Have you ever wondered about the vast array of languages that start with the letter K? 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 K. 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 K and witness the beauty they bring to our world.
Languages That Start With The Letter K
The followings are some of the most known and lesser-known languages that begin with the letter K (In alphabetical order):
1. Kabardian: Kabardian is a Northwest Caucasian language spoken by the Kabardian people in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic of Russia. With a rich oral tradition and unique phonetic features, Kabardian serves as a symbol of cultural identity for the Kabardian community.
2. Kabre: Kabre, also known as Kabiyé, is a Gur language spoken by the Kabre people in Togo. It holds cultural significance as a language of oral traditions, folklore, and traditional rituals.
3. Kabyle: Kabyle is a Berber language spoken by the Kabyle people in Algeria. As one of the largest Berber languages, Kabyle plays a crucial role in preserving the cultural heritage and identity of the Kabyle community.
4. Kachin: Kachin is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Kachin people in Myanmar and China. With several dialects, Kachin reflects the diverse linguistic heritage of the Kachin community.
5. Kafir (Bashgali): Kafir, also known as Bashgali, is a Dardic language spoken by the Kafir people in Afghanistan. As an endangered language, Kafir faces the risk of language shift, making efforts to preserve it all the more crucial.
6. Kalasha-ala: Kalasha-ala is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Kalash people in Pakistan. The Kalash community, residing in the Chitral region, holds onto their language as an integral part of their distinct cultural practices and traditions.
7. Kalenjin: Kalenjin is a Nilotic language spoken by the Kalenjin people in Kenya. It serves as a unifying factor among the various Kalenjin subgroups and is widely spoken in Kenya’s Rift Valley region.
8. Kalispel: Kalispel is a Salishan language spoken by the Kalispel people in the United States. With a small number of speakers, Kalispel faces the challenges of language preservation and revitalization.
9. Kalmyk: Kalmyk is an Oirat language spoken by the Kalmyk people in Kalmykia, Russia. As the only Buddhist ethnic group in Europe, the Kalmyk community finds linguistic and religious significance in their language.
10. Kam: Kam is a Kam-Sui language spoken by the Kam people in China. With its unique tonal system, Kam reflects the linguistic diversity of the Kam-Sui language family.
11. Kamba: Kamba is a Bantu language spoken by the Kamba people in Kenya. As one of the Bantu languages, Kamba plays an essential role in Kenya’s linguistic and cultural landscape.
12. Kamchadal: Kamchadal, also known as Itelmen, is a Chukotko-Kamchatkan language spoken by the Itelmen people in the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. With its distinctive phonetics and grammar, Kamchadal represents the linguistic heritage of the Itelmen community.
13. Kamkata-vari: Kamkata-vari is a Nakh-Daghestanian language spoken by the Kamkata-vari people in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia. As part of the Nakh language family, Kamkata-vari reflects the linguistic diversity of the Caucasus region.
14. Kanarese: Kanarese, also known as Kannada, is a Dravidian language spoken primarily in the Indian state of Karnataka. As one of the classical languages of India, Kannada has a rich literary tradition and is an integral part of Karnataka’s cultural heritage.
15. Kannada: Kannada is a Dravidian language spoken primarily in the Indian state of Karnataka. As one of the classical languages of India, Kannada has a rich literary tradition and is an integral part of Karnataka’s cultural heritage.
16. Kanuri: Kanuri is a Nilo-Saharan language spoken primarily in northeastern Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. As a widely spoken language in the Lake Chad region, Kanuri serves as a means of communication and cultural expression for the Kanuri people.
17. Kapampangan: Kapampangan is an Austronesian language spoken by the Kapampangan people in the Philippines. With its distinct phonetics and grammar, Kapampangan represents the linguistic heritage of the Kapampangan community.
18. Kara: Kara is an Omo-Tana language spoken by the Kara people in Ethiopia. As an endangered language, Kara faces challenges in language preservation and transmission to future generations.
19. Karachai: Karachai is a Turkic language spoken by the Karachai people in the North Caucasus region of Russia. It holds cultural significance as a language of traditional music, folklore, and customs.
20. Kara-Kalpak: Kara-Kalpak is a Turkic language spoken by the Karakalpak people in Uzbekistan. As an integral part of the Karakalpak cultural identity, the language plays a crucial role in preserving traditions and heritage.
21. Karamojong: Karamojong is a Nilo-Saharan language spoken by the Karamojong people in northeastern Uganda. As one of the Nilotic languages, Karamojong reflects the linguistic diversity of the region.
22. Karay-a: Karay-a is an Austronesian language spoken by the Karay-a people in the Philippines. It holds cultural significance as a language of traditional stories and customs.
23. Karen: Karen is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Karen people in Myanmar and Thailand. With its various dialects, Karen reflects the cultural diversity of the Karen community.
24. Karenic: Karenic is a Sino-Tibetan language family that includes various Karen languages spoken by the Karen people in Myanmar and Thailand. These languages represent the linguistic heritage of the Karen community.
