Welcome to a linguistic voyage that spans the globe! In this article, we embark on a journey from A to Z, exploring the fascinating diversity of languages spoken across our planet. Language is not only a means of communication but also a window into the rich tapestry of human culture and expression. Whether you’re a polyglot, a language enthusiast, or simply curious about the vast array of tongues that shape our world, you’re in for an enlightening and educational experience.
From “Arabic” to “Zulu,” we’ll delve into the world of language names, offering insights into their origins, unique features, and the communities that cherish them. This A to Z language list will not only expand your linguistic horizons but also deepen your appreciation for the beauty of human communication. So, let’s embark on this alphabetical linguistic journey together and celebrate the global symphony of voices that make our world a wonderfully diverse and interconnected place.
Here is an A to Z list of languages along with their approximate number of speakers as of my last knowledge update in January 2022. Please note that the number of speakers can vary over time due to various factors, including population growth, language revitalization efforts, and more.
Language
Approx. Number of Speakers
Arabic
310 million
Bengali
230 million
Chinese (Mandarin)
1.1 billion
Dutch
25 million
English
1.3 billion
French
220 million
German
90 million
Hindi
590 million
Italian
70 million
Japanese
130 million
Korean
80 million
Lithuanian
3 million
Malay
230 million
Norwegian
5 million
Odia (Oriya)
45 million
Portuguese
220 million
Quechua
8 million
Russian
258 million
Spanish
460 million
Tamil
70 million
Urdu
230 million
Vietnamese
90 million
Welsh
1.5 million
Xhosa
7 million
Yoruba
25 million
Zulu
12 million
Please note that these numbers are approximate and can vary depending on factors such as dialects and regional variations. Additionally, some languages may have significantly more speakers if you include second language speakers or non-native speakers.
Top 50 Languages in the World (A-Z)
Here is a list of the top 50 languages, along with details about their origins, native regions, and approximate number of speakers as of my last knowledge update in January 2022:
Chinese (Mandarin)
Origin: China
Native Region: China
Approximate Number of Speakers: 1.1 billion
Spanish
Origin: Spain
Native Region: Spain, Latin America
Approximate Number of Speakers: 460 million
English
Origin: England
Native Region: United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and many other countries
Approximate Number of Speakers: 1.3 billion
Hindi
Origin: India
Native Region: India
Approximate Number of Speakers: 590 million
Arabic
Origin: Arabian Peninsula
Native Region: Arab World
Approximate Number of Speakers: 310 million
Portuguese
Origin: Portugal
Native Region: Portugal, Brazil
Approximate Number of Speakers: 220 million
Bengali
Origin: India and Bangladesh
Native Region: Bangladesh, West Bengal (India)
Approximate Number of Speakers: 230 million
Russian
Origin: Russia
Native Region: Russia, former Soviet Republics
