Languages of Liberia
See language map.[See also SIL publications on the languages of Liberia.]
Republic of Liberia. 3,442,000. National or official language: English. Literacy rate: 25% (1989 WA). Immigrant languages: Eastern Maninkakan (33,800). Also includes languages of Lebanon, West Africa. Information mainly from J. Bendor-Samuel and Hartell 1989; TILL 1973–1998. Blind population: 15,000 (1982 WCE). Deaf institutions: 1. The number of individual languages listed for Liberia is 31. Of those, 30 are living languages and 1 is a second language without mother-tongue speakers.
| Bandi | [bza] 100,000 in Liberia (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). 50,000 fled to Guinea (Johnstone 1993). Population total all countries: 107,000. Northwest, Lofa County. Also in Guinea. Alternate names: Bande, Gbande, Gbandi, Gbunde. Dialects: Tahamba, Wawana, Wulukoha, Hasala, Lukasa, Hembeh. Tahamba dialect used for literature. Lexical similarity: 96% among the 6 dialects, 83% with the most similar Mende [men] dialect. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Mende-Loma, Mende-Bandi, Bandi |
| Bassa | [bsq] 403,000 in Liberia (2006). Population total all countries: 408,730. Central, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, and Montserrado counties. Gbii overlaps into Nimba County. Also in Sierra Leone. Dialects: Gbor, Gba Sor, Mabahn, Hwen Gba Kon, Central Bassa, Rivercess Bassa. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Bassa |
| Dan | [daf] 175,000 in Liberia (1993 SIL). North central, Nimba County. Alternate names: Da, Gio, Gio-Dan, Gyo, Yacouba, Yakuba. Dialects: Upper Gio, Lower Gio, River Cess Gio. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Southeastern, Guro-Tura, Tura-Dan-Mano, Tura-Dan |
| Dewoin | [dee] 8,100. Montserrado County near the coast; Monrovia, between Lofa and St. Paul rivers. Alternate names: De, Dei, Dewoi, Dey. Dialects: No significant dialect differences. Lexical similarity: 72% with Bassa [bsq]. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Bassa |
| English | [eng] 70,000 in Liberia (2006). Dialects: Liberian Standard English. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English |
| Gbii | [ggb] 5,600 (Vanderaa 1991). Central, Nimba County, west of Cestos River. Alternate names: Gbee, Gbi-Dowlu. Dialects: Kplor, Dorbor. Lexical similarity: 78% with Bassa [bsq]. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Bassa |
| Glaro-Twabo | [glr] 4,270 in Liberia (2000). Northeast, Grand Gedeh County. Also in Côte d’Ivoire. Dialects: Glaro, Twabo. Minimal intelligibility between Twabo dialect and some Eastern Krahn [kqo] dialects, but not with Glaro. Lexical similarity: 82% with some Eastern Krahn dialects. Glaro and Twabo dialects have 87% lexical similarity. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Wee, Guere-Krahn |
| Glio-Oubi | [oub] 3,500 in Liberia (1991). Population total all countries: 6,000. Northeast. 6 towns each side of the border. Also in Côte d’Ivoire. Alternate names: Glio, Oubi, Ubi. Dialects: Lexical similarity: 75% with Twabo dialect of Glaro-Twabo [glr] and 73% with Trepo dialect of Krumen, Pye [pye] of Côte d’Ivoire. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Grebo, Glio-Oubi |
| Gola | [gol] 99,300 in Liberia (Vanderaa 1991). Population total all countries: 107,300. West, between Mano and St. Paul rivers. Also in Sierra Leone. Dialects: Deng (Todii), Kongba, Senje. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Gola |
| Grebo | [grb] A macrolanguage. Population total all countries: 265,000. |
| Grebo, Barclayville | [gry] 23,700 (Vanderaa 1991). 387,000 all Grebo languages in Liberia (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). Grand Gedeh County, southeast coast and inland, between Klao and Jabo Grebo. Alternate names: Wedebo Grebo. Dialects: Wedebo, Kplebo. A subgroup of quite distinct dialects. Many phonological differences with Jabo dialect of Southern Grebo [grj]. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Grebo, Liberian |
| Grebo, Central | [grv] 30,800 (2006). Eastern border, including Barrobo. Dialects: Globo, Nyenebo, Dorobo, Borobo, Trembo. Distinct from Gboloo Grebo [gec]. Dialects may be quite distinct. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Grebo, Liberian |
| Grebo, Gboloo | [gec] 64,400 (2006). Eastern Province, Maryland County, east border, north of Jabo Grebo. Alternate names: Gblou Grebo, Gboloo. Dialects: Gederobo, Nyanoun, Tuobo, Biabo, Dediebo. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Grebo, Liberian |
| Grebo, Northern | [gbo] 84,500 (1999 LBT). Southeast, Grand Gedeh, Maryland, and Kru Coast counties near Côte d’Ivoire border, south of Krahn, north of Klao, west of Glaro. Dialects: Chedepo, E Je (Eh Je), Palipo, Gbepo (Gbeapo), Jedepo, Tienpo, Klepo, Fopo-Bua, Northeastern Grebo. A subgroup of quite distinct dialects. Subdialects of Northeastern dialect are Nitiabo, Sabo, Tuobo, Ketiepo, Webo. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Grebo, Liberian |
| Grebo, Southern | [grj] 61,600 in Liberia (2006). Eastern Province, Grand Gedeh and Maryland counties, southeast coast and inland. Also in Côte d’Ivoire. Dialects: Glebo (Seaside Grebo), Jabo, Nyabo, Wrelpo. A subgroup of quite distinct dialects. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Grebo, Liberian |