25. Kashmiri: Kashmiri is a Dardic language spoken primarily in the Kashmir Valley of India and Pakistan. With its rich literary tradition, Kashmiri serves as an essential marker of Kashmiri cultural identity.
26. Kashubian: Kashubian is a Slavic language spoken by the Kashubian people in northern Poland. As a regional language, Kashubian represents the linguistic heritage of the Kashubian community.
27. Kaska: Kaska is an Athabaskan language spoken by the Kaska Dena people in Canada. As one of the Indigenous languages of Canada, Kaska holds cultural and historical significance for the Kaska Dena community.
28. Kawa: Kawa is a Nilo-Saharan language spoken by the Kawa people in Sudan. As one of the Nilotic languages, Kawa reflects the linguistic diversity of the region.
29. Kazakh: Kazakh is a Turkic language spoken primarily in Kazakhstan and parts of neighboring countries. As the official language of Kazakhstan, Kazakh holds cultural, political, and economic significance.
30. Kechua: Kechua, also known as Quechua, is an indigenous language family spoken by the Quechua people in the Andean region of South America. With several dialects, Kechua reflects the linguistic diversity of the Andean highlands.
31. Kekchi: Kekchi is a Mayan language spoken by the Kekchi people in Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. As one of the Mayan languages, Kekchi plays an integral role in preserving Mayan culture and traditions.
32. Keresan: Keresan is a language family spoken by the Keres Pueblo people in New Mexico, United States. With its distinct dialects, Keresan reflects the cultural diversity of the Keres Pueblo community.
33. Ket (Yenisei-Ostyak): Ket, also known as Yenisei-Ostyak, is a Yeniseian language spoken by the Ket people in Siberia, Russia. As an endangered language, Ket faces challenges in language preservation and revitalization.
34. Khakass: Khakass is a Turkic language spoken by the Khakass people in the Khakassia region of Russia. It holds cultural significance as a language of traditional folklore and customs.
35. Khalkha: Khalkha is a Mongolic language spoken by the Khalkha Mongols in Mongolia. As the official language of Mongolia, Khalkha plays a vital role in the country’s linguistic and cultural identity.
36. Khanty: Khanty is a Uralic language spoken by the Khanty people in Russia. As part of the Ugric language family, Khanty reflects the linguistic heritage of the Khanty community.
37. Khasi: Khasi is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Khasi people in northeastern India. As one of the major languages in the Meghalaya state, Khasi holds cultural and political significance.
38. Khmer: Khmer is an Austroasiatic language spoken primarily in Cambodia. With its unique script and historical importance, Khmer is an essential part of Cambodian cultural identity.
39. Khoekhoe: Khoekhoe is a Khoisan language spoken by the Khoekhoe people in Namibia and South Africa. As one of the Khoisan languages, Khoekhoe reflects the linguistic diversity of the Khoekhoe community.
40. Kiga: Kiga is a Bantu language spoken by the Kiga people in Uganda. As one of the major languages in the region, Kiga serves as a means of communication and cultural expression for the Kiga community.
41. Kikongo: Kikongo is a Bantu language spoken by the Kongo people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and the Republic of the Congo. With several dialects, Kikongo reflects the linguistic diversity of the Kongo people.
42. Kikuyu: Kikuyu is a Bantu language spoken by the Kikuyu people in Kenya. As one of the major Bantu languages, Kikuyu holds cultural, political, and historical significance.
43. Kimbundu: Kimbundu is a Bantu language spoken by the Kimbundu people in Angola. It holds cultural significance as a language of traditional rituals and oral traditions.
44. Kingwana: Kingwana, also known as Kitu-Kiwindja or Congo Swahili, is a variety of Swahili spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As a lingua franca, Kingwana serves as a means of communication among various linguistic groups in the country.
45. Kinyarwanda: Kinyarwanda is a Bantu language spoken by the Rwandan people in Rwanda and neighboring countries. As the official language of Rwanda, Kinyarwanda holds cultural, political, and historical significance.
46. Kiowa: Kiowa is a Kiowa-Tanoan language spoken by the Kiowa people in the United States. As an Indigenous language, Kiowa reflects the cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of the Kiowa community.
47. Kirgiz: Kirgiz, also known as Kyrgyz, is a Turkic language spoken by the Kyrgyz people in Kyrgyzstan and neighboring countries. As the official language of Kyrgyzstan, Kirgiz holds cultural, political, and historical significance.
48. Kirundi: Kirundi is a Bantu language spoken by the Burundian people in Burundi and neighboring countries. As the official language of Burundi, Kirundi holds cultural and political significance.
49. Kisii: Kisii, also known as Ekegusii, is a Bantu language spoken by the Gusii people in Kenya and Tanzania. As one of the major languages in western Kenya, Kisii serves as a means of communication and cultural expression for the Gusii community.
50. Kissi: Kissi is a Mande language spoken by the Kissi people in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. With its various dialects, Kissi reflects the linguistic diversity of the Kissi community.