Approximate Number of Speakers: 258 million
Japanese
Origin: Japan
Native Region: Japan
Approximate Number of Speakers: 130 million
Punjabi
Origin: India and Pakistan
Native Region: Punjab region of India and Pakistan
Approximate Number of Speakers: 100 million
German
Origin: Germany
Native Region: Germany, Austria, Switzerland
Approximate Number of Speakers: 90 million
Javanese
Origin: Indonesia
Native Region: Island of Java, Indonesia
Approximate Number of Speakers: 84 million
Wu (Shanghainese)
Origin: China
Native Region: Shanghai and surrounding areas
Approximate Number of Speakers: 90 million
Malay/Indonesian
Origin: Malay Archipelago
Native Region: Malaysia, Indonesia
Approximate Number of Speakers: 230 million
Telugu
Origin: India
Native Region: Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (India)
Approximate Number of Speakers: 93 million
Vietnamese
Origin: Vietnam
Native Region: Vietnam
Approximate Number of Speakers: 90 million
Korean
Origin: Korean Peninsula
Native Region: Korea (North and South)
Approximate Number of Speakers: 80 million
French
Origin: France
Native Region: France, Canada, parts of Africa, and other French-speaking communities
Approximate Number of Speakers: 220 million
Tamil
Origin: India and Sri Lanka
Native Region: Tamil Nadu (India), Sri Lanka, and Tamil diaspora
Approximate Number of Speakers: 70 million
Marathi
Origin: India
Native Region: Maharashtra (India)
Approximate Number of Speakers: 83 million
Turkish
Origin: Turkey
Native Region: Turkey, Cyprus, and Turkish diaspora
Approximate Number of Speakers: 85 million
Urdu
Origin: India and Pakistan
Native Region: Pakistan, parts of India
Approximate Number of Speakers: 230 million
Italian
Origin: Italy
Native Region: Italy, parts of Switzerland and Croatia
Approximate Number of Speakers: 70 million
Thai
Origin: Thailand
Native Region: Thailand
Approximate Number of Speakers: 60 million
Gujarati
Origin: India
Native Region: Gujarat (India), Indian diaspora
Approximate Number of Speakers: 55 million
Jin (Shanxi Chinese)
Origin: China
Native Region: Shanxi Province and surrounding areas
Approximate Number of Speakers: 45 million
Kannada
Origin: India
Native Region: Karnataka (India)
Approximate Number of Speakers: 43 million
Egyptian Arabic
Origin: Egypt
Native Region: Egypt
Approximate Number of Speakers: 65 million
Polish
Origin: Poland
Native Region: Poland, Polish diaspora
Approximate Number of Speakers: 40 million
Ukrainian
Origin: Ukraine
Native Region: Ukraine, Ukrainian diaspora
Approximate Number of Speakers: 37 million
Igbo
Origin: Nigeria
Native Region: Southeastern Nigeria
Approximate Number of Speakers: 30 million
Xhosa
Origin: South Africa
Native Region: Eastern Cape (South Africa)
Approximate Number of Speakers: 7 million
Tagalog
Origin: Philippines
Native Region: Philippines
Approximate Number of Speakers: 82 million
Amharic
Origin: Ethiopia
Native Region: Ethiopia
Approximate Number of Speakers: 25 million
Farsi (Persian)
Origin: Iran
Native Region: Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Persian-speaking communities
Approximate Number of Speakers: 110 million
