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Languages · Africa

Flag of ChadWhat Language Do They Speak in Chad?

The official languages of Chad are Arabic and French. In total about 120 living languages are spoken there, the most common being Bagirmi Fulfulde (126%), Arabic (17%) and French (13%).

2
Official languages
120
Living languages · #13
0
Regional official languages
20
Endangered languages

Official languages of Chad

Official

Arabic

العربية

17% of the population · Afro-Asiatic

Official

French

français

13% of the population · Indo-European

Most spoken languages in Chad

Bagirmi Fulfulde
126%
Arabic Official
17%
French Official
13%
12%
Ngambay
5%
Kanembu
2%
Massalat
2%
Dazaga
2%
Maba (Chad)
2%
Naba
1%
Musey
1%
Mundang
1%
Share of the population who speak the language (first or second language).

Languages commonly listed for Chad

ArabicGoraneHadjaraiKanem-bornuMayo-kebbiOuaddaiSaraTandjile

Languages of neighbouring countries

Flag of Central African RepublicFrench
Flag of SudanArabic
Flag of NigerFrench
Flag of CameroonEnglish
Flag of LibyaArabic
Flag of NigeriaEnglish

All languages of Chad (120)

LanguageSpeakers hereFamilyStatus
Bagirmi Fulfulde24,000,000 · 126%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Arabic3,245,912 · 17%Afro-AsiaticOfficial
French2,482,168 · 13%Indo-EuropeanOfficial
Chadian Arabic2,300,000 · 12%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Ngambay950,000 · 5%Central SudanicSafe
Kanembu460,000 · 2%SaharanSafe
Massalat440,000 · 2%MabanMoribund
Dazaga380,000 · 2%SaharanSafe
Maba (Chad)300,000 · 2%MabanSafe
Naba280,000 · 1%Central SudanicSafe
Musey260,000 · 1%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Mundang240,000 · 1%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Tama (Chad)230,000 · 1%TamaicSafe
Masana230,000 · 1%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Tupuri230,000 · 1%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Sar183,000 · 0.96%Central SudanicSafe
Gulay160,000 · 0.84%Central SudanicSafe
Marba150,000 · 0.79%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Bedjond140,000 · 0.73%Central SudanicSafe
Mango140,000 · 0.73%Central SudanicSafe
Dar Sila Daju97,000 · 0.51%DajuicVulnerable
Mbay90,000 · 0.47%Central SudanicSafe
Gor87,000 · 0.46%Central SudanicSafe
Nancere81,000 · 0.42%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Dangaléat60,000 · 0.31%Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Dar Daju Daju60,000 · 0.31%DajuicSafe
Buduma54,800 · 0.29%Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Kera50,000 · 0.26%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Ngete50,000 · 0.26%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Day49,900 · 0.26%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bagirmi45,000 · 0.24%Central SudanicSafe
Tedaga44,000 · 0.23%SaharanThreatened
Mararit42,000 · 0.22%TamaicSafe
Amdang41,000 · 0.21%FuranVulnerable
Sara Kaba Deme40,000 · 0.21%Central SudanicSafe
Kenga40,000 · 0.21%Central SudanicSafe
Sara Kaba Náà35,000 · 0.18%Central SudanicSafe
Pévé35,000 · 0.18%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Mubi35,000 · 0.18%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Gabri34,400 · 0.18%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Dagba34,000 · 0.18%Central SudanicSafe
Ngam30,000 · 0.16%Central SudanicSafe
Tobanga30,000 · 0.16%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Lele (Chad)26,000 · 0.14%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Masmaje26,000 · 0.14%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Tumak25,000 · 0.13%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Assangori24,000 · 0.13%TamaicThreatened
Kimré20,000 · 0.1%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Kuo20,000 · 0.1%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Migaama20,000 · 0.1%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Mesme20,000 · 0.1%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Kabalai18,000 · 0.09%Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Buso17,000 · 0.09%BookkeepingMoribund
Kwang16,800 · 0.09%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Kim15,000 · 0.08%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Bidiyo14,000 · 0.07%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Mukulu12,000 · 0.06%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Sinyar12,000 · 0.06%Central SudanicSafe
Nzakambay11,000 · 0.06%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Birgit10,400 · 0.05%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Gula (Chad)10,300 · 0.05%Central SudanicSafe
Kajakse10,000 · 0.05%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Karanga10,000 · 0.05%MabanVulnerable
Mawa (Chad)9,720 · 0.05%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Toram8,500 · 0.04%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Mpade8,000 · 0.04%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Surbakhal7,900 · 0.04%MabanSafe
Bua7,700 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Somrai7,400 · 0.04%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Mogum7,000 · 0.04%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Ndam6,500 · 0.03%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Niellim6,500 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Barein6,000 · 0.03%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Mulgi5,000 · 0.03%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Marfa5,000 · 0.03%MabanSafe
Zan Gula5,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Sokoro5,000 · 0.03%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Morom4,500 · 0.02%Central SudanicSafe
Gula Iro3,500 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Gadang2,500 · 0.01%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Disa2,400 · 0.01%Central SudanicThreatened
Tunia2,300 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Majera2,300 · 0.01%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Zerenkel2,200 · 0.01%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Jaya2,200 · 0.01%Central SudanicVulnerable
Kulfa2,200 · 0.01%Central SudanicVulnerable
Kibet2,000 · 0.01%MabanSafe
Pana (Central African Republic)2,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Sarua2,000 · 0.01%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Kendeje1,900 · 0.01%MabanVulnerable
Bolgo1,800 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mser1,600 · 0.01%Afro-AsiaticMoribund
Lagwan1,500 · 0.01%Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Jonkor Bourmataguil1,500 · 0.01%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Jina1,500 · 0.01%Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Saba1,300 · 0.01%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Besme1,200 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Bon Gula1,200 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Fania1,100 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Ubi1,100 · 0.01%Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Karang1,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Mbara (Chad)1,000 · 0.01%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Kujarge1,000 · 0.01%—Vulnerable
Fongoro1,000 · 0.01%——
Laal750 · 0%—Vulnerable
Koke600 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Tamki500 · 0%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Miltu270 · 0%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Boor100 · 0%Afro-AsiaticMoribund
Noy36 · 0%Atlantic-CongoMoribund
Goundo30 · 0%Atlantic-CongoNearly extinct
Gidar—Afro-AsiaticSafe
Herdé—Afro-AsiaticSafe
Tumari Kanuri—SaharanSafe
Laka (Chad)—Central SudanicSafe
Mambai—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Maslam—Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Malgbe—Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Runga—MabanSafe
Sara Kaba—Central SudanicSafe

Frequently asked questions

What language do they speak in Chad?

The official languages of Chad are Arabic and French. In total about 120 living languages are spoken there, the most common being Bagirmi Fulfulde (126%), Arabic (17%) and French (13%).

What is the official language of Chad?

Arabic and French.

Is English spoken in Chad?

English is not widely spoken in Chad — learn a few words of Arabic before you go.

How many languages are spoken in Chad?

About 120 living languages — #13 in the world for linguistic diversity. 20 of them are endangered.

Data: Languages of the World dataset (MIT) — ISO 639-3, Glottolog (CC BY 4.0), Unicode CLDR, Google LinguaMeta (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata; country lists: samayo/country-json (MIT).

Chad country profileLanguages by country