Have you ever wondered about the vast array of languages that start with the letter A? Wonder no more, you have come to the right place.
In this article, I will embark on a linguistic journey, delving into the rich tapestry of languages that begin with the letter A. From the ancient to the modern, from the exotic to the widely spoken, these captivating languages hold a treasure trove of culture and history
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the fascinating realm of languages that start with A and witness the beauty they bring to our world.
Languages That Start With The Letter A
The followings are some of the most known and lesser-known languages that begin with the letter A (In alphabetical order):
1. Abaza: Abaza is a Northwest Caucasian language spoken primarily in the Republic of Abkhazia and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic of Russia. It belongs to the Abkhaz-Abaza branch of the Abkhaz-Adyghian language family. With a rich oral tradition, Abaza has been preserved through generations, reflecting the culture and heritage of its speakers.
2. Abazinian: Abazinian is another member of the Northwest Caucasian language family, spoken mainly in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic and Kabardino-Balkaria of Russia. It is closely related to Abaza and Abkhaz and has several dialects that vary across regions.
3. Abe: Abe is an Austroasiatic language primarily spoken in Vietnam. It belongs to the Bahnaric subgroup, and it is predominantly spoken by the Bahnar people. Despite being part of a smaller language family, Abe plays a vital role in preserving the cultural heritage of the Bahnar community.
4. Abkhaz: Abkhaz is the official language of Abkhazia, a region recognized by some countries as an independent state and by others as part of Georgia. It belongs to the Abkhaz-Adyghian language family and has its own unique script known as the Abkhaz alphabet.
5. Abkhazo-Adyghian: This term refers to the larger language family that includes both the Abkhaz and Adyghian (Circassian) languages. These languages are spoken by the Circassian people, with communities scattered across the Caucasus region and in various diaspora communities.
6. Abruzzese: Abruzzese is a Romance language spoken in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It belongs to the Italo-Dalmatian group and has several dialects influenced by the history and interactions of the region.
7. Abua: Abua, also known as Odual, is a Niger-Congo language spoken by the Abua people in Nigeria. It is part of the Ijoid branch and has contributed to the linguistic tapestry of the Niger Delta region.
8. Abure: Abure, or Korankore, is a Mande language spoken in Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia. It has distinct tones and phonetic features that distinguish it within the Mande language family.
9. Acehnese: Acehnese is an Austronesian language spoken primarily in the Aceh province of Indonesia. It has borrowed vocabulary from various languages due to its historical trading connections.
10. Acholi: Acholi is a Luo Nilotic language spoken in Uganda, South Sudan, and Kenya. It is rich in oral literature and cultural expressions.
11. Adamawa: Adamawa is a Niger-Congo language spoken in the Adamawa region of Cameroon. It belongs to the Adamawa-Ubangian family and is one of the numerous languages that contribute to Cameroon’s linguistic diversity.
12. Adangme: Adangme is part of the Kwa branch of Niger-Congo languages and is spoken by the Adangme people in Ghana and Togo. It has influenced neighboring languages and is known for its complex tonal system.
13. Adele: Adele, also known as Guliguli, is a Papuan language spoken by a small community in Papua New Guinea. As with many Papuan languages, Adele faces the challenges of limited documentation and preservation.
14. Adyghe: Adyghe, also known as West Circassian, is one of the two major Circassian languages spoken in the Caucasus region. It has a rich literary tradition and plays an essential role in Circassian cultural identity.
15. Afar: Afar is a Cushitic language spoken in Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. It is known for its unique phonetic features and is used as a lingua franca in the Horn of Africa.
16. Afo: Afo is an Austronesian language spoken on the island of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. As with many indigenous languages, Afo faces challenges related to language shift and endangerment.
17. Afrikaans: Afrikaans is a West Germanic language that evolved from Dutch and is spoken mainly in South Africa and Namibia. It has a fascinating history and is one of the official languages of South Africa.
18. AfroRoman: AfroRoman is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Chad, particularly in the region surrounding Lake Chad.
19. Afudu: Afudu is a Niger-Congo language spoken in Nigeria and belongs to the Southern Bantoid group.
20. Agni: Agni is a Kwa language spoken in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, primarily by the Nzema people.
