# Ovambo language

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Bantu language

Not to be confused with [Ambo language (Zambia)](/source/Lala-Bisa_language) or [Ambo language (Nigeria)](/source/Ambo_language_(Nigeria)).

Owambo Oshiwambo Native to Angola, Namibia Ethnicity Owambo Native speakers (1,441,000 cited 1990)[1] Language family Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta–Congo languages Benue–Congo Bantoid languages Southern Bantoid Bantu Kavango – Southwest Southwest Bantu Owambo Standard forms Kwanyama Ndonga Official status Official language in Namibia Language codes ISO 639-3 Variously: kua – Kwanyama ndo – Ndonga kwm – Kwambi lnb – Mbalanhu (Central Wambo) nne – Ngandjera Glottolog ndon1253 Guthrie code R.20 (R.21–24,211–218,241–242)[2]

Ambo Person Omuwambo People Aawambo, Ovawambo Language Oshiwambo Country Owambo, Ouwambo

Modern-day distribution of Oshiwambo speakers in [Namibia](/source/Namibia)

An Ovambo speaker, recorded in [Namibia](/source/Namibia).

The **Ovambo** (English: [/ɒˈvæmboʊ/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English)) language or **Oshiwambo**, also known as the **Namibian** language,[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] is a [dialect cluster](/source/Dialect_continuum) spoken by the [Ovambo people](/source/Ovambo_people) in southern [Angola](/source/Angola) and northern [Namibia](/source/Namibia), of which the written standards are [Kwanyama](/source/Kwanyama_dialect) and [Ndonga](/source/Ndonga_dialect).

The native name for the language is *Oshiwambo* (also written *Oshivambo*), which is also used specifically for the Kwanyama and Ndonga dialects. It is the largest spoken local language in Namibia,[3] particularly by the [Ovambo people](/source/Ovambo_people).

The language is closely related to that of the [Herero](/source/Herero_people) and [Himba](/source/Himba_people), the [Herero language](/source/Herero_language) (*Otjiherero*). An obvious sign of proximity is the prefix used for language and dialect names, [Proto-Bantu](/source/Proto-Bantu_language) **ki-* (class 7, as in the name of the [Swahili language](/source/Swahili_language), *Kiswahili*), which in Herero has evolved to *Otji-* and in Ovambo further to *Oshi-*.

## History

Main article: [Ovamboland](/source/Ovamboland)

After Namibia's independence in 1990, the area previously known as [Ovamboland](/source/Ovamboland) was divided into the [Ohangwena](/source/Ohangwena_Region), [Omusati](/source/Omusati_Region), [Oshana](/source/Oshana_Region) and [Oshikoto Regions](/source/Oshikoto_Region). The population, estimated at between 700,000 and 750,000, fluctuates remarkably. This is because of the indiscriminate border drawn up by the [Portuguese](/source/Portuguese_Empire) and [German Empires](/source/German_colonial_empire) during colonial rule, which cut through the Oukwanyama tribal area, placing some in [Angola](/source/Angola) and others in Namibia. This results in regular cross-border movement.

There are approximately one million Oshiwambo speakers in Namibia and Angola.[4] Though it is mainly spoken in the northern regions of Namibia, it is widely spoken across the rest of the country by populations of migrant workers from Ovamboland. These workers comprise a large part of the population in many towns, particularly in the south, where there are jobs in the mining industry. For example, in [Lüderitz](/source/L%C3%BCderitz), an 18-hour drive from Ovamboland, at least 50% of the population speaks Oshiwambo.

## Name

The names *Ambo* and *Ovambo* appear to have originally been exonyms. Despite extensive speculation, their origin remains unknown.

The country was called *Ovamboland* and *Amboland* by the [German](/source/German_Empire) colonial authorities. In English, *Ovamboland* predominates, though *Ambo country* is sometimes used, and in English publications from [Namibia](/source/Namibia), *Owamboland, Wamboland,* and *Owambo* are seen. The endemic forms are *Owambo kingdoms are* Ndonga, Kwanyama and Kwambi.

The people are generally called the *Ovambo* or *Ambo* in English. The endemic forms are *Aawambo* (Ndonga) and *Ovawambo* (Kwanyama); the singular in both cases is *Omuwambo*. The language is generally called *Ovambo, Ambo,* or *Oshiwambo* in English; the endonym in both standards is *Oshiwambo.*[5]

## Ovambo tribes and dialects

There are eight dialects, including the two written standards Kwanyama and Ndonga. Oshiwambo culture is more dominant in the northern part of the country.

