528+ Languages and Dialects In Nigeria & their ethnic groups, Ethnic groups in Nigeria and their languages..
How many languages are spoken in Nigeria?
Nigeria is the most powerful and most populous black nation on earth and arguably one of the most complex society in the world. Nigeria was colonized by the British and that is why English remains our official language used in hospitals, schools, offices and other public places…but English language still takes second or even third place when it comes to our individual tribal or ethnic groups languages, tongues and dialects.
Nigeria has over 1000 languages and ethnic groups and many of which are yet to be officially documented.
A LIST OF THE OVER 528 LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN NIGERIA AND THE STATES YOU CAN FIND THEM:
1.Abon
2.Abua
3.Abureni
4.Acipa, Eastern
5.Acipa, Western
6.Aduge
7.Afade
8.Agatu
9.Agoi
10.Agwagwune
11.Àhàn
12.Ajawa
13.Ake
14.Akpa
15.Akpes
16.Akuku
17.Akum
18.Alago
19.Alege
20.Alumu-Tesu
21.Ambo
22.Amo
23.Anaang
24.Áncá
25.Arabic, Shuwa
26.Arigidi
27.Ashe
28.Asu
29.Atsam
30.Auyokawa
31.Awak
32.Ayere
33.Ayu
34.Baan
35.Baangi
36.Baatonum
37.Bacama
38.Bada
39.Bade
40.Bakpinka
41.Bali
42.Bangwinji
43.Barikanchi
44.Basa
45.Basa-Gumna
46.Basa-Gurmana
47.Bassa-Kontagora
48.Bata
49.Batu
50.Bauchi
51.Beele
52.Begbere-Ejar
53.Bekwarra
54.Bena
55.Berom
56.Bete
57.Bete-Bendi
58.Bile
59.Bina
60.Biseni
61.Bitare
62.Boga
63.Boghom
64.Boko
65.Bokobaru
66.Bokyi
67.Bole
68.Bo-Rukul
69.Bu
70.Bukwen
71.Bumaji
72.Burak
73.Bura-Pabir
74.Bure
75.Buru
76.Busa
77.Cakfem-Mushere
78.Cara
79.Cen
80.Centúúm
81.Che
82.Cibak
83.Cinda-Regi-Tiyal
84.Cineni
85.Cishingini
86.Ciwogai
87.C’lela
88.Como Karim
89.Cori
90.Daba
91.Dadiya
92.Dass
93.Daza
94.Defaka
95.Degema
96.Dendi
97.Deno
98.Dera
99.Dghwede
100.Dibo
101.Dijim-Bwilim
102.Diri
103.Dirim
104.Doka
105.Doko-Uyanga
106.Dong
107.Duguri
108.Duhwa
109.Dulbu
110.Dungu
111.Duwai
112.Dza
113.Dzodinka
114.Ebira(Ebira-Tao and Ebira-Koto)
115.Ebughu
116.Edo
117.Efai
118.Efik
119.Efutop
120.Eggon
121.Ehueun
122.Ejagham
123.Ekajuk
124.Eki
125.Ekit
126.Ekpeye
127.Eleme
128.Eloyi
129.Emai-Iuleha-Ora
130.Engenni
131.English
132.Enwan
133.Enwan
134.Epie
135.Eruwa
136.Esan
137.Esimbi
138.Etebi
139.Eten
140.Etkywan
141.Etulo
142.Evant
143.Fali
144.Fali of Baissa
145.Fam
146.Firan
147.Fulfulde, Adamawa
148.Fulfulde, Benin-Togo
149.Fulfulde, Nigerian
150.Fum
151.Fungwa
152.Fyam
153.Fyer
154.Gaa
http://155.Ga’anda
156.Gade
157.Galambu
158.Gamo-Ningi
159.Ganang
160.Gbagyi
161.Gbari
162.Gbaya, Northwest
163.Gbiri-Niragu
164.Geji
165.Gengle
166.Gera
167.Geruma
168.Ghotuo
169.Gibanawa
170.Giiwo
171.Glavda
172.Goemai
173.Gokana
174.Gude
175.Gudu
176.Guduf-Gava
177.Gun
178.Gupa-Abawa
179.Gurmana
180.Guruntum-Mbaaru
181.Gvoko
182.Gwa
183.Gwamhi-Wuri
184.Gwandara
185.Gyem
186.Hasha
187.Hausa
188.Hausa Sign Language
189.Hide
190.Holma
191.Hõne
192.Horom
193.Huba
194.Hungworo
195.Hun-Saare
196.Hwana
197.Hya
198.Hyam
199.Ibani
200.Ibibio
201.Ibilo
202.Ibino
203.Ibuoro
204.Iceve-Maci
205.Idere
206.Idesa
207.Idoma
208.Idon
209.Idun
210.Igala
211.Igbo
212.Igede
213.Iguta
214.Igwe
215.Ihievbe
216.Ija-Zuba
217.Ijo, Southeast
218.Ika
