366 km away
A Bantu language of the Soutpansberg region in Limpopo, South Africa, and adjoining south-western Zimbabwe. One of the eleven official languages of South Africa; around 1.3 million speakers.
Ndebele
Also known as: Northern Ndebele, isiNdebele
A Nguni Bantu language of south-western Zimbabwe, descended from a 19th-century offshoot of Zulu. Around 2 million speakers, centred on Bulawayo and Matabeleland.
Shareable facts
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Frequently asked questions
What language is Ndebele?
Ndebele is a dialect of the Ndebele language.
Where is Ndebele spoken?
Ndebele is primarily spoken in Zimbabwe.
Which region is Ndebele associated with?
Ndebele is part of the East & Southern Africa region on DialectAtlas.
Is Ndebele known by other names?
Yes — Ndebele is also referred to as Northern Ndebele, isiNdebele.
Nearby dialects
See on the atlas →367 km away
The largest Bantu language of Zimbabwe and an official language of the country. Internally varied, with Karanga, Zezuru, and Manyika as the main dialect groups.
425 km away
The Sotho-Tswana variety of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in north-eastern South Africa. One of the eleven official languages of South Africa; mutually distinct enough from Sesotho to be treated separately.
428 km away
A Bantu language of the Limpopo lowveld, spoken across north-eastern South Africa, southern Mozambique, and south-eastern Zimbabwe. Around 7 million speakers.
570 km away
A Sotho-Tswana Bantu language and the national language of Botswana. Closely related to Sesotho, with substantial speaker communities in South Africa's North West and Northern Cape provinces.
675 km away
The Zulu of South Africa's townships and major cities. Heavily code-mixed with English, Tsotsitaal, and other Bantu languages.