# Northern Sotho > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Northern_Sotho > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Northern_Sotho.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Sotho > Source revision: 1348513730 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Sotho-Tswana language spoken in South Africa This article is about the northeastern South African language. For the Lesotho and central South African language, see [Sotho language](/source/Sotho_language). Northern Sotho Sesotho sa Leboa Native to South Africa Region Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga Ethnicity Pedi Lobedu Tlôkwa Native speakers 6.2 million (2022 Census)[1] 9.1 million L2 speakers (2002)[2] Language family Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta-Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Southern Bantoid Bantu Southern Bantu Sotho–Tswana Northern Sotho Early forms Tswaniac Hurutshe Kgatla Standard forms Pedi Writing system Latin (Northern Sotho alphabet) Sotho Braille Ditema tsa Dinoko Signed forms Signed Northern Sotho Official status Official language in South Africa Regulated by Pan South African Language Board Language codes ISO 639-2 nso ISO 639-3 Variously: nso – Pedi, Northern Sotho, Sepedi brl – Birwa two – Tswapong Glottolog nort3233 Guthrie code S.32,301–304[3] Linguasphere 99-AUT-ed Geographical distribution of Northern Sotho in South Africa: proportion of the population that speaks a form of Northern Sotho at home. 0–20% 20–40% 40–60% 60–80% 80–100% Geographical distribution of Northern Sotho in South Africa: density of Northern Sotho home-language speakers <1 /km² 1–3 /km² 3–10 /km² 10–30 /km² 30–100 /km² 100–300 /km² 300–1000 /km² 1000–3000 /km² >3000 /km² This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. Pedi Person Mopedi People Bapedi Language Sepedi A speaker of the Northern Sotho language **Sepedi** is one of South Africa’s twelve official languages and belongs to the [Bantu](/source/Bantu_languages) language family, specifically the [Sotho-Tswana](/source/Sotho%E2%80%93Tswana_languages) group.[4] The language is spoken mainly in [Limpopo Province](/source/Limpopo), and to a lesser extent in [Gauteng](/source/Gauteng), [Mpumalanga](/source/Mpumalanga), and [North West](/source/North_West_(South_African_province))*.[5][6]* *Sepedi* refers to the dialect spoken by the Pedi people. *Northern Sotho* is the umbrella term for a group of related dialects. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but technically Sepedi is one dialect of Northern Sotho. As of the 2022 South African Census, approximately 6.2 million people, or 10.0% of the national population, speak Sepedi as their first language. Sepedi ranks as the fifth most spoken first language. ## Official language status ### Sepedi vs Northern Sotho According to Chapter 1, Section 6 of the South African Constitution, Sepedi is one of South Africa's 12 official languages.[7] There has been significant debate about whether Northern Sotho should be used instead of Pedi.[8] The English version of the South African Constitution lists Sepedi as an official language, while the Sepedi or Northern Sotho version of the Constitution of South Africa lists Sesotho sa Leboa as an official South African language.[9] ### South Africa's official language policy South Africa's official language policy refers to the twelve official languages of South Africa (i.e., Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, English, and South African Sign Language (SASL)), as specified in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.[10] ## Name This section needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) The Northern Sotho written language was based largely on the Sepedi dialect. German missionaries from the [Berlin Missionary Society](/source/Berlin_Missionary_Society) studied this dialect the most closely and first developed the orthography in 1860, with notable contributions from [Alexander Merensky](/source/Alexander_Merensky), [Carl Knothe](/source/Carl_Knothe),[11] Grützner, and Gerlachshoop.[12] This subsequently provided a common writing system for 20 or more varieties of the Sotho-Tswana languages spoken in the former Transvaal, and also helped lead to "Sepedi" being used as the umbrella term for the entire language family. However, there are objections to this synecdoche by other Northern Sotho dialect speakers, such as speakers of [Modjadji's](/source/Modjadji) [Lobedu](/source/Lobedu_people) dialect.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Other varieties of Northern Sotho Northern Sotho can be subdivided into [Highveld](/source/Highveld)-Sotho, which consists of comparatively recent immigrants mostly from the west and southwest parts of South Africa, and [Lowveld](/source/Veld)-Sotho, which consists of a combination of immigrants from the north of South Africa and Sotho inhabitants of longer standing. Like other Sotho-Tswana people, their languages are named after totemic animals and, sometimes, by alternating or combining these with the names of famous chiefs.