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Somali language
Cushitic language of the Horn of Africa / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Not to be confused with Somali languages.
Somali (/səˈmɑːli, soʊ-/ sə-MAH-lee, soh-;[4][5] Latin script: Af-Soomaali; Wadaad: اف صومالِ; Osmanya: 𐒖𐒍 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘 [af soːmaːli])[6] is an Afroasiatic language belonging to the Cushitic branch. It is spoken primarily in Greater Somalia, and by the Somali diaspora as a mother tongue. Somali is an official language in both Somalia and Ethiopia,[7] and serves as a national language in Djibouti, it is also a recognised minority language in Kenya. The Somali language is officially written with the Latin alphabet although the Arabic script and several Somali scripts like Osmanya, Kaddare and the Borama script are informally used.[8][9]
Quick Facts Pronunciation, Region ...
Somali | |
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Af Soomaali,[1] Soomaali[2] 𐒖𐒍 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘, 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘 اف صومالِ, صومالِ, | |
Pronunciation | [af soːmaːli] |
Region | Horn of Africa |
Ethnicity | Somalis |
Native speakers | 24 million (2019–2023)[3] |
Dialects | Northern Benadiri Ashraf Maay |
Somali Latin alphabet (Latin script; official) Wadaad's writing (Arabic script) Osmanya alphabet Borama alphabet Kaddare alphabet | |
Official status | |
Official language in | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Recognised minority language in | |
Regulated by | Regional Somali Language Academy |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-1 | so |
ISO 639-2 | som |
ISO 639-3 | som |
Glottolog | soma1255 |
Linguasphere | 14-GAG-a |
![]() Primary Somali Sprachraum | |
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