language of Namibia.'' Köln, cop: Köppe, 2008. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/778215453 WorldCat]. ==Additional Resources== == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:Namibia]]