[*[original research?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_original_research)*] ### The Highveld-Sotho The group consists of the following dialects: - [Bapedi](/source/Bapedi) - Bapedi Marota (in the narrower sense) - Marota Mamone - Marota Mohlaletsi - Batau Bapedi (Matlebjane, Masemola, Marishane, Batau ba Manganeng - Nkadimeng, Kgaphola, Diphofa, Nchabeleng, Mogashoa, Phaahla, Sloane, Mashegoana, Mphanama, Batau ba Malata a Manyane) - Phokwane - Bakone - Kone (Ga-Matlala) - Dikgale - Baphuthi - Baroka - Bakgaga (Mphahlele, Maake, and Mothapo) - Chuene - Mathabatha - Maserumule - Tlou (Ga-Molepo) - Thobejane (Ga-Mafefe) - [Batlokwa](/source/Batlokwa) - Batlokwa Ba Lethebe - Makgoba - Batlou - Bahananwa (Ga-Mmalebogo) - Moremi - Motlhatlhana - Babirwa - Batswapong - Mmamabolo - Bamongatane - Bakwena ba Moletjie (Moloto) - Batlhaloga - Bahwaduba, BaGaMagale, and many others ### The Lowveld-Sotho The group consists of [Lobedu](/source/Lobedu_people), Narene, Phalaborwa (Malatji), Mogoboya, Kone, Kgaga, Ramafalo and Mohale. ## Classification Northern Sotho is one of the [Sotho languages](/source/Sotho_languages) of the [Bantu](/source/Bantu_languages) family. Although Northern Sotho shares the name *Sotho* with [Southern Sotho](/source/Southern_Sotho), the two groups also have a great deal in common with their sister language Setswana.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*][13] Northern Sotho is also closely related to [Setswana](/source/Tswana_language), [sheKgalagari](/source/SheKgalagari) and [siLozi](/source/Lozi_language). It is a standardized variety, amalgamating several distinct varieties or dialects. Northern Sotho is also spoken by the Mohlala people and Malata People. Most Khelobedu speakers only learn to speak Sepedi at school, such that Sepedi is only their second or third language. Khelobedu is a written language. Lobedu is spoken by a majority of people in the Greater Tzaneen, Greater Letaba, and BaPhalaborwa municipalities, and a minority in Greater Giyani municipality, as well as in the [Limpopo](/source/Limpopo) Province and [Tembisa](/source/Tembisa) township in [Gauteng](/source/Gauteng). Its speakers are known as the [Balobedu](/source/Balobedu). ## Writing system Sepedi is written in the Latin alphabet. The letter *[š](/source/%C5%A0)* is used to represent the sound [ʃ] ("sh" is used in the trigraph "tsh" to represent an aspirated *ts* sound). The [circumflex accent](/source/Circumflex) can be added to the letters e and o to distinguish their different sounds, but it is mostly used in language reference books. Some word prefixes, especially in verbs, are written separately from the stem.[14] ## Phonology ### Vowels Northern Sotho vowels Front Back Close i u Close-mid e o Open-mid ɛ ɔ Open a ### Consonants Northern Sotho consonants Labial Alveolar Post- alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal plain lateral Nasal m n ɲ ŋ Plosive ejective pʼ tʼ tˡʼ kʼ aspirated pʰ tʰ tˡʰ kʰ Affricate ejective tsʼ tʃʼ aspirated tsʰ tʃʰ kxʰ Fricative voiceless f s ɬ ʃ h~ɦ voiced β ʒ ɣ Rhotic r ɺ Approximant w l j Other consonant sounds include fricative-combinations /pʃʼ pʃʰ fʃ βʒ/ and /psʼ psʰ fs/. Within nasal consonant compounds, the first nasal consonant sound is recognized as syllabic. Words such as *nthuše* "help me", are pronounced as [n̩tʰuʃe]. /n/ can also be pronounced as /ŋ/ following a velar consonant.[15] Urban varieties of Northern Sotho, such as [Pretoria Sotho](/source/Pretoria_Sotho) (actually a derivative of [Tswana](/source/Tswana_language)), have acquired [clicks](/source/Click_consonant) in an ongoing process of such sounds spreading from [Nguni languages](/source/Nguni_languages).[16] ### Tones Like most other [Niger–Congo languages](/source/Niger%E2%80%93Congo_languages), Sesotho is a tonal language, spoken with two basic tones, high (H) and low (L). ## Vocabulary Some examples of Northern Sotho words and phrases: English Northern Sotho Welcome Kamogelo (noun) / Amogela (verb) Good day Dumela (singular) / Dumelang (plural) / Thobela and Re a lotšha (to elders) How are you? O kae? (singular) Le kae? (plural, also used for elders) I am fine Ke gona. Ke tsogile(singular). Re tsogile(plural). I am fine too, thank you Le nna ke gona, ke a leboga. Thank you Ke a leboga (I thank you) / Re a leboga (we thank you) Good luck Mahlatse Have a safe journey O be le leeto le le bolokegilego Good bye! Šala gabotse (singular)/ Šalang gabotse (plural, also used for elders)(keep well) / Sepela gabotse(singular)/Sepelang gabotse (plural, also used for elders)(go well) I am looking for a job Ke nyaka mošomô No smoking Ga go kgogwe (/folwe) No entrance Ga go tsenwe Beware of the steps! Hlokomela disetepese!