The following table contains the names, areas, dialect names and the locations of the Ovambo dialects according to T. E. Tirronen's *Ndonga-English Dictionary*. The table also contains information concerning which [noun class](/source/Noun_class) of Proto-Bantu the words belong to.[6]

Area Tribe Dialect Location Classes 9 (*ny > on-), 11 (uu-/ou-) Class 2 (*wa-, a-) Class 7 (*ki > oshi-) Ondonga Aa-ndonga Ndonga dialect Southern Ovamboland Uu-kwambi Aa-kwambi Kwambi dialect Central Ovamboland O-ngandjera Aa-ngandjera Otshi-ngandjera Central Ovamboland Uu-kwaluudhi Aa-kwaluudhi Otshi-kwaluudhi Western Ovamboland O-mbalantu Aa-mbalantu Oshi-mbalantu Western Ovamboland Uu-kolonkadhi Aa-kolonkadhi Otshi-kolonkadhi Western Ovamboland Oukwanyama Ova-kwanyama Kwanyama dialect Northern and Eastern Ovamboland, Angola Eunda Unda Oshi-unda northwest, Epalela vicinity

Maho (2009) lists the following as distinct languages in the Ovambo cluster:[2]

- **Ovambo** - Kwanyama - Kafima - Evale - Mbandja - Mbalanhu - Ndongwena - Kwankwa - Dombondola - Esinga - Ndonga - Kwambi - Ngandjera - Kwaluudhi - Kolonkadhi-Eunda

## Sample text in Ovambo (Kwanyama)

*Omupangi umwe okwa li a nyeka nge embo olo, ndele ta lesha oshipalanyole shalo, nokupula nge ta kondjifa ngeenge ohandi ka ninga umwe womEendombwedi daJehova ile hasho.*

**Translation**

A nurse grabbed the book from me, looked at the cover, and demanded to know whether I was going to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-e18_1-0)** [Kwanyama](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/kua/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) [Ndonga](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/ndo/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) [Kwambi](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/kwm/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) [Mbalanhu (Central Wambo)](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/lnb/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) [Ngandjera](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/nne/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Guthrie_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Guthrie_2-1) 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-3)** ["Namibia – People"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090130065849/http://newafricanfrontiers.com/countries/namibia/people-of-namibia.htm). *New African Frontiers*. Archived from [the original](http://www.newafricanfrontiers.com/countries/namibia/people-of-namibia.htm) on January 30, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Oshiwambo (Ndonga)"](https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=1114). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210415042931/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=1114) from the original on 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-03-11 – via Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Saarelma-Maunumaa, Minna (2003). *Edhina Ekogidho – Names as Links: The Encounter between African and European Anthroponymic Systems among the Ambo People in Namibia*. Helsinki: SKS Finnish Literature Society. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.21435/sflin.11](https://doi.org/10.21435%2Fsflin.11). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-951-746-529-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-951-746-529-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Tirronen, Toivo Emil (1986). *Ndonga–English Dictionary*. Oniipa, Namibia: Oshinyanyangidho shongeleki ELCIN.

## External links

- [PanAfrican L10n page on Oshiwambo](https://web.archive.org/web/20070526114142/http://www.panafril10n.org/wikidoc/pmwiki.php/PanAfrLoc/Oshiwambo)

v t e Languages of Namibia Official language English Recognized regional Oshiwambo Kwanyama Ndonga Afrikaans German Other Bantu languages Otjiherero Rukwangali Setswana Zemba Gciriku Fwe Kuhane Thimbukushu Shiyeyi Khoisan Nama/Damara Naro ǃXóõ Kung-Ekoka ǂKxʼauǁʼein Kxoe Sign languages Namibian Sign Language Immigrant languages Portuguese

v t e Languages of Angola Official language Portuguese National languages Bolo Chokwe Gciriku Hakaona Herero Holu Ibinda Khwe Kimbundu Kongo !Kung Kung-Ekoka Kuvale Kwadi Kwangali Kwanyama Lunda Mbunda Ndonga Oshiwambo Umbundu Lucazi Luimbi Luvale Luyana Mashi Mbali Mbangala Mbukushu Ndombe Ngambwe Ngoya Nkumbi Nsongo Nyaneka Nyengo Ruund Sama Sekele Zemba

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)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ovambo language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovambo_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovambo_language?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.