Have you ever wondered about the vast array of languages that start with the letter S? 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 S. 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 S and witness the beauty they bring to our world.
Languages That Start With The Letter S
The followings are some of the most known and lesser-known languages that begin with the letter S (In alphabetical order):
1. Saami: Also known as Sami, it is a group of Uralic languages spoken by the Saami people across Northern Europe, primarily in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The Saami languages are unique and have cultural significance, as they are spoken by indigenous communities with a deep connection to their ancestral lands.
2. Sabbean: An ancient Semitic language that was once spoken in the kingdom of Sheba, located in present-day Yemen. Unfortunately, very little is known about Sabbean due to its ancient origin and limited surviving inscriptions.
3. Sadawe: A critically endangered language spoken by a small group of individuals on the Andaman Islands in India. The Sadawe language is facing the threat of extinction, primarily due to the influence of dominant languages and changes in the lifestyle of its speakers.
4. Safitic: An ancient script and language used in the Arabian Peninsula around the 1st century CE. Safitic inscriptions provide valuable insights into the cultural, social, and historical aspects of the region during that period.
5. Sahadic: A group of extinct Berber languages that were once spoken in North Africa. Sahadic languages are known from ancient inscriptions and provide a glimpse into the linguistic diversity of the Berber region in antiquity.
6. Saho: Saho is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken by the Saho people in Eritrea and parts of Ethiopia. It exhibits influences from other Afro-Asiatic languages like Tigrean and Tigrinya.
7. Sahu: An endangered language spoken by the Sahu people in Indonesia. As a minority language, Sahu is facing challenges to its preservation and continuity in the face of dominant languages.
8. Salar: Salar is a Turkic language spoken by the Salar ethnic minority in China. It is closely related to other Oghuz Turkic languages like Turkish and Azerbaijani.
9. Salish: Salish is a family of Native American languages spoken in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Canada. These languages have a complex grammar and are known for their rich oral traditions.
10. Salteaux: Also known as Saulteaux, it is a dialect of the Ojibwe language spoken by the Saulteaux First Nations in Canada. Salteaux retains many of the unique features of the Ojibwe language, such as its complex verb morphology.
11. Samaran: An extinct language that was once spoken in Samara, Russia. Unfortunately, due to the lack of written records and limited documentation, very little is known about the Samaran language.
12. Samaritan: A modern dialect of Hebrew used by the Samaritan community in Israel and the West Bank. The Samaritan language has a unique script and pronunciation, and it is an essential part of the Samaritan community’s religious and cultural identity.
13. Samburu: Spoken by the Samburu people in Kenya, this language belongs to the Nilo-Saharan language family. Samburu is closely related to the Maasai language and is primarily used in everyday communication among the Samburu people.
14. Sami: Also known as Saami, Sami is a group of Uralic languages spoken by the Sami people in Northern Europe. The Sami languages have distinctive features, including rich morphology and vocabulary related to reindeer herding, which is an integral part of Sami culture.
15. Samoan: Samoan is the official language of Samoa and one of the languages spoken in American Samoa. It is a Polynesian language and is widely used in various aspects of Samoan culture, including literature, music, and ceremonies.
16. Sandawe: Sandawe is spoken by the Sandawe people in Tanzania and is known for its unique phonetic features, including click consonants. It is an isolated language, not closely related to other African languages, making it a subject of linguistic research.
17. Sango: Sango is an official language of the Central African Republic and is considered a creole derived from Ngbandi and other African languages. It serves as a lingua franca for communication between different ethnic groups in the country.
18. Sankotrofi: Sankotrofi is an endangered language from the Sakalava subgroup of the Malagasy language spoken in Madagascar. With limited documentation and decreasing numbers of speakers, Sankotrofi faces the risk of disappearing.
19. Sanskrit: Sanskrit is an ancient Indo-European language of India and holds significant importance in Hinduism and classical Indian literature. It is known for its precise grammatical rules and has been used for religious, philosophical, and scientific writings.
20. Santali: Spoken by the Santal people in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, Santali is an Austroasiatic language. It has a rich oral tradition, including folktales, songs, and dances.