/ditepisi Beware! Hlokomela! Congratulations on your birthday Mahlatse letšatšing la gago la matswalo Seasons greetings Ditumedišo tša Sehla sa Maikhutšo Merry Christmas Mahlogonolo a Keresemose Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Mahlogonolo a Keresemose le ngwaga wo moswa wo monate Expression Gontsha sa mafahleng yes ee/eya/eye no aowa please hle thank you ke a leboga help thušang/thušo danger/accident kotsi emergency tšhoganetšo excuse me ntshwarele I am sorry Ke maswabi I love you Ke a go rata Questions / sentences Dipotšišo / mafoko Do you accept (money/credit cards/traveler's cheques)? O amogela (singular) / Le amogela ( tshelete/.../...)? How much is this? Ke bokae e? I want ... Ke nyaka... What are you doing? O dira eng? What is the time? Ke nako mang? Where are you going? O ya kae? Numbers Dinomoro 1 tee 2 pedi 3 tharo 4 nne 5 hlano 6 tshela 7 šupa 8 seswai 9 senyane 10 lesome 11 lesometee 12 lesomepedi 13 lesometharo 14 lesomenne 15 lesomehlano 20 masomepedi 21 masomepedi-tee 22 masomepedi-pedi 50 masomehlano 100 lekgolo 1000 sekete Days of the week Matšatši a beke Sunday Lamorena Monday Mošupologo Tuesday Labobedi Wednesday Laboraro Thursday Labone Friday Labohlano Saturday Mokibelo Months of the year Dikgwedi tša ngwaga January Pherekgong February Dibokwane March Hlakola April Moranang May Mopitlo June Ngwatobošego / Phupu July Mosegamanye August Phato September Lewedi October Diphalane November Dibatsela December Manthole Computers and Internet terms Didirishwa tsa khomphutha le Inthanete computer sebaledi / khomphutara e-mail imeile e-mail address aterese ya imeile Internet Inthanete Internet café khefi ya Inthanete Website weposaete Website address aterese ya weposaete Rain Pula To understand Go kwešiša Reed pipes Dinaka Drums Meropa Horn Lenaka Colours Mebala Red/orange Hubedu/Khubedu Brown Sotho Green Talamorogo Blue Talalerata Black Ntsho White šweu Yellow Serolwana Gold Gauta Grey Pududu Pale Sehla or Tshehla Silver Silifere ## Sample text **[Universal Declaration of Human Rights](/source/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights)**[17] Temana 1 Batho ka moka ba belegwe ba lokologile le gona ba na le seriti sa go lekana le ditokelo. Ba filwe monagano le letswalo mme ba swanetše go swarana ka moya wa bana ba mpa. Temana 2 Mang le mang o swanetše ke ditokelo le ditokologo ka moka tše go boletšwego ka tšona ka mo Boikanong bjo, ntle le kgethollo ya mohuta wo mongwe le wo mongwe bjalo ka morafe, mmala, bong, polelo, bodumedi, dipolitiki goba ka kgopolo, botšo go ya ka setšhaba goba maemo, diphahlo, matswalo goba maemo a mangwe le a mangwe. Go feta fao, ga go kgethollo yeo e swanetšego go dirwa go ya ka maemo a dipolitiki, tokelo ya boahlodi, goba maemo a ditšhabatšhaba goba lefelo leo motho a dulago go lona, goba ke naga ye e ipušago, trasete, naga ya go se ipuše goba se sengwe le se sengwe seo se ka fokotšago maemo a go ikemela ga naga ya gabo. ## See also - [Pedi people](/source/Pedi_people) - [Lebowa](/source/Lebowa) - [Sekhukhuneland](/source/Sekhukhuneland) ## Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-e18_1-0)** [Pedi, Northern Sotho, Sepedi](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/nso/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) [Birwa](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/brl/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) [Tswapong](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/two/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Webb, Vic. 2002. "Language in South Africa: the role of language in national transformation, reconstruction and development." *Impact: Studies in language and society,* 14:78 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Guthrie_3-0)** Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. [New Updated Guthrie List Online](https://web.archive.org/web/20180203191542/http://goto.glocalnet.net/mahopapers/nuglonline.pdf) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["NORTHERN SOTHO - South African Language Sepedi"](https://www.sa-venues.com/language-sepedi.htm). *www.sa-venues.com*. Retrieved 8 June 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The SA Constitution"](https://www.justice.gov.za/constitution/chp01.html#:~:text=6.,,%20isiNdebele,%20isiXhosa%20and%20isiZulu.). *www.justice.gov.za*. Retrieved 18 September 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["free online course"](https://www.unisa.ac.za/static/corporate_web/Content/UnisaOpen/freeOnlineCourse/nSotho/nSotho.html). *www.unisa.ac.za*. Retrieved 18 September 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 - Chapter 1: Founding Provisions | South African Government"](https://www.gov.za/documents/constitution/chapter-1-founding-provisions). *www.gov.za*. Retrieved 20 September 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_8-0)** ["Pedi | South African History Online"](https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/pedi). *www.sahistory.org.za*. Retrieved 20 September 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Rakgogo, Tebogo J.; Zungu, Evangeline B. (28 February 2022). ["A blatant disregard of Section 6 (1) of the Constitution of South Africa by higher education institutions and language authorities: An onomastic discrepancy"](https://literator.org.za/index.php/literator/article/view/1814). *Literator*. **43** (1): 9. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.4102/lit.v43i1.1814](https://doi.org/10.4102%2Flit.v43i1.1814). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2219-8237](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2219-8237). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [\[1\]](https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202011/43860gon1160.pdf) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["The Bible in Sepedi"](https://www.biblesa.co.za/xh/izixhobo/about-bible-translation/bible-translations/the-bible-in-sepedi). *BibleSA*. Bible Society of South Africa. Retrieved 16 February 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Rakgogo, Tebogo Jacob; van Huyssteen, Linda (3 July 2019). ["A constitutional language name, lost in translation and its impact on the identity of the first language speakers"](https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.2019.1618015). *South African Journal of African Languages*. **39** (2): 165–174. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/02572117.2019.1618015](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F02572117.2019.1618015). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0257-2117](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0257-2117). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [199161866](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:199161866). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Sepedi First Language"](https://careertimes.co.za/past-papers-and-memos/grade-12/sepedi-first-additional-language-grade-12-past-papers-and-memos/). *Career Times*. Retrieved 21 February 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** *Pukuntšu ya polelopedi ya sekolo: Sesotho sa Leboa/ Sepedi le Seisimane: e gatišitšwe ke Oxford = Oxford bilingual school dictionary: Northern Sotho and English*. De Schryver, Gilles-Maurice. Cape Town: Oxford University Press Southern Africa. 2007. pp. S24–S26. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780195765557](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780195765557). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [259741811](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/259741811).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: others ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_others)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Louwrens, Kosch, Kotzé, Louis J., Ingeborg M., Albert E. (1995). *Northern Sotho*. München: Lincom. pp. 4–11.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list)) CS1 maint: publisher location ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_publisher_location)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Ethnologue.com: Languages of South Africa"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170410220057/http://archive.ethnologue.com/15/show_country.asp?name=ZA). Archived from [the original](http://archive.ethnologue.com/15/show_country.asp?name=ZA) on 10 April 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)"](https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acref/9780195301731.013.33831), *African American Studies Center*, Oxford University Press, 30 September 2009, [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/acref/9780195301731.013.33831](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Facref%2F9780195301731.013.33831), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-530173-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-530173-1), retrieved 18 September 2023{{[citation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Citation)}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_work_parameter_with_ISBN)) ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Northern Sotho language](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Northern_Sotho_language). ***[Northern Sotho edition](https://nso.wikipedia.org/wiki/)*** of [Wikipedia](/source/Wikipedia), the free encyclopedia - [Dryer, Matthew S.](/source/Matthew_Dryer); [Haspelmath, Martin](/source/Martin_Haspelmath), eds. (2013). ["Northern Sotho"](http://wals.info/languoid/lect/wals_code_stn). *[World Atlas of Language Structures](/source/World_Atlas_of_Language_Structures) Online*. Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. - [The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Northern Sotho](http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=srt) - [Online Northern Sotho – English dictionary](http://africanlanguages.com/sdp/) - [Online Northern Sotho explanatory dictionary](http://africanlanguages.com/psl/) - [Pan South African Language Board](https://web.archive.org/web/20071217141039/http://www.pansalb.org.za/) - [Audio files in Pedi](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Audio_files_in_Pedi) at [Wikimedia Commons](/source/Wikimedia_Commons) ### Software - [Spell checker for OpenOffice.org and Mozilla](https://web.archive.org/web/20070114015602/http://translate.org.za/content/view/1610/54/), [OpenOffice.org](https://web.archive.org/web/20070324112647/http://translate.org.za/content/view/17/32/), [Mozilla Firefox web-browser](https://web.archive.org/web/20070210160756/http://translate.org.za/content/view/1611/54/), and [Mozilla Thunderbird email program](https://web.archive.org/web/20070324203655/http://translate.org.za/content/view/1612/54/) in Northern Sotho - [Translate.org.za](http://translate.org.za/) Project to translate Free and Open Source Software into all the official languages of South Africa including Northern Sotho - [Keyboard with extra Northern Sotho characters](https://web.archive.org/web/20070106152530/http://translate.org.za/content/view/24/41/) v t e Languages of South Africa Pan South African Language Board Commission for Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Community Rights Department of Arts and Culture Official West Germanic Afrikaans English Southern Bantu Sotho–Tswana Northern Sotho (Sesotho sa Leboa) Southern Sotho (Sesotho) Tswana (Setswana) Nguni Southern Ndebele (isiNdebele) Swazi (siSwati) Xhosa (isiXhosa) Zulu (isiZulu) Tswa–Ronga Tsonga (Xitsonga) Venda Venda (Tshivenḓa) North West European Sign Language British Sign Language (BSL) family SA Sign Language Recognised unofficial languages mentioned in the 1996 constitution Indigenous Bhaca Khoe Khoisan Lala Lozi Nama Nhlangwini Northern Ndebele Phuthi Tuu Foreign German Greek Gujarati Hindi Portuguese Malay (historical) Tamil Telugu Urdu Religious Arabic Hebrew Sanskrit Other LGBTQ slang Gayle IsiNgqumo Other Tsotsitaal and Camtho Oorlams Creole Fanagalo Pretoria Sotho Scamto Angloromani Kaaps v t e Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S) (by Guthrie classification) Zone N N10 N11 Manda N12 Ngoni N13 Matengo N14 Mpoto N15 Tonga [N101 Ndendeule N102 Nindi N121 Ngoni of Malawi N20 N21 Tumbuka [N201 Mwera of Mbamba Bay N30 N31a Nyanja N31b Cewa N31c Manganja N40 N41 Nsenga N42 Kunda N43 Nyungwe N44 Sena N45[44] Rue N46[44] Podzo [N441 Sena-Malawi Zone P P10 P11 Ndengereko P12 Ruihi P13 Matumbi P14 Ngindo P15 Mbunga P20 P21 Yao P22 Mwera P23 Makonde P24 Ndonde P25 Mabiha P30 P31 Makua P32 Lomwe P33 Ngulu P34 Cuabo [P311 Koti P312 Sakati P331 Lomwe of Malawi P341 Moniga Zone R R10 R11 Umbundu R12 Ndombe R13 Nyaneka R14 Khumbi [R101 Kuvale R102 Kwisi R103 Mbali R20 R21 Kwanyama R22 Ndonga R23 Kwambi R24 Ngandyera [R211 Kafima R212 Evale R213 Mbandja R214 Mbalanhu R215 Ndongwena R216 Kwankwa R217 Dombondola R218 Esinga R241 Kwaluudhi R242 Kolonkadhi-Eunda R30 R31 Herero [R311 North-West Herero R312 Botswana Herero R40 R41 Yei Zone S S10 S11 Korekore S12 Zezuru S13a Manyika S13b Tebe S14 Karanga S15 Ndau S16 Kalanga S20 S21 Venda S30 S31a Tswana S31b Kgatla S31c Ngwatu S31d[311] Khalaxadi S32a Pedi S32b Lobedu S33 Sotho [S301 Phalaborwa S302 Kutswe S303 Pai S304 Pulana S40 S41 Xhosa S42 Zulu S43 Swati S44 (Northern) Ndebele [S401 Old Mfengu S402 Bhaca S403 Hlubi S404 Phuthi S405 Nhlangwini S406 Lala S407 South Ndebele S408 Sumayela Ndebele S50 S51 Tswa S52[53] Gwamba S53 Tsonga S54 Ronga [S511 Hlengwe S60 S61 Copi S62 Tonga [S611 Lenge Italics indicate extinct languages. Languages between parentheses are varieties of the language on their left. The Guthrie classification is geographic and its groupings do not imply a relationship between the languages within them. Narrow Bantu languages by Guthrie classification zone templates Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones A–B) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones C–D) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S) Authority control databases International GND National Czech Republic Israel Other IdRef Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Northern Sotho](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Sotho) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Sotho?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.