Which Khoisan languages are spoken in southern Africa?

The Khoisan languages of southern Africa are traditionally classified into three distinct, unrelated groups: Northern (Ju), Central (Khoe), and Southern (!Kwi and Taa). While these languages are often grouped together due to their shared use of click consonants, they differ significantly in grammar and vocabulary.12

Major Language Groups and Examples

• Northern (Ju): Includes dialects such as !Xũ, Juǀhoã, and ǂKx’auǁ’eĩ, spoken primarily in northeastern Namibia and parts of Botswana.1
• Central (Khoe): The most numerous group, which includes:
  • Khoekhoe: Notably Nama (Khoekhoegowab) in Namibia, as well as the extinct !Ora and Gri of South Africa.13
  • Non-Khoekhoe (NKK): Includes Naro, ǀGui, ǂGana, Buga, ǂAni, Kxoe, Shua, and Tshua, found largely across Botswana.1
• Southern: Includes the Taa dialects (varieties of !Xóõ) in Botswana and the nearly extinct !Kwi dialects, of which only ǂKhomani remains in South Africa’s Northern Cape province.1

Additionally, ǂ’Hũã is spoken in southeastern Botswana and shares features with both the Southern and Ju groups. Many of these languages are currently endangered or extinct due to social and demographic pressures.12