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List of Languages in Nigeria

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There are several languages spoken in Nigeria today. And they are all scattered across the 36 states of the federation. In this article, we will provide you with a list of languages in Nigeria.

Generally, English is the most popular language among Nigerians; and that’s because it is Nigeria’s official language.

Meanwhile, the three major local languages in Nigeria are Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa.

Aside from those languages, there’s the Nigerian pidgin… which is arguably the predominant language among civilians in non-office / informal locations such as — markets, streets, bars, etc.

How many languages are in Nigeria?

At the moment, Nigeria has over 500 languages, therefore sorting them out isn’t child’s play. Notwithstanding, we were able to list over 350 languages with traces in Nigeria — excluding local dialects and extinct languages.

From previous research conducted, Nigeria had exactly 521 languages. However, 9 among them are now extinct, taking the tally to 512.

But there seems to be a lot of discrepancies surrounding these figures. So it’s much better to leave it this way — Nigeria has over 500 languages.

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As earlier noted, no one has really come out to explicitly say the exact number of languages in Nigeria, since many of them are near extinction or living in highly uncivilized locations.

But from research…

Here’s a list of languages in Nigeria

  1. Abanyom
  2. Abon
  3. Abua
  4. Abureni
  5. Achipa
  6. Adim
  7. Aduge
  8. Adun
  9. Afade
  10. Afo
  11. Afrikaans
  12. Afrike
  13. Gbo
  14. Akaju-Ndem
  15. Akweya-Yachi
  16. Alago
  17. Amo
  18. Anaguta
  19. Anang
  20. Andoni
  21. Angas
  22. Ankwei
  23. Anyima
  24. Arabic
  25. Attakar
  26. Auyoka
  27. Awori
  28. Ayu
  29. Babur
  30. Bachama
  31. Bachere
  32. Bada
  33. Bade
  34. Bahumono
  35. Bakulung
  36. Bali
  37. Bambora
  38. Bambuko
  39. Banda
  40. Banka
  41. Banso
  42. Bara
  43. Barke
  44. Baruba
  45. Bashiri
  46. Basa
  47. Batta
  48. Baushi
  49. Baya
  50. Bekwarra
  51. Bele (Buli, Belewa)
  52. Betso (Bete)
  53. Bette
  54. Bilei
  55. Bille
  56. Bina (Binawa)
  57. Bini
  58. Birom
  59. Bobua
  60. Boki (Nki)
  61. Bkkos
  62. Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa)
  63. Bole (Bolewa)
  64. Botlere
  65. Boma (Bomawa, Burmano)
  66. Bomboro
  67. Buduma Borno,
  68. Buji
  69. Buli
  70. Bunu
  71. Bura
  72. Burak
  73. Burma (Burmawa)
  74. Buru
  75. Buta (Butawa)
  76. Bwall
  77. Bwatiye
  78. Bwazza
  79. Challa
  80. Chama (Chamawa Fitilai)
  81. Chamba
  82. Chamo
  83. Chibok (Chibbak)
  84. Chinine
  85. Chip
  86. Chokobo
  87. Chukkol
  88. Cipu
  89. Daba
  90. Dadiya
  91. Daka
  92. Dakarkari
  93. Danda(Dandawa)
  94. Dangsa
  95. Daza (Dere, Derewa)
  96. Degema
  97. Deno (Denawa)
  98. Dghwede
  99. Diba
  100. Doemak (Dumuk)
  101. Ouguri
  102. Duka (Dukawa)
  103. Duma(Dumawa)
  104. Ebana(Ebani)
  105. Ebira
  106. Ebu
  107. Efik
  108. Egbema
  109. Eggon
  110. Egun (Gu)
  111. Ejagham
  112. Ekajuk
  113. Eket
  114. Ekoi
  115. Engenni (Ngene)
  116. Epie
  117. Esan (Ishan)
  118. Etche
  119. Etolu(Etilo)
  120. Etsako
  121. Etung
  122. Etuno
  123. Palli
  124. Pulani (Pulbe)
  125. French
  126. Fyam (Fyem)
  127. Fyer(Fer)
  128. Ga’anda
  129. Gade
  130. Galambi
  131. Gamergu
  132. Qanawuri
  133. Gavako
  134. Gbedde
  135. Gengle
  136. Geji
  137. Gera (Gere, Gerawa)
  138. Geruma (Gerumawa)
  139. Geruma (Gerumawa)
  140. Gingwak
  141. Gira
  142. Gizigz
  143. Goernai
  144. Gokana (Kana)
  145. Gombi
  146. Gornun (Gmun)
  147. Gonia
  148. Gubi (Gubawa)
  149. Gude
  150. Gudu
  151. Gure
  152. Gurmana
  153. Gururntum
  154. Gusu
