Somali language

Somali /səˈmɑːli, soʊ-/ (Af-Soomaali [æf sɔːmɑːli]) is an Afroasiatic language, belonging to that family's Cushitic branch. It is spoken as a mother tongue by ethnic Somalis in Greater Somalia and the Somali diaspora. Somali is an official language of the Federal Republic of Somalia, a national language in Djibouti, and a working language in the Somali region of Ethiopia. It is used as an adoptive language by a few neighboring ethnic minority groups and individuals.

Classification

Somali is classified within the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic family, specifically as Lowland East Cushitic along with Afar and Saho. Somali is the best-documented Cushitic language, with academic studies of it dating back to the late 19th century.

Geographic distribution

The Somali language is spoken by ethnic Somalis in Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Yemen and Kenya, and by the Somali diaspora. It is also spoken as an adoptive language by a few ethnic minority groups and individuals in these areas.