Languages of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has 16 official languages and under the constitution, an Act of Parliament may prescribe other languages as officially recognised languages.
English is the main language used in the education and judiciary systems. Shona and isiNdebele are the principal indigenous languages of Zimbabwe.
Shona is spoken by 70% of the population, isiNdebele by 20%. Other minority ethnic languages include Venda, Tonga, Shangaan, Kalanga, Sotho, Ndau and Nambya. Less than 2.5%, mainly the white and mixed-race minorities, consider English their native language.
English is spoken primarily in the cities, but less so in rural areas. Radio and television news is broadcast throughout the country in Shona, isiNdebele and English.he
According to Ethnologue (2017), Although 16 are official, 21 languages are used in Zimbabwe. All are living languages. Of these, 16 are indigenous and 5 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 5 are institutional, 11 are developing, 2 are vigorous, 2 are in trouble, and 1 is dying.
Ethnic Languages Spoken in Zimbabwe:
- Chewa
- Chibarwe
- English
- Kalanga
- Koisan
- Nambya
- Ndau
- Ndebele
- Shangani
- Shona
- sign language
- Sotho
- Tonga
- Tswana
- Venda
- Xhosa
- Zulu