  155. Gwa (Gurawa)
  156. Gwamba
  157. Gwandara
  158. Gwari (Gbari)
  159. Gwom
  160. Gwoza
  161. Gyem
  162. Hausa
  163. Higi (Hig)
  164. Holma
  165. Hona
  166. Hyam (Ham, Jaba, Jabba)
  167. Ibeno
  168. Ibibio
  169. Ichen
  170. Idoma
  171. Igalla
  172. lgbo
  173. Igede
  174. ljumu
  175. Ikorn
  176. Irigwe
  177. Isoko
  178. lsekiri (Itsekiri)
  179. lyala (lyalla)
  180. Izere
  181. lzondjo)
  182. Jahuna (Jahunawa)
  183. Jaku
  184. Jara(Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse)
  185. Jere(Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa) Bauchi,
  186. Jero
  187. Jibu
  188. Jidda-Abu
  189. Jimbin (Jimbinawa)
  190. Jirai
  191. Jonjo (Jenjo)
  192. Jukun
  193. Kaba(Kabawa)
  194. Kadara
  195. Kafanchan
  196. Kagoro
  197. Kaje (Kache)
  198. Kajuru (Kajurawa)
  199. Kaka
  200. Kamaku (Karnukawa)
  201. Kambari
  202. Kambu
  203. Kamo
  204. Kanakuru (Dera)
  205. Kanembu
  206. Kanikon
  207. Kantana
  208. Kanufi Bomo,
  209. Karekare (Karaikarai)
  210. Karimjo
  211. Kariya
  212. Katab (Kataf)
  213. Kenern (Koenoem)
  214. Kenton
  215. Kiballo (Kiwollo)
  216. Kilba
  217. Kirfi (Kirfawa)
  218. Koma
  219. Kona
  220. Koro (Kwaro)
  221. Kubi (Kubawa)
  222. Kudachano (Kudawa)
  223. Kugama
  224. Kulere (Kaler)
  225. Kunini
  226. Kurama
  227. Kurdul
  228. Kushi
  229. Kuteb
  230. Kutin
  231. Kwalla
  232. Kwami (Kwom)
  233. Kwanchi
  234. Kwanka (Kwankwa)
  235. Kwaro
  236. Kwato
  237. Kyenga (Kengawa)
  238. Laaru (Larawa)
  239. Lakka
  240. Lala
  241. Lama
  242. Lamja
  243. Lau
  244. Ubbo
  245. Limono
  246. Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa)
  247. Longuda (Lunguda)
  248. Mabo
  249. Mada
  250. Mama
  251. Mambilla
  252. Manchok
  253. Mandara
  254. Manga (angawa)
  255. Margi
  256. Matakarn
  257. Mbembe
  258. Mbol
  259. Mbube
  260. Mbula
  261. Mbum
  262. Memyang (Meryan)
  263. Miango
  264. Miligili (Migili)
  265. Miya (Miyawa)
  266. Mobber
  267. Montol
  268. Moruwa (Moro’a, Morwa)
  269. Muchaila
  270. Mumuye
  271. Mundang
  272. Munga (Mupang)
  273. Mushere
  274. Mwahavul (Mwaghavul)
  275. Ndoro
  276. Ngamo
  277. Ngizim
  278. Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang)
  279. Ningi (Ningawa)
  280. Ninzam (Ninzo)
  281. Njayi
  282. Nkim
  283. Nkum
  284. Nokere (Nakere)
  285. Nunku
  286. Nupe
  287. Nyandang
  288. Ododop
  289. Ogori
  290. Okobo (Okkobor)
  291. Okpamheri
  292. Olulumo
  293. Oron
  294. Owan
  295. Owe
  296. Oworo
  297. Pa’a (Pa’awa Afawa)
  298. Pai
  299. Panyam
  300. Pero
  301. Pire
  302. Pkanzom
  303. Poll
  304. Polchi Habe
  305. Pongo (Pongu)
  306. Potopo
  307. Pyapun (Piapung)
  308. Qua
  309. Rebina (Rebinawa)
  310. Reshe
  311. Rindire (Rendre)
  312. Rishuwa
  313. Ron
  314. Rubu
  315. Rukuba
  316. Rumada
  317. Rumaya
  318. Sakbe
  319. Sanga
  320. Sate
  321. Saya (Sayawa Za’ar)
  322. Segidi (Sigidawa)
  323. Shanga (Shangawa)
  324. Shangawa (Shangau)
  325. Shan-Shan
  326. Shira (Shirawa)
  327. Shomo
  328. Shuwa
  329. Sikdi
  330. Siri (Sirawa)
  331. Srubu (Surubu)
  332. Sukur
  333. Sura
  334. Tangale
  335. Tarok
  336. Teme
  337. Tera (Terawa)
  338. Teshena (Teshenawa)
  339. Tigon
  340. Tikar
  341. Tiv
  342. Tula
  343. Tur
  344. Ufia
  345. Ukelle
  346. Ukwani (Kwale)
  347. Uncinda
  348. Uneme (Ineme)
  349. Ura (Ula)
  350. Urhobo
  351. Utonkong
  352. Uyanga
  353. Vemgo
  354. Verre
  355. Vommi
  356. Wagga
  357. Waja
  358. Waka
  359. Warja (Warja)
  360. Warji
  361. Wula
  362. Wurbo
  363. Wurkun
  364. Yache
  365. Yagba
  366. Yakurr (Yako)
  367. Yalla
  368. Yandang
  369. Yergan (Yergum)
  370. Yoruba
  371. Yott
  372. Yumu
  373. Yungur
  374. Yuom
  375. Zabara
  376. Zaranda
  377. Zarma
  378. Zayam (Zeam)
  379. Zul (Zulawa)

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