219.Iko
220.Ikpeshi
221.Iku-Gora-Ankwa
222.Ikulu
223.Ikwere
224.Ilue
225.Irigwe
226.Itsekiri
227.Isoko
228.Ito
229.Itu Mbon Uzo
230.Ivbie North-Okpela-Arhe
231.Iyayu
232.Iyive
233.Izere
234.Izi-Ezaa-Ikwo-Mgbo
235.Izon
236.Izora
237.Janji
238.Jara
239.Jarawa
240.Jere
241.Jiba
242.Jibu
243.Jilbe
244.Jimi
245.Jiru
246.Jju
247.Jorto
248.Ju
249.Jukun Takum
250.Kaan
251.Kadara (now Adara)
252.Kagoma
253.Kaivi
254.Kakanda
255.Kakihum
256.Kalabari
257.Kam
258.Kamantan
259.Kami
260.Kamo
261.Kamwe
262.Kaningkom-Nindem
263.Kanufi
264.Kanuri
265.Kanuri, Central
266.Kanuri, Manga
267.Kapya
268.Karekare
269.Kariya
270.Khana
271.Kholok
272.Kinuku
273.Kiong
274.Kir-Balar
275.Kirike
276.Koenoem
277.Kofa
278.Kofyar
279.Kohumono
280.Koma
281.Kono
282.Korop
283.Kpan
284.Kpasam
285.Kpati
286.Kubi
287.Kudu-Camo
288.Kugama
289.Kugbo
290.Kukele
291.Kulere
292.Kulung
293.Kumba
294.Kupa
295.Kurama
296.Kushi
297.Kutep
298.Kutto
299.Kuturmi
300.Kwa
301.Kwaami
302.Kwak
303.Kyak
304.Kyenga
305.Labir
306.Laka
307.Lala-Roba
308.Lamang
309.Lame
310.Lamja-Dengsa-Tola
311.Lamnso’
312.Laru
313.Leelau
314.Legbo
315.Lemoro
316.Lenyima
317.Lere
318.Leyigha
319.Lijili
320.Limbum
321.Lokaa
322.Longuda
323.Loo
324.Lopa
325.Lubila
326.Lufu
327.Luri
328.Maaka
329.Mada
330.Mafa
331.Mághdì
332.Mak
333.Mala
334.Mama
335.Mambila, Nigeria
336.Mangas
337.Marghi Central
338.Marghi South
339.Mashi
340.Mawa
341.Mbe
342.Mbembe, Cross River
343.Mbembe, Tigon
344.Mboi
345.Mbongno
346.Mbula-Bwazza
347.Mburku
348.Mingang Doso
349.Miship
350.Miya
http://351.Mom Jango
352.Montol
353.Moo
354.Mumuye
355.Mundat
356.Mvanip
357.Mwaghavul
358.Nde-Gbite
359.Nde-Nsele-Nta
360.Ndoe
361.Ndoola
362.Ndun
363.Ndunda
364.Ngamo
365.Ngas
366.Nggwahyi
367.Ngizim
368.Ngwaba
369.Nigerian Sign Language
370.Ningye
371.Ninzo
372.Njerep
373.Nkari
374.Nkem-Nkum
375.Nkoroo
376.Nkukoli
377.Nnam
378.Nshi
379.Numana-Nunku-Gbantu-Numbu
380.Nungu
381.Nupe-Nupe-Tako
382.Nyam
383.Nyeng
384.Nyong
385.Nzanyi
386.Obanliku
387.Obolo
388.Obulom
389.O’chi’chi’
390.Odual
391.Odut
392.Ogbah
393.Ogbia
394.Ogbogolo
395.Ogbronuagum
396.Okobo
397.Okodia
398.Oko-Eni-Osayen
399.Okpamheri
400.Okpe
401.Okpe
402.Oloma
403.Olulumo-Ikom
404.Oring
405.Oro
406. Oruma
407. Ososo
408. Otank
409. Pa’a
410. Panawa
411. Pangseng
412. Pe
413. Peere
414. Pero
415. Pidgin, Nigerian
416. Piti
417. Piya-Kwonci
418. Polci
419. Pongu
420. Psikye
421. Putai
422. Putukwam
423. Pyapun
424. Rang
425. Reshe
426. Rogo
427. Ron
428. Ruma
429. Samba Daka
430. Samba Leko
431. Sambe
432. Sanga
433. Sasaru
434. Saya
435. Sha
436. Shakara
437. Shall-Zwall
438. Shamang
439. Shama-Sambuga
440. Shanga
441. Shau
442. Sheni
443. Shiki
444. Shoo-Minda-Nye
445. Shuwa-Zamani
446. Siri
447. Somyev
448. Sorko
449. Sukur
450. Sur
451. Surubu
452. Tal
453. Tala
454. Tamajaq, Tawallammat
455. Tambas
456. Tangale
457. Tanjijili
458. Tarok
459. Tedaga
460. Tee
461. Teme
462. Tera
463. Teshenawa
464. Tha
465. Tita
466. Tiv
467. Toro
468. Tsikimba
469. Tsishingini
470. Tso
471. Tsuvadi
472. Tula
473. Tumi
474. Tunzuii
475. Tyap
476. Ubaghara
477. Ubang
478. Uda
479. Uhami
480. Ukaan
481. Ukpe-Bayobiri
482. Ukpet-Ehom
483. Ukue
484. Ukwa
485. Ukwuani-Aboh-Ndoni
