Have you ever wondered about the vast array of languages that start with the letter L? 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 L. 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 L and witness the beauty they bring to our world.
Languages That Start With The Letter L
The followings are some of the most known and lesser-known languages that begin with the letter L (In alphabetical order):
1. Laal: Laal is an endangered Indo-Aryan language spoken by a small community in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. With only a few hundred speakers, Laal faces challenges in its preservation and continuity.
2. Lachish: Lachish is an extinct Canaanite language that was once spoken in the ancient city of Lachish in present-day Israel. The language is known from inscriptions found during archaeological excavations.
3. Ladin: Ladin is a Romance language spoken by around 30,000 people in the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy. Ladin is recognized as a minority language in Italy and is part of the Rhaeto-Romance subgroup.
4. Ladino: Ladino, also known as Judeo-Spanish, is a Romance language with Hebrew and Aramaic influences. It was historically spoken by Sephardic Jews in various countries, and today it is still used by Sephardic communities around the world.
5. Lahu: Lahu is a Tibeto-Burman language spoken by the Lahu people in China, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. Lahu is known for its complex tonal system and is an essential part of the cultural heritage of the Lahu community.
6. Lak: Lak is a Northeast Caucasian language spoken by the Lak people in the Russian republic of Dagestan. As one of the Avar-Andic languages, Lak reflects the linguistic diversity of the region.
7. Laka: Laka is an endangered Afro-Asiatic language spoken by a small community in Nigeria. Laka is part of the Chadic language family and faces challenges in language preservation.
8. Lakota: Lakota, also known as Lakhota, is a Siouan language spoken by the Lakota people, who are part of the Sioux Native American tribes. Lakota holds significant cultural importance among the Lakota community and other Sioux tribes.
9. Lango: Lango is a Luo-based language spoken by the Lango people in Uganda. As one of the Luo languages, Lango reflects the linguistic diversity of Uganda.
10. Lao: Lao is a Tai-Kadai language and the official language of Laos. It is also widely spoken in northeastern Thailand and serves as an essential means of communication for millions of people.
11. Lappish: Lappish, also known as Sami, is a Uralic language spoken by the Sami people in the northern parts of Scandinavia and Russia. As the language of the indigenous Sami community, Lappish holds cultural significance.
12. Latin: Latin is an ancient Indo-European language that served as the precursor to the Romance languages. It was the language of the Roman Empire and continues to influence scientific, legal, and religious terminology.
13. Latvian: Latvian is a Baltic language and the official language of Latvia. As one of the Baltic languages, Latvian reflects the cultural heritage of Latvia and serves as a symbol of national identity.
14. Lenape: Lenape, also known as Delaware, is an Algonquian language historically spoken by the Lenape people in the northeastern United States. As an Indigenous language, Lenape reflects the cultural heritage of the Lenape community.
15. Lepcha: Lepcha is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Lepcha people in Sikkim, India, and parts of Nepal and Bhutan. Lepcha has a unique script and is an essential part of the Lepcha community’s identity.
16. Lettish: “Lettish” is an archaic term for the Latvian language, which is currently known as Latvian. As mentioned earlier, Latvian is a Baltic language and the official language of Latvia.
17. Lexembourgesh: “Lexembourgesh” is an alternative variation of “Luxembourgish,” which is the official language of Luxembourg. As a West Germanic language, Luxembourgish reflects the linguistic heritage of Luxembourg.
18. Lezgin: Lezgin is a Northeast Caucasian language spoken by the Lezgin people in the Russian republic of Dagestan and parts of Azerbaijan. As one of the Lezgic languages, Lezgin reflects the linguistic diversity of the region.
19. Liberian: “Liberian” is not identified as a specific language in the provided list. Further information is needed to clarify its linguistic affiliation.
20. Lihyanite: Lihyanite is an ancient Northwest Semitic language that was once spoken in the ancient kingdom of Lihyan in the Arabian Peninsula. It is known from inscriptions found in the region.
21. Likpe: Likpe is a Kwa language spoken by the Likpe people in Ghana. As part of the Niger-Congo language family, Likpe is an essential element of the Likpe community’s cultural identity.
22. Lillooet: Lillooet, also known as St’at’imcets, is a Salishan language spoken by the St’at’imc people in British Columbia, Canada. As an Indigenous language, Lillooet plays a crucial role in preserving the cultural heritage of the St’at’imc community.
23. Limba: Limba is a Niger-Congo language spoken by the Limba people in Sierra Leone and Guinea. Limba is known for its rich oral tradition and cultural significance in the region.
24. Lingala: Lingala is a Bantu language spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, and parts of Angola. Lingala has evolved as a lingua franca in the region, facilitating communication among people of diverse linguistic backgrounds.
25. Lisu: Lisu is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Lisu people in China, Myanmar, and Thailand. Lisu is known for its distinctive script and oral traditions.
26. Lithuanian: Lithuanian is a Baltic language and the official language of Lithuania. It is one of the oldest living languages in the world and has retained many archaic features of the Proto-Indo-European language.
27. Ljibway: “Ljibway” is an alternative variation of “Ojibwe,” also known as Anishinaabe, which is an Algonquian language spoken by the Ojibwe people in the United States and Canada. Ojibwe holds cultural significance among the Ojibwe community and other Indigenous groups.