21. Santee: Santee refers to the eastern dialect of the Dakota language, spoken by the Dakota people in the Great Plains of North America. Dakota languages are part of the Siouan language family.
22. Santhali: Santhali is spoken by the Santhal people in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. It is one of the major Austroasiatic languages and is known for its diverse dialects.
23. Sara: Sara is spoken by the Sara people in Chad and Sudan and belongs to the Nilo-Saharan language family. It has several dialects, and its usage is widespread in the regions where the Sara people reside.
24. Saraiki: Saraiki is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in parts of Pakistan, particularly in Punjab and Sindh provinces. It has its unique linguistic features and is written in both the Arabic and Devanagari scripts.
25. Saramacca: Saramacca is an English-based creole spoken by the Saramaka people in Suriname. It is a contact language influenced by African languages, English, and Dutch.
26. Sardinian: Sardinian is indigenous to the island of Sardinia, Italy, and is a Romance language with significant linguistic variation among its different dialects.
27. Saulteaux: Saulteaux is an Algonquian language spoken by Indigenous communities in Canada, primarily in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It is one of the three major dialects of the Ojibwe language, characterized by its unique phonological and lexical features.
28. Savara: Savara is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Savara people in India. It is endangered and faces the challenges of preserving its linguistic heritage.
29. Scottish Gaelic: Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language spoken in Scotland. Despite a decline in usage, efforts are being made to revitalize and promote the language through education and cultural initiatives.
30. Sedang: Sedang is an Austroasiatic language spoken in Vietnam and Laos. Like many indigenous languages in the region, Sedang is vulnerable and faces the risk of being replaced by dominant languages.
31. Selkup: Selkup is spoken by the Selkup people in Siberia and is a Uralic language. It is a minority language with a relatively small number of speakers.
32. Seminole: Seminole is an indigenous language spoken by the Seminole people in Oklahoma and Florida, USA. Efforts are being made to preserve and promote the language within Seminole communities.
33. Seneca: Seneca is a member of the Iroquoian language family and is spoken by the Seneca people in the United States and Canada. It has a unique structure and is renowned for its oratory traditions.
34. Senufo: Senufo is a group of related languages spoken in West Africa, primarily in Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Mali. The Senufo people have a rich cultural heritage, and their languages play a vital role in their identity.
35. Serbian: Serbian is the official language of Serbia and is a Slavic language written in the Cyrillic script. It has several dialects and is also spoken in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and other neighboring countries.
36. Serbo-Croatian: Serbo-Croatian was once the standard language of Yugoslavia but has since evolved into Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, and Montenegrin. These languages are mutually intelligible and share a significant amount of linguistic similarities.
37. Serer: Serer is spoken by the Serer people in Senegal and The Gambia. It has a rich oral tradition, including epic poems and historical narratives.
38. Serer-Nono: Serer-Nono is a dialect of Serer spoken in Senegal. As with other Serer dialects, it carries the cultural and historical heritage of the Serer people.
39. Serer-Sin: Serer-Sin is another dialect of Serer spoken in Senegal. The diverse dialects contribute to the linguistic richness of the Serer community.
40. Serto: Serto is an ancient Syriac script used by the Syriac Orthodox Church. It was historically used for religious manuscripts and liturgical texts.
41. Seshelt: Also known as Sechelt, Seshelt is a Salishan language spoken in Canada. It has a small number of speakers and faces the threat of endangerment.
42. Sesotho: Sesotho is the official language of Lesotho and is a Bantu language with several dialects. It plays a significant role in Lesotho’s cultural and political life.
43. Setswana: Also known as Tswana, Setswana is a Bantu language spoken in Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia. It is one of the official languages of Botswana.
44. Shan: Shan is a Tai language spoken in Myanmar, Thailand, and China. It has a unique script and is one of the Tai languages with a substantial number of speakers.
45. Shanghainese: Shanghainese is a dialect of Wu Chinese spoken in Shanghai, China. It has its own distinct characteristics and is used in local media and informal settings.
46. Shawia: Shawia is a Berber language spoken in Algeria. As with many Berber languages, Shawia has been historically marginalized, but efforts are being made to preserve and promote it.