| Kisi, Southern | [kss] 115,000 in Liberia (1995). Population total all countries: 200,000. Extreme northwest corner, Lofa County. Also in Sierra Leone. Alternate names: Gisi, Gizi, Kissi, Kissien. Dialects: Luangkori, Tengia, Warn. Different from Northern Kissi [kqs] of Guinea. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Bullom-Kissi, Kissi |
| Klao | [klu] 213,000 in Liberia (2006). Population total all countries: 222,620. Eastern Province, Coast and inland. Also in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States. Alternate names: Klaoh, Klau, Kroo, Kru. Dialects: Western Klaoh, West Central Klaoh, Central Klaoh, Eastern Klaoh. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Klao |
| Kpelle | [kpe] A macrolanguage. Population total all countries: 795,400. |
| Kpelle, Liberia | [xpe] 487,000 (Vanderaa 1991). Central. Alternate names: Gbese, Kpele, Kpwessi, Pessa, Pessy. Dialects: Dialect differences slight. Different from Kpelle [gkp] of Guinea. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Kpelle |
| Krahn, Eastern | [kqo] 53,200 (2006). 20,000 Tchien (1992 UBS). Northeast near Côte d’Ivoire border. Alternate names: Eastern Kran, Kran. Dialects: Gorbo, Kanneh, Konobo, Tchien (Chiehn). Minimal intelligibility between some dialects and Twabo dialect of Glaro-Twabo [glr]. Distinct from Western Krahn [krw], Sapo [krn], and We Southern [gxx]. Lexical similarity: 93% between Gorbo and Kanneh dialects, 87% between Gorbo and Konobo dialects. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Wee, Konobo |
| Krahn, Western | [krw] 53,200 in Liberia (2006). Population total all countries: 65,400. Eastern Province near Côte d’Ivoire border. Also in Côte d’Ivoire. Alternate names: Krahn, Kran, Northern Krahn, Western Kran. Dialects: Gbo, Gbaeson (Gbaison, Gbarzon), Plo, Biai, Gbarbo, Gborbo (Gbobo), Kpeaply. Dialects in Côte d’Ivoire have French influences. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Wee, Guere-Krahn |
| Krumen, Tepo | [ted] 2,910 in Liberia (2000). Glawlo dialect is southeast; others in southwest Côte d’Ivoire. Alternate names: Kroumen, Kru, Krumen, Southern Krumen. Dialects: Tepo, Bapo, Plapo, Wlopo (Ropo), Dapo, Honpo, Yrepo (Kapo), Glawlo. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Grebo, Ivorian |
| Kuwaa | [blh] 12,800 (Vanderaa 1991). Lofa County, south of Bandi and Loma, north of Kpelle. Alternate names: Belle, Belleh, Kowaao, Kwaa. Dialects: Only minor pronunciation differences exist between the 2 Kuwaa clans; Lubaisu and Gbade. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Kuwaa |
| Liberian English | [lir] Alternate names: Liberian Pidgin English. Dialects: Kru Pidgin English. Regional dialects. Classification: Pidgin, English based, Atlantic |
| Loma | [lom] 165,000 (2006). Northwest, Loffa County, border area. Alternate names: “Bouze” , “Busy” , “Buzi” , Loghoma, Looma, Lorma. Dialects: Gizima, Wubomei, Ziema, Bunde, Buluyiema. Distinct from Toma [tod] of Guinea, Loma [loi] of Côte d’Ivoire. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Mende-Loma, Loma |
| Maninka, Konyanka | [mku] 39,200 in Liberia (2006). North, bordering Guinea. Alternate names: Konya, Konyakakan. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding |
| Mann | [mev] 188,000 in Liberia (2006). Population total all countries: 259,000. North central, Nimba County. Also in Guinea. Alternate names: Maa, Mah, Mano, Mawe. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Southeastern, Guro-Tura, Tura-Dan-Mano, Mano |
| Manya | [mzj] 50,400 in Liberia (2006). Population total all countries: 75,400. Also in Guinea. Alternate names: Mandingo, Manya Kan. Dialects: Lexical similarity: 70% with Konyanka Maninka [mku], 66% with Eastern Maninkakan [emk]. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding |
| Mende | [men] 19,700 in Liberia (Vanderaa 1991). Alternate names: Boumpe, Hulo, Kossa, Kosso. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Mende-Loma, Mende-Bandi, Mende-Loko |
| N’ko | [nqo] Classification: Mixed language |
| Sapo | [krn] 36,400 (2006). East, Sinoe County, and Grand-Gedeh County (Putu). Adjacent to Eastern Krahn [kqo], Tchien dialect. Alternate names: Sarpo, Southern Krahn. Dialects: Nomopo (Nimpo), Waya (Wedjah), Juarzon, Sinkon (Senkon), Putu, Kabade (Karbardae). Lexical similarity: 84%–97% between Western Wè [wec] and Sapo dialects, including some Wè dialects in Côte d’Ivoire. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Wee, Guere-Krahn |
| Tajuasohn | [tja] 9,600 (Vanderaa 1991). Sinoe County, north of Greenville. Alternate names: Tajuason, Tajuoso, Tajuosohn. Dialects: 5 clans speak inherently intelligible dialects. Many understand Klao [klu], but the reverse is not true. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Klao |
| Vai | [vai] 104,000 in Liberia (2006). Population total all countries: 119,500. West. Also in Sierra Leone. Alternate names: Gallinas, Gallines, Vei, Vy. Dialects: Different from Kono [kno] of Sierra Leone. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Vai-Kono |
Ethnologue: Web | Ethnologue: Print | Bibliography | Publications Catalog | Software | Email Updates
Who we are | Shopping cart | Site search | Site map | Home
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | External links
Copyright © 2011 SIL International (formerly known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics)