21. Ahlo: Ahlo, also known as Ahlon or Ahlon Chin, is a Kuki-Chin language spoken by the Chin people in Myanmar and India. It is part of the Tibeto-Burman language family and exhibits diverse linguistic features.
22. Ainu: Ainu is an endangered language spoken by the Ainu people of Japan. It is an isolated language, and efforts are being made to revitalize and preserve it for future generations.
23. Ajukru: Ajukru, also known as Aizi, is a Kru language spoken in the Ivory Coast. It has unique tonal characteristics and contributes to the linguistic diversity of the West African region.
24. Akan: Akan is a Kwa language spoken in Ghana and parts of Ivory Coast. It is known for its rich culture and has influenced other languages in the region.
25. Akkadian: Akkadian is an ancient Semitic language that was spoken in Mesopotamia. It is one of the earliest attested languages and played a crucial role in the development of writing systems.
26. Akoli: Akoli is a Kwa language spoken in Togo and Benin. It is part of the Gbe language group and reflects the cultural heritage of its speakers.
27. Akpafu: Akpafu is a Ghana-Togo Mountain language spoken by the Akpafu people in Ghana and Togo. Like many other indigenous languages, Akpafu faces challenges due to limited documentation and external influences.
28. Akposo: Akposo is a Kwa language spoken in Ghana, primarily by the Avatime people. It has unique linguistic characteristics that set it apart from other languages in the region.
29. Aku: Aku, also known as Yoruba Aku or Yoruba Lukumi, is a variety of the Yoruba language spoken by the Yoruba diaspora in Cuba and other parts of the Americas. It reflects the cultural heritage of the Yoruba people and their influence in the New World.
30. Akuapim: Akuapim is a Kwa language spoken in Ghana by the Akuapem people. It is closely related to the Akan language and is an essential part of Akuapem cultural identity.
31. Akunakuna: Akunakuna is a Grassfields Bantu language spoken in Cameroon. It is one of the many languages that contribute to the linguistic diversity of the country.
32. Alagia: Alagia is a Papuan language spoken in Papua New Guinea. As with many other Papuan languages, Alagia faces challenges related to language documentation and preservation.
33. Albanian: Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken primarily in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and parts of Greece and Italy. It is known for being one of the oldest and unique languages in Europe.
34. Aleut: Aleut is a language isolate spoken by the Aleut people in the Aleutian Islands and the Alaska Peninsula. It is known for its complex grammar and rich oral tradition.
35. Algonquian: Algonquian is a large family of Native American languages spoken in North America. It includes languages such as Cree, Ojibwe, Blackfoot, and others, which have significant cultural and historical importance.
36. Aliutor: Aliutor is a Chukotko-Kamchatkan language spoken by the Aliutor people in Russia. It is an endangered language and faces challenges to its survival.
37. All: The term “All” might refer to a group of languages or a specific language not included in the list. Further context is needed to provide detailed information.
38. Alsatian: Alsatian is an Alemannic dialect of German spoken in the Alsace region of France. It reflects the cultural blend of Germanic and French influences in the region.
39. Altai: Altai is a Turkic language spoken in the Altai Republic of Russia. It has several dialects and is part of the Siberian Turkic language group.
40. Altaic: The term “Altaic” is a controversial concept that proposes a language family including Turkic, Mongolic, and Tungusic languages. However, the Altaic language family’s existence is still a subject of linguistic debate.
41. Alur: Alur is a Central Sudanic language spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. It has distinct dialects that vary across regions.
42. Alyawarra: Alyawarra, also known as Aranda or Arrernte, is an indigenous Australian language spoken in the Northern Territory. It is part of the Pama-Nyungan language family and holds significant cultural value.
43. Ambo: Ambo is a Bantu language spoken in Tanzania and is part of the Niger-Congo language family. It is one of the languages contributing to Tanzania’s linguistic diversity.
44. Amerind: “Amerind” is a term used to refer to the indigenous peoples of the Americas. It might encompass various Native American languages from different language families.
45. Amer-Ind (Sign Language): This likely refers to a sign language used by Amerindian communities in the Americas. Sign languages are an essential part of communication for Deaf communities worldwide.