28. Llocano: “Llocano” is an alternative variation of “Ilocano,” which is a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken by the Ilocano people in the Philippines. Ilocano is widely spoken in the northern regions of the Philippines and is an integral part of the cultural heritage of the Ilocano community.
29. Logba: Logba is a Kwa language spoken by the Logba people in Togo and Ghana. As part of the Niger-Congo language family, Logba reflects the linguistic diversity of West Africa.
30. Loma: Loma is a Mande language spoken by the Loma people in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Loma is an essential part of the Loma community’s cultural heritage.
31. Lombard: Lombard, also known as Lombardic, is a Romance language spoken in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. Lombard is recognized as a minority language in Italy and reflects the linguistic diversity of the region.
32. Lomwe: Lomwe is a Bantu language spoken by the Lomwe people in Malawi and Mozambique. As part of the Niger-Congo language family, Lomwe holds cultural significance in the regions where it is spoken.
33. Longuda: Longuda is a West Chadic language spoken by the Longuda people in Nigeria. Longuda is known for its unique grammatical features and plays a vital role in the cultural identity of the Longuda community.
34. Lotuko: Lotuko, also known as Otuho, is a Nilotic language spoken by the Lotuko people in South Sudan and Uganda. Lotuko is an essential element of the cultural heritage of the Lotuko community.
35. Lower Chehalis: Lower Chehalis, also known as Kwaiailk, is a Salishan language historically spoken by the Chehalis people in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Today, it is an endangered language, but efforts are being made to revitalize it and preserve its linguistic heritage.
36. Lower Sorbian: Lower Sorbian is a West Slavic language spoken by the Sorbs in the eastern part of Germany. As one of the Sorbian languages, Lower Sorbian reflects the cultural heritage of the Sorbian community.
37. Lower Tanana: Lower Tanana is an Athabaskan language spoken by the Tanana people in Alaska, United States. As an Indigenous language, Lower Tanana holds cultural significance among the Tanana community and other Athabaskan groups.
38. Lozi: Lozi is a Bantu language spoken by the Lozi people in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. As part of the Niger-Congo language family, Lozi plays a crucial role in the cultural heritage of the Lozi community.
39. Luba: Luba is a Bantu language spoken by the Luba people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and parts of Zambia. Luba is known for its rich oral traditions and cultural significance in the region.
40. Lufu: Lufu is a Niger-Congo language spoken by the Lufu people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lufu holds cultural importance among the Lufu community.
41. Luganda: Luganda is a Bantu language and the most widely spoken language in Uganda. As the language of the Baganda people, Luganda plays a significant role in Ugandan culture and society.
42. Lugbara: Lugbara is a Central Sudanic language spoken by the Lugbara people in Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lugbara is an essential part of the cultural heritage of the Lugbara community.
43. Luhya: Luhya is a Bantu language spoken by the Luhya people in Kenya. As one of the largest ethnic groups in Kenya, Luhya reflects the linguistic diversity and cultural richness of the region.
44. Lunda: Lunda is a Bantu language spoken by the Lunda people in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. Lunda holds cultural significance in the regions where it is spoken.
45. Luo: Luo is a Nilo-Saharan language spoken by the Luo people in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Sudan. As one of the Nilotic languages, Luo is an integral part of the cultural heritage of the Luo community.
46. Luri: Luri is an Iranian language spoken by the Luri people in Iran and parts of Iraq. Luri is part of the Western Iranian branch of the Iranian language family.
47. Lusatian: Lusatian is a West Slavic language spoken by the Sorbs in eastern Germany. As one of the Sorbian languages, Lusatian reflects the cultural heritage of the Sorbian community.
48. Lushei: “Lushei” is an alternative variation of “Mizo,” which is a Tibeto-Burman language spoken by the Mizo people in India and Myanmar. Mizo is an essential part of the cultural identity of the Mizo community.
49. Lushootseed: Lushootseed, also known as Puget Salish, is a Salishan language spoken by Indigenous peoples in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Lushootseed has faced challenges in language preservation but continues to be an important cultural symbol.
50. Lusoga: Lusoga is a Bantu language spoken by the Bagisu people in Uganda. Lusoga plays a vital role in the cultural heritage of the Bagisu community.
51. Luvale: Luvale is a Bantu language spoken by the Luvale people in Zambia and Angola. Luvale holds cultural significance among the Luvale community.
52. Luvian: Luvian, also known as Luwian, is an extinct Anatolian language that was once spoken in ancient Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). It is known from ancient inscriptions and texts.
53. Luxembourgian: “Luxembourgian” is an alternative variation of “Luxembourgish,” which is the official language of Luxembourg. As mentioned earlier, Luxembourgish is a West Germanic language and reflects the linguistic heritage of Luxembourg.
54. Luyia: Luyia is a Bantu language spoken by the Luhya people in Kenya. As one of the largest ethnic groups in Kenya, Luyia reflects the linguistic diversity and cultural richness of the region.
55. Lycian: Lycian is an extinct Indo-European language that was once spoken in ancient Lycia (part of present-day Turkey). It is known from inscriptions found in the region.
I hope you found this article “Languages That Start With L” 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 L.
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 M
- Languages That Start With N
- Languages That Start With O
- Languages That Start With P