51. Kiswahili: Kiswahili, also known as Swahili, is a Bantu language spoken by millions of people in East Africa. As a lingua franca, Kiswahili serves as a means of communication among various ethnic groups in the region.
52. Kituba: Kituba is a creole language spoken by the Bakongo people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and the Republic of the Congo. As a widely used creole, Kituba serves as a means of communication among speakers of different languages.
53. Klamath: Klamath is a language family spoken by the Klamath people in Oregon, United States. With its various dialects, Klamath reflects the cultural diversity of the Klamath community.
54. Klingon: Klingon is a constructed language created for the Star Trek franchise. While not a natural language, Klingon has gained a dedicated following among fans of the science fiction series.
55. Kolam: Kolam is a Mande language spoken by the Kolam people in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. As one of the Mande languages, Kolam reflects the linguistic diversity of the Kolam community.
56. Komi: Komi is a Uralic language spoken by the Komi people in Russia. As one of the Uralic languages, Komi reflects the linguistic heritage of the Komi community.
57. Kongo: Kongo is a Bantu language spoken by the Kongo people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and the Republic of the Congo. With several dialects, Kongo reflects the linguistic diversity of the Kongo people.
58. Konkani: Konkani is an Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in the Indian states of Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Kerala. With its unique script and historical importance, Konkani is an essential part of Goan and Konkani cultural identity.
59. Konkani: Konkani is an Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in the Indian states of Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Kerala. With its unique script and historical importance, Konkani is an essential part of Goan and Konkani cultural identity.
60. Kootenai: Kootenai is a language family spoken by the Kootenai people in Montana, United States, and British Columbia, Canada. With its various dialects, Kootenai reflects the cultural diversity of the Kootenai community.
61. Korean: Korean is the official language of South Korea and North Korea. With its unique writing system and historical significance, Korean plays a crucial role in the cultural identity of the Korean people.
62. Korku: Korku is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Korku people in central India. As an endangered language, Korku faces challenges in language preservation and revitalization.
63. Koro: Koro is a Tibeto-Burman language spoken by the Koro people in India. As an endangered language, Koro faces challenges in language preservation and transmission to future generations.
64. Koryak: Koryak is a Chukotko-Kamchatkan language spoken by the Koryak people in the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. As one of the Indigenous languages of the Russian Far East, Koryak holds cultural and historical significance.
65. Kosraean: Kosraean is a Micronesian language spoken by the Kosrae people in the Federated States of Micronesia. As one of the languages in the region, Kosraean serves as a means of communication and cultural expression for the Kosrae community.
66. Kpelle: Kpelle is a Mande language spoken by the Kpelle people in Liberia and Guinea. As one of the major languages in Liberia, Kpelle serves as a means of communication and cultural expression for the Kpelle community.
67. Krio: Krio is a creole language spoken by the Krio people in Sierra Leone. As a widely used creole, Krio serves as a means of communication among speakers of different languages in Sierra Leone.
68. Kru: Kru is a language family spoken by the Kru people in Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone. With its various dialects, Kru reflects the linguistic diversity of the Kru community.
69. Kui: Kui is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Kui people in India. As one of the languages in the region, Kui serves as a means of communication and cultural expression for the Kui community.
70. Kumyk: Kumyk is a Turkic language spoken by the Kumyk people in Dagestan, Russia. As an integral part of the Kumyk cultural identity, the language plays a crucial role in preserving traditions and heritage.
71. Kunama: Kunama is an Nilo-Saharan language spoken by the Kunama people in Eritrea. As one of the major languages in the country, Kunama serves as a means of communication and cultural expression for the Kunama community.
72. Kurdish: Kurdish is an Indo-European language spoken primarily by the Kurdish people in the Kurdistan region, spread across several countries. With its various dialects, Kurdish reflects the linguistic diversity of the Kurdish people.
73. Kurmanji: Kurmanji is a dialect of Kurdish spoken primarily in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. As one of the major Kurdish dialects, Kurmanji holds cultural and historical significance.
74. Kurukh: Kurukh is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Oraon people in India. As one of the languages in the region, Kurukh serves as a means of communication and cultural expression for the Oraon community.
75. Kwakiutl: Kwakiutl is a Wakashan language spoken by the Kwakwaka’wakw people in British Columbia, Canada. As an Indigenous language, Kwakiutl reflects the cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of the Kwakwaka’wakw community.
76. Kwakwala: Kwakwala is a Wakashan language spoken by the Kwakwaka’wakw people in British Columbia, Canada. As an Indigenous language, Kwakwala reflects the cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of the Kwakwaka’wakw community.
77. Kyrgyz: Kyrgyz is a Turkic language spoken primarily in Kyrgyzstan and parts of neighboring countries. As the official language of Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz holds cultural, political, and historical significance.
I hope you found this article “Languages That Start With K” 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 K.
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 L
- Languages That Start With M
- Languages That Start With N
- Languages That Start With O
