Mozambique languages
Most Mozambicans speak more than one language.
Mozambique is a multilingual country, with over 40 languages spoken throughout the country. The official language of Mozambique is Portuguese, which was inherited from the colonial period when Mozambique was a Portuguese colony. Portuguese is the most widely spoken language in Mozambique, 50.% of the national population a are fluent in the language. However, Portuguese is only spoken bythe population, mainly in urban areas and by the educated elite.
The most widely spoken indigenous languages in Mozambique are Emakhuwa, Xichangana, and Cisena. Emakhuwa is spoken by about 25% of the population and is the most widely spoken indigenous language in Mozambique. Xichangana is spoken by about 11% of the population, mainly in the southern part of the country. Cisena is spoken by about 8% of the population and is mainly spoken in the central and northern parts of the country.
Other major indigenous languages spoken in Mozambique include Echuwabo, Elomwe, Echindauzi, and Eshangana. These languages are spoken by smaller percentages of the population, but they are still significant in their respective regions.
In addition to these indigenous languages, Mozambique has a number of other languages spoken by smaller communities, including Swahili, English, French, and Hindi, among others.
In recent years, there has been a push to promote indigenous languages in Mozambique, as many young people are increasingly using Portuguese as their primary language. Efforts are being made to preserve and promote through education, media, and cultural events.
Emakhuwa is a Bantu language spoken by the Makhuwa people, who are the largest ethnic group in Mozambique. It is also spoken in parts of Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Emakhuwa is the most widely spoken indigenous language in Mozambique, with about 25% of the population speaking it as their first language.
Emakhuwa has several dialects, including Lomwe, Nkonde, and Nyanja. The language is tonal, meaning that the pitch of a word can change its meaning. Emakhuwa uses a Latin-based alphabet, which was standardized in the 1950s.
Emakhuwa has a rich oral tradition, with many folktales, proverbs, and songs passed down through generations. The language has also been used in literature, with several novels and poems written in Emakhuwa.
Emakhuwa : Number of speakers 4 million
Macua Lomue, also known as Lomwe, is a Bantu language spoken by the Lomwe people in southern Malawi, eastern Zambia, and northern Mozambique. It belongs with Makua in the group of Bantu languages in the northern part of the country, It is the fourth-largest language in Mozambique.
Macua Lomue is tonal, with high, low, and falling tones used to distinguish between words. It uses a Latin-based alphabet, which was standardized in the 1950s.
Macua Lomue has a rich oral tradition, with many folktales, songs, and proverbs passed down through generations. The language has also been used in literature, with several novels and poems written in Macua Lomue.
Lomwe : Number of speakers 1, 2 million people
Cisena, also known as Sena, is a Bantu language spoken by the Sena people in central and northern Mozambique, as well as in parts of Malawi and Zimbabwe. It is one of the major indigenous languages spoken in Mozambique, with about 8% of the population speaking it as their first language.
Cisena has several dialects, including Nyungwe, Nsenga, and Ndau. The language is tonal, with high, low, and falling tones used to distinguish between words. Cisena uses a Latin-based alphabet, which was standardized in the 1950s.
Cisena has a rich oral tradition, with many folktales, songs, and proverbs passed down through generations. The language has also been used in literature, with several novels and poems written in Cisena.
Cisena : Number of speakers 1, 8 million people
Nsenga is a Bantu language spoken in eastern Zambia and parts of Malawi. It is closely related to the Chewa language and is part of the larger Bantu language family. Nsenga is tonal, with high, low, and falling tones used to distinguish between words. It uses a Latin-based alphabet, which was standardized in the 1970s.
Sena, on the other hand, is a Bantu language spoken by the Sena people in central and northern Mozambique, as well as in parts of Malawi and Zimbabwe. It is one of the major indigenous languages spoken in Mozambique, with about 8% of the population speaking it as their first language. Sena is also tonal, with high, low, and falling tones used to distinguish between words. It uses a Latin-based alphabet, which was standardized in the 1950s.
Both Nsenga and Sena have rich oral traditions, with many folktales, songs, and proverbs passed down through generations. Efforts are being made to preserve and promote these languages through education, media, and cultural events.
Tsonga, also known as Xitsonga, is a Bantu language spoken by the Tsonga people in southern Mozambique, as well as in parts of South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. It is one of the major indigenous languages spoken in Mozambique, with about 7% of the population speaking it as their first language.
Tsonga has several dialects, including Xirhonga, Xichangana, and Xinkhondzi. The language is tonal, with high, low, and falling tones used to distinguish between words. Tsonga uses a Latin-based alphabet, which was standardized in the 1930s.
Tsonga has a rich oral tradition, with many folktales, songs, and proverbs passed down through generations. The language has also been used in literature, with several novels and poems written in Tsonga.
Xitsonga : Number of speakers 1, 8 million people
Xichangana, also known as Shangaan, is a Bantu language spoken by the Changana people in southern Mozambique, as well as in parts of Zimbabwe and South Africa. It is one of the major indigenous languages spoken in Mozambique, with about 11% of the population speaking it as their first language.
Xichangana has several dialects, including Hlanganu, N'walungu, and N'walundu. The language is tonal, with high, low, and falling tones used to distinguish between words. Xichangana uses a Latin-based alphabet, which was standardized in the 1950s.
Xichangana has a rich oral tradition, with many folktales, songs, and proverbs passed down through generations. The language has also been used in literature, with several novels and poems written in Xichangana.
Shona is a Bantu language spoken by the Shona people in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It is the most widely spoken Bantu language in Zimbabwe, with over 10 million speakers. In Mozambique, it is spoken by a smaller number of people, mainly in the central and southern parts of the country.
Shona has several dialects, including Zezuru, Karanga, Manyika, and Ndau. The language is tonal, with high, low, and falling tones used to distinguish between words. Shona uses a Latin-based alphabet, which was standardized in the 1930s.
Shona has a rich oral tradition, with many folktales, songs, and proverbs passed down through generations. The language has also been used in literature, with several novels and poems written in Shona.
In Zimbabwe, Shona is one of the official languages, along with English, and is used in education, media, and government. In Mozambique, Shona is not an official language, but it is still spoken by a significant number of people.
Overall, Shona is an important language in southern Africa, with a rich cultural heritage and a growing body of literature and media..