47. Shilluk: Shilluk is spoken by the Shilluk people in South Sudan and belongs to the Nilotic language family. It is a vibrant language with a rich oral tradition.
48. Shluh: Also known as Chleuh or Tashelhit, Shluh is a Berber language spoken in Morocco. It is widely used in the Souss region and has a substantial number of speakers.
49. Shona: Shona is the principal language of Zimbabwe and belongs to the Bantu language family. It is widely used in various domains, including education, media, and administration.
50. Shoshoni: Shoshoni is a Numic language spoken by the Shoshone and Goshute peoples in the United States. It has several dialects and has contributed to the linguistic diversity of the Great Basin region.
51. Shughni: Shughni is a Pamir language spoken in Tajikistan and Afghanistan. It is part of the Eastern Iranian language group and has a unique grammar and phonetic system.
52. Shuna: Shuna is an endangered Bantu language spoken in Tanzania. It is critically endangered, and efforts are being made to document and revitalize the language.
53. Shuswap: Shuswap is a Salishan language spoken in British Columbia, Canada. It has several dialects and plays a vital role in the cultural heritage of the Shuswap people.
54. Sibo: Sibo is an extinct language formerly spoken in Cameroon. Unfortunately, due to its extinction, very little is known about the Sibo language and its linguistic features.
55. Sicilian: Sicilian is the Romance language spoken in Sicily, Italy. It has its unique vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, distinct from standard Italian.
56. Sidamo: Sidamo is spoken in Ethiopia and belongs to the Afro-Asiatic language family. It has several dialects and serves as a means of communication among the Sidama people.
57. Sign Language: Sign languages are visual-manual languages used by Deaf communities worldwide. Each country often has its own sign language, and they play a crucial role in the linguistic and cultural identity of Deaf individuals.
58. Sil: Sil is an Austroasiatic language spoken in Cambodia. It has several dialects and is primarily used in everyday communication among the Sil people.
59. Siloam: Siloam is an extinct language that was once spoken in Siloam, Arkansas, USA. Unfortunately, very little is known about Siloam due to its extinction and lack of documentation.
60. Sindhi: Sindhi is the official language of the Sindh province in Pakistan and is an Indo-Aryan language. It has a rich literary tradition and is written in the Arabic script.
61. Sinhala: Also known as Sinhalese, Sinhala is the official language of Sri Lanka and belongs to the Indo-European language family. It has a significant number of speakers and plays a central role in Sri Lankan culture.
62. Sininkere: Sininkere is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken by the Sininkere people in Chad. As with many endangered languages, efforts are being made to document and preserve Sininkere’s linguistic heritage.
63. Sioux: Sioux is a language family consisting of several closely related languages spoken by the Sioux people in North America. These languages are part of the Siouan language family and are integral to Sioux culture and identity.
64. Siswati: Siswati, also known as Swati, is a Bantu language spoken in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and South Africa. It is an official language in Eswatini and is widely used in education and administration.
65. Slavic: Slavic languages constitute a major language family with several branches, including East Slavic (Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian), West Slavic (Polish, Czech, Slovak), and South Slavic (Serbian, Croatian, Bulgarian). These languages are spoken in various countries in Eastern and Central Europe and share a common linguistic heritage.
66. Slovak: Slovak is a West Slavic language spoken in Slovakia. It is closely related to Czech and other Slavic languages, and it has its own unique linguistic features.
67. Slovene: Also known as Slovenian, it is the official language of Slovenia and is part of the South Slavic language group. Slovene has a rich literary tradition and is an important aspect of Slovenian cultural identity.
68. Slovenian: Slovenian is a South Slavic language spoken primarily in Slovenia, characterized by its melodic sound and grammatical complexity.
69. Sm’algyax: Sm’algyax, also known as Coastal Tsimshian, is a Tsimshianic language spoken by the Tsimshian people in British Columbia, Canada. It is an indigenous language with a small number of speakers.
70. Snohomish: Snohomish is a Salishan language spoken by the Snohomish people in Washington State, USA. Like other Salishan languages, it is known for its complex grammar and oral traditions.