46. Amerindian: “Amerindian” is a term used to describe the indigenous peoples of the Americas, and the languages they speak vary across diverse language families.
47. Amharic: Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the official language of the country and has a significant cultural and literary history.
48. Amorite: Amorite is an extinct Semitic language that was spoken in ancient Mesopotamia. It is known from ancient inscriptions and historical records.
49. Amoy Hokkien (Chinese-Fukien): Amoy Hokkien, also known as Xiamenese or Minnan, is a variety of Hokkien Chinese spoken in the Xiamen region of Fujian Province, China. It is also spoken by overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asia.
50. Amuesha: Amuesha, also known as Yanesha’ or Amoesha, is an Arawakan language spoken in Peru. It is one of the languages contributing to the linguistic diversity of the Peruvian Amazon region.
51. Anatolian: Anatolian is an extinct branch of the Indo-European language family that was spoken in ancient Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). Hittite is the most well-known language from this group.
52. Andamanese: Andamanese languages are a group of languages spoken by the indigenous Andamanese people in the Andaman Islands of India. Most Andamanese languages are critically endangered.
53. Andean-Equatorial: The term “Andean-Equatorial” likely refers to languages spoken in the Andean region of South America. These languages might belong to different language families, such as Quechuan or Aymaran.
54. Andi: Andi is an Avar-Andic language spoken in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia. It is part of the Northeast Caucasian language family.
55. Angleutsch: Angleutsch is a Germanic language variety spoken in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. It is influenced by Danish due to its proximity to Denmark.
56. Anglo-Frisian: The term “Anglo-Frisian” refers to the historical connection between the Anglo-Saxon (Old English) and Frisian languages. Both belong to the West Germanic language family.
57. Anglo-Romani: Anglo-Romani is a variety of Romani language spoken in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is the language of the Romani diaspora in these regions.
58. Anglo-Saxon: Anglo-Saxon, also known as Old English, was spoken in early medieval England. It is the predecessor of the modern English language and has a significant impact on the development of English literature.
59. Anlo: Anlo is a Kwa language spoken in Ghana, primarily by the Anlo people. It is related to the Ewe language and plays a crucial role in Anlo cultural expression.
60. Annamese: Annamese, also known as Vietnamese, is the official language of Vietnam and belongs to the Austroasiatic language family. It has a distinctive tone system and a rich literary tradition.
61. Antilles Creole: Antilles Creole, also known as Antillean Creole, is a group of creole languages spoken in the Caribbean. They have evolved from contact between European colonial languages and African languages.
62. Anyi: Anyi, also known as Anyin, is a Kwa language spoken in Ivory Coast and Ghana. It has several dialects and is used in various domains of communication.
63. Anyimere: Anyimere is a Niger-Congo language spoken in Nigeria and belongs to the Southern Bantoid group.
64. Apache: Apache is a group of Southern Athabaskan languages spoken by Native American communities in the southwestern United States. The Apache languages include Western Apache, Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Mescalero, and others.
65. Apalai: Apalai is a Cariban language spoken in Brazil and French Guiana. It is one of the indigenous languages in the Amazon Basin.
66. Apurina: Apurina is a Tupian language spoken in Brazil, particularly in the Purus River region. It is part of the diverse linguistic landscape of the Amazon rainforest.
67. Arabic: Arabic is a Semitic language spoken in numerous countries across the Middle East and North Africa. It is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world and has significant cultural and religious importance.
68. Arad: Arad is a Tanoan language spoken by the Arad people in New Mexico, USA. It is a critically endangered language with very few speakers remaining.
69. Aramaic: Aramaic is a Semitic language with a long history and was once widely spoken across the Near East. It has several dialects and is used in liturgical and scholarly contexts by various religious communities.
70. Aranda: Aranda, also known as Arrernte, is an indigenous Australian language spoken in the Northern Territory. It is part of the Pama-Nyungan language family and reflects the rich cultural heritage of the Arrernte people.
71. Aranese: Aranese, also known as Gascon, is a variety of the Occitan language spoken in the Val d’Aran region of Catalonia, Spain. It is an official language in this autonomous region.
