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Which peoples in Ethiopia speak Semitic languages?

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Map of East Africa showing political boundaries, major cities, and capitals, overlaid with shaded elevation zones. Higher elevations are concentrated in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, while lower elevations follow the coastal regions along the Indian Ocean and extend into Somalia and Mozambique. Major lakes such as Victoria, Tanganyika, and Rudolf are also marked.
Eastern Africa

In Ethiopia, the peoples who speak Semitic languages—often referred to as Ethio-Semitic languages—primarily inhabit the northern and central regions of the country. These groups include:1

  • Amhara: One of the two largest ethnolinguistic groups in Ethiopia, the Amhara inhabit the central and western highlands and speak Amharic, which serves as a principal language of the country.12
  • Tigray: Native to the northern Tigray region, this group speaks Tigrinya.34
  • Gurage: These people reside in the southern part of the country and speak Gurage.31
  • Hareri: This group is located in the eastern part of Ethiopia and speaks Hareri.31
  • Argobba: Another group identified as speaking an Ethio-Semitic language.3

Additionally, Ge'ez—the ancient language of the Aksumite Empire—is a Semitic language that remains significant today as the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.31