71. Sogdian: An extinct Eastern Iranian language that was once spoken in Central Asia. Sogdian played a crucial role in the Silk Road trade and cultural exchanges.
72. Somali: Somali is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Somalia, Djibouti, and parts of Ethiopia and Kenya. It has a rich oral tradition and a unique writing system called Osmanya.
73. Songhai: Songhai is a Nilo-Saharan language spoken in West Africa, primarily in Niger and Mali. It has several dialects and serves as a lingua franca in the region.
74. Soninke: Soninke is a Mande language spoken by the Soninke people in West Africa, primarily in Senegal, Mali, and Mauritania. It has a significant historical and cultural heritage.
75. Sora: Sora is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Sora people in India. It has a distinct script and oral traditions.
76. Sorani: Sorani is a Kurdish language spoken in Iraq and Iran. It is written in the Arabic script and is widely used in Kurdish literature and media.
77. Sorbian: Sorbian is a West Slavic language spoken by the Sorbs, a Slavic minority in Germany. It has two main dialects: Upper Sorbian and Lower Sorbian.
78. Sotho: Sotho is a Bantu language spoken in Lesotho and South Africa. It has several dialects, including Southern Sotho and Northern Sotho.
79. South Arabian: South Arabian languages were once spoken in the southern Arabian Peninsula, including the ancient kingdoms of Saba, Ma’in, and Qataban.
80. South Bolivian Quechua: A variety of Quechua spoken in Bolivia. Quechua languages are widely spoken in the Andean regions of South America.
81. Southern Tutchone: Southern Tutchone is a Northern Athabaskan language spoken by the Southern Tutchone people in Yukon, Canada. It has a small number of speakers.
82. Spanish: Spanish, or Castilian, is a Romance language and one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It is the official language of Spain and many countries in Latin America.
83. Squamish: Squamish, also known as Sḵwx̱wú7mesh snichim, is a Coast Salish language spoken by the Squamish Nation in British Columbia, Canada.
84. Stony: Stony is a Siouan language spoken by the Nakoda First Nations in Alberta, Canada. It is one of the endangered indigenous languages in Canada.
85. Sudanese: Sudanese Arabic, also known as Sudanese, is a variety of Arabic spoken in Sudan. It has been influenced by local languages and cultures.
86. Suk: Suk is a Nilo-Saharan language spoken in Tanzania. It is primarily used by the Sukuma people in their daily lives.
87. Sukuma: Sukuma is a Bantu language spoken by the Sukuma people in Tanzania. It is one of the most widely spoken languages in the country.
88. Sundanese: Sundanese is an Austronesian language spoken in West Java, Indonesia. It has its own script called “Hanacaraka.”
89. Susu: Susu is a Mande language spoken in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and other West African countries. It is part of the wider Manding language group.
90. Swahili: Swahili, also known as Kiswahili, is an East African Bantu language spoken in several countries, including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a major lingua franca in the region.
91. Swedish: Swedish is a North Germanic language spoken in Sweden and parts of Finland. It is known for its melodic sound and has a significant presence in literature and media.
92. Swedo Norwegian: A variety of Norwegian spoken in Sweden, influenced by Swedish.
93. Swiss: Swiss German, or Schweizerdeutsch, is a variety of German spoken in Switzerland. It has distinct regional variations and is used in everyday communication.
94. Syriac: Syriac is an Eastern Aramaic language used by Syriac Christians in the Middle East. It has a rich literary tradition and is written in several different scripts.
95. Syriac-Eastern: Eastern Syriac, or Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, is a modern version of Syriac spoken by Assyrian Christians in Iraq, Iran, and other countries.
96. S’gaw Karen: S’gaw Karen is a Karenic language spoken by the Karen people in Myanmar and Thailand. It has a significant number of speakers and a rich oral tradition.
I hope you found this article “Languages That Start With S” helpful and got insights into some of the rare and lesser-known languages around the world.
Also, keep in mind that, this isn’t an exhaustive list, if there are any Languages starting with the letter S.
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 T
- Languages That Start With U
- Languages That Start With V
- Languages That Start With W