Romanian
Origin: Romania
Native Region: Romania, Moldova, Romanian diaspora
Approximate Number of Speakers: 25 million
Odia (Oriya)
Origin: India
Native Region: Odisha (India)
Approximate Number of Speakers: 45 million
Sindhi
Origin: Pakistan and India
Native Region: Sindh region of Pakistan and Indian diaspora
Please note that these numbers are approximate and can change over time due to various factors. Additionally, languages often have speakers in regions beyond their native areas due to migration and diaspora communities.
List of Language Names Starting with A to Z
Languages That Start With A
A’Tong
Aari
Aasax
Abanyom
Abaza
Abellen
Abenaki
Abkhaz
Abua
Abui
Abujmaria
Abure
Acehnese
Achang
Achi
Acholi
Achumawi
Adai
Adangbe
Adangme
Adele
Adioukrou
Adnyamathanha
Adyghe
Afade
Afar
Afrihili
Afrikaans
Aghem
Aghul
Aguacateco
Ahlo
Ahtna
Aini
Ainu
Ajie
Akan
Akawaio
Akhoe
Akkadian
Akkala Sami
Aklanon
Aku
Akum
Alabama
Albanian
Aleut
Algerian Saharan Arabic
Algonquin
Alsatian
Altai
Altay
Alyutor
Amdang
Amharic
Amo
Amoy
Amuesha
Ancient Egyptian Language
Ancient Greek
Anda
Andalusian Arabic
Anfillo
Angika
Anglo
Angloromani
Anlo
Anyin
Ao
Apache
Apsaalooke
A-Pucikwar
Apurina
Arabela
Arabic
Aragonese
Aram
Aramaic
Aranese
Arapaho
Arbereshe Albanian
Archi
Are
Argobba
Arikara
Arin
Armenian
Armenian Alphabet
Aromanian
Arpitan
Arrernte
Arvanitic
Arvanitika
Ashkun
Asi
Askunu
Assamese
Assiniboine
Asturian
Ateso Or Teso
Atikamekw
Auslan
Avar
Avestan
Awadhi
Aweer
Awijilah
Ayapaneco
Aymara
Äynu
Azerbaijani
Azoyu Me’Phaa
Aztec
Languages That Start With B
Babine
Bacairi
Badaga
Badeshi
Badini
Baga
Bahnar
Bai
Baki
Balinese
Balochi
Balti
Bamanankan
Bambara
Bangla
Bantu
Banyuwangi
Bartangi
Basa
Basaa
Basahan
Bashkardi
Bashkir
Bashkort
Basque
Bassa
Batak
Bats
Batsbiy
Batu
Baybayin
Beja
Belarus
Belarusan
Belarusian
Belgian
Belhare
Bemba
Bembe
Bengali
Berber
Berta
Betawi
Bete
Bezhta
Bhili
Bhojpuri
Big Nambas
Bihari
Bijago
Bikol
Bikya Or Furu
Bilen
Bislama
Bissa
Blackfoot
Bodo
Bohairic
Bonan Or Paoan
Bopomofo
Borama
Bororo
Bosnian
Brahui
Braille
Bravanese
Brazilian Portuguese
Breton
Bua
Buginese
Buhid
Bukusu
Bulgarian
Bunjevac
Burmese
Burushaski
Buryat
Bussa
Languages That Start With C
Caddo
Cahto
Cahuarano
Cahuilla
Cambodian
Canichana
Cantonese
Carian
Carrier
Catalan
Catalonian
Catawba
Cayuga
Cebuano
Celtiberian
Chaga Or Kichagga
Chakma
Chalcatongo Mixtec
Cham
Chamarra
Chamorro
Chechen
Chenchu
Chenoua
Cherokee
Chewa
Cheyenne
Chhattisgarhi
Chichewa
Chickasaw
Chilcotin
Chinese
Chipewyan
Chiswina
Chittagonian
Chocangaca
Choctaw
Chukchi
Chulym
Church Slavonic
Chuvash
Cimbrian
Cocoma Or Cocama
Cocopa
Cocos Islands Malay
Coeur D’Alene
Comanche
Comorian
Cook Islands Maori
Coptic
Cornish
Corsican
Cree
Crimean Tatar
Croatian
Cupeno
Cypriot Arabic
Czech
Languages That Start With D
Dagbane
Dagbani
Dahlik
Dair
Daka
Dakhini
Dakota
Dalecarlian
Dameli
Danish
Dargwa
Dari
Dari-Persian
Daur Or Dagur
Dene
Deseret
Dhatki
Dhivehi
Dholuo
Dhuwal
Dida
Digaro
Dinka
Dioula
Dioula Or Jula
Divehi
Dogri
Dolgan
Domari
Drehu
Duala
Dungan
Dupaningan
Durkha
Dutch
Dutton World Speedwords
Dyula
Dzongkha
Languages That Start With E
E