72. Arapaho: Arapaho is an Algonquian language spoken by the Arapaho people in Wyoming and Oklahoma, USA. It is an endangered language with a few remaining speakers.
73. Araucanian: Araucanian, also known as Mapudungun, is a language isolate spoken by the Mapuche people in Chile and Argentina. It is an indigenous language with a rich cultural heritage.
74. Arawak: Arawak is a widespread language family spoken by indigenous peoples across South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It includes languages such as Lokono, Taíno, and Garifuna.
75. Ari: Ari is an Omotic language spoken in Ethiopia, particularly in the Omo River region. It is known for its diverse dialects and unique phonetic features.
76. Armenian: Armenian is an Indo-European language spoken in Armenia and the Armenian diaspora. It has a distinct script and a rich literary tradition dating back to the 5th century.
77. Arunta: Arunta, also known as Arrernte, is an indigenous Australian language spoken in the Northern Territory. It is part of the Pama-Nyungan language family and has several dialects.
78. Ashanti: Ashanti, also known as Asante, is a Kwa language spoken in Ghana, primarily by the Ashanti people. It is a significant part of the Akan linguistic and cultural heritage.
79. Asian: The term “Asian” likely refers to a group of languages spoken in various parts of Asia. Without further context, it is challenging to specify the exact languages referred to here.
80. Askunu: Askunu is a Niger-Congo language spoken in Nigeria and belongs to the Cross River family.
81. Asmara Pidgin English: Asmara Pidgin English, also known as Asmara Creole English, is a pidgin language spoken in Asmara, Eritrea. It has developed due to the multicultural environment of the city.
82. Assamese: Assamese is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in the Indian state of Assam. It has a rich literary tradition and is an official language of Assam.
83. Assinaboin: Assinaboin, also known as Nakota, is a Siouan language spoken in the United States and Canada, primarily by the Assiniboine people.
84. Assyrian: Assyrian, also known as Neo-Aramaic, is a group of Semitic languages spoken by Assyrian communities in the Middle East and the diaspora.
85. Athabaskan: Athabaskan, also known as Dene or Athabascan, is a large language family spoken by indigenous peoples across North America. It includes languages such as Navajo, Apache, and Gwich’in.
86. Athapaskan: The term “Athapaskan” is likely a variant spelling of “Athabaskan.” As previously mentioned, this language family includes various indigenous languages in North America.
87. Aukaans: Aukaans is a Creole language spoken in Suriname. It is influenced by Portuguese, Dutch, and African languages.
88. Avar: Avar is a Northeast Caucasian language spoken in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia. It is one of the most widely spoken languages in the region.
89. Avatime: Avatime is a Kwa language spoken in Ghana, primarily by the Avatime people. It is part of the Ewe language group and contributes to the linguistic diversity of the region.
90. Aymara: Aymara is an indigenous language spoken in Bolivia, Peru, and Chile. It is known for its complex grammar and historical significance in the Andean region.
91. Azeri: Azeri, also known as Azerbaijani, is a Turkic language spoken primarily in Azerbaijan and Iran. It has several dialects and is written in both Latin and Cyrillic scripts.
92. Azeri-Arabic: Azeri-Arabic is likely a variant of Azeri written using the Arabic script.
93. Azeri-Cyrillic: Azeri-Cyrillic is likely a variant of Azeri written using the Cyrillic script.
94. Azeri-Turkish: Azeri-Turkish is likely a variant of Azeri written using the Turkish Latin script.
95. Aztec: Aztec is an extinct language that was spoken by the Aztec people in ancient Mesoamerica. It was the language of the Aztec Empire and is known from historical records.
I hope you found this article “Languages That Start With A” helpful and got insights into some of the rare and lesser-known languages around the worlds.
Also, keep in mind that, this isn’t an exhaustive list, if there are any Languages starting with the letter A.
Feel free to leave a comment below with the missing Languages and I’ll update the list as soon as possible.
And, if you’d like to explore more Languages starting with different letters of the alphabet, click the link below:
- Languages That Start With B
- Languages That Start With C
- Languages That Start With D
- Languages That Start With E