486. Ulukwumi
487. Umon
488. Uneme
489. Uokha
490. Urhobo
491. Usaghade
492. ut-Ma’in
493. Uvbie
494. Uzekwe
495. Vaghat-Ya-Bijim-Legeri
496. Vemgo-Mabas
497. Viti
498. Vono
499. Voro
500. Vute
501. Waja
502. Waka
503. Wandala
504. Wannu
505. Wapan
506. Wãpha
507. Warji
508. Wom
509. Yace
510. Yala
511. Yamba
512. Yangkam
513. Yedina
514. Yekhee
515. Yendang
516. Yeskwa
517. Yiwom
518. Yoruba
519. Yukuben
520. Zangwal
521. Zari
522. Zarma
523. Zeem
524. Zhire
525. Ziriya
526. Zizilivakan
527. Zumbun
528: Gure
Other important Spoken languages in Nigeria
1. Ijebu
2. Nsukka dialect
3. Qua
4. Ora (Sabongida Ora) in Edo
5. Mbèafa dialect in Mbube community of Ogoja
6. Atala language, spoken by Degema people in Rivers state
7. Mupun in plateau state
8. Anaguta and Jarawa in plateau state
9. Ijesha , akoko, ife, apoi, ilaje, ikare, igbomina, ekiti, Owo, ijebu are all dialects in yoruba
10. Dakakari, Kambari.
11. Effium in Ebonyi, Kori in Ebonyi, Ehugbo, Ezza, Izzi, Mgbo, Nkalagu, Umuhuali etc all in Ebonyi
12. Kagoro, kataf, bajju, marwa, jaba
13. Enugu Ezike language
14. Adara, Atyap, Atakar, Baju, Chawe, Gworok (Kagoro), Kamantan, Kagoma, Ikulu, Jaba and more all in Kaduna State
15. Chibok/Kibaku in Borno
16. Kwara – igbomina, batonu, ibolo
17. Zaar from bauchi state
18. Gizim from fika, potiskim, there is another from same potiskum in kuka…….
19. Chamba,sometimes spelt tchamba from Taraba/Adamawa state
20. Mwaghavul
21. Jenjo (from Taraba state) and I believe Huba is Kilba (from Adamawa)..
22. Ika
23. Ukwani
24. Kahugu, Gure,bajju, binawa…all from kaduna state
25. Ebu dialect
26. Boki
27. Ogba, Egi
28. Abakaliki
29. Ichen, Yukuben, Panso, Kpanzon, Wanu, kambu, Tchamba and so many spoken languages domiciled in Taraba
30. Agbor language spoken by people of Delta north.
NOTE: 527 languages and some tribes are still missing. Can’t find Gure, a language in Lere LG of Kaduna State in the list. Imagine how many more is missing. This shows the complexity of the Nigerian State. How do take care of all of these if every decision most be based on ethnic group?
Educative Comments:
Leo Coz
My local dialect is Yache, a language under Yala LGA of Cross River State, and it’s not captured here. I think there should be many others like that not captured in your list. You may probably want to review after comments from others.
Funmilayo Arinke
Okun.. Kogi west languages not included sir… Kabba..Yagba etc
Echaka
I can’t see my language, dialect and ethnic group called Bekwarra here.
Oseni
Bassa-Nge. Dialect of Nupe. Kogi State.
Ikemefuna
You didn’t Mention Miyango
Oyebode
You left out ‘Koro’
And also be informed that Gbagyi is of different types. Gwari Niger – Nkwa and subs, Gwari Gengen and Gwari Yama.
Ashiru
Bro you missed a lot.
Egun
Biini
Igala
Etsako
Now let’s talk of dialects
Ẹgba
Ijebu
Yewa
Dehinde
Batonum isn’t there. Spoken in Kwara north
Chigbu
My two most treasured native tongues not on the list, Ndoki-(as spoken by Azumini people and their neighbors ) and Ibeme (as spoken by Obete people)
This article was compiled by Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Sociolinguistic lecturer at the University of Nigeria.