Eastern Yugur
Edo
Efik
Egyptian Arabic
Ekoti
Enets
English
Eritrean
Erzya
Esan
Esperanto
Estonian
European
Even
Evenki
Ewe
Éwe
Extremaduran
Eyak
Languages That Start With F
Fala
Faliscan
Fang
Faroese
Farsi
Fataluku
Fiji Hindi
Fijian
Filipino
Filipino Sign Language
Finnish
Flemish
Fon
French
Frisian
Friulian
Fujianese
Fula
Fulah
Fulani
Fur
Fuzhou
Languages That Start With G
Ga
Gadaba
Gaelic
Gagauz
Galician
Gallo
Gan
Ganda
Gangte
Garhwali
Garre
Gaulish
Gayo
Ge’Ez
Ge’Ez
Georgian
German
Ghanaian
Gibanawa
Gikuyu
Gikuyu Or Kikuyu
Gilaki
Gilbertese
Gileki
Glagolitic
Goaria
Godoberi
Gondi
Gothic
Gowro
Grebo
Greek
Greenlandic
Grenadian French Creole
Grunshi
Guarani
Gujarati
Gullah
Gumuz
Gurkhali
Gurung
Gusii
Gwich’In
Gwichʼin
Languages That Start With H
Hadza
Haida
Hainanese
Haitian
Haitian Creole
Hakka
Ham
Han
Hanuno’O
Harari
Harauti
Harsusi
Haryanvi
Harzani
Hausa
Hawaiian
Hawaiian Creole
Hazaragi
Hebrew
Herero
Hertevin
Hijazi
Hiligaynon
Hill Mari
Himba
Hindi
Hindko
Hindustani
Hinuq
Hiri Motu
Hixkaryana
Hmar
Hmong
Ho
Hobyot
Hokkien
Hopi
Hottentot
Hulaula
Hungarian
Hunsrik
Hupa
Hwla
Languages That Start With I
Iban
Ibibio
Icelandic
Ido
Ife
Igala
Igbo
Igorot
Ik
Ili Turki
Ilocano
Ilokano
Ilonggo
Imeraguen
Inari Sami
Indian
Indonesian
Ingush
Interlingua
Interlingue
Interslavic
Inuinnaqtun
Inuit
Inuit Sign Language
Inuit/Inupiaq
Inuktitut
Inupiak
Inupiaq
Iraqw
Irish
Irish Gaelic
Iroquoian
Irula
Ishkashimi
Isthmus Nahuatl
Istro Romanian
Istro-Romanian
Italian
Iu Mien
Ivatan
Languages That Start With J
Jamaican Creole
Japanese
Jaqaru
Jarai
Jarawa
Javanese
Jawi
Jerriais
Jonkha
Juang
Judaeo
Jurchen
Jutish
Languages That Start With K
K’Iche’
Kabardian
Kabyle
Kaingang
Kaixana
Kalaallisut
Kalasha
Kamba
Kamkata
Kannada
Kanuri
Kapampangan
Kara
Karachay-Balkar
Karagas
Karaim
Karakalpak
Karamojong
Karay
Karelian
Karen
Karenic
Kashmiri
Kashubian
Kaska
Kayah Li
Kazakh
Kelantanese Malay
Kendeje
Kerek
Ket
Khakas
Khalaj
Khandeshi
Khanty
Khanty Or Ostyak
Khasi
Khitan
Khmer
Khmu
Khoekhoe
Khowar
Kiga
Kikuyu
Kildin Sami
Kilinga
Kimatuumbi
Kimki
Kinyarwanda
Kirghiz
Kirombo
Kirundi
Kituba
Kivunjo
Kolami
Komi
Kongo
Kongo Or Kikongo
Konkani
Koraga
Korandje
Korean
Korku
Korobore
Korwa
Koryak
Kosovan
Kosraean
Kota
Kotopo
Koya
Krio
Kuanua
Kui
Kujarge
Kuliak
Kulitan
Kumauni
Kumyk
Kumzari
Kunama
Kurdish
Kurdish Languages
Kurmanji
Kusunda
Kutchi
Kwadi
Kwanyama
Kxoe
Kyrgyz
Languages That Start With L
Laal
Ladakhi
Ladin
Lakha
Laki
Lakota
Lao
Larestani
Latin
Latvian
Laz
Leonese
Lepcha
Lezgin
Liberian
Ligbi Or Ligby
Likpe
Limbu
Limburgish
Lingala
Lipan Apache
Lishana Deni
Lisu
Lithuanian
Livonian
Livonian Or Liv
Llocano
Logba
Lojban
Lombard
Lomwe
Lotha
Low German
Low Prussian Dialect
Lower Sorbian
Lozi Or Silozi
Luba
Ludic Or Ludian
Lufu
Luganda
Luiseno
Lunda
Lunda Or Chilunda
Luo
Luri
Lushootseed
Lusoga
Lusoga Or Soga
Luvale
Luwati
Luxembourgish
Luyia
Lycian
Lydian
Languages That Start With M
Maasai
Maay Maay
Macedonian
Madurese
Magadhi
Magahi
Magar
Maguindanao
Maithili
Makassarese
Makhuwa
Makhuwa Or Makua
Makhuwa-Meetto
Malagasy
Malay
Malayalam
Malaysian
Malinke
Maltese
Mam
Manchu
Mandaic
Mandarin
Mandingo
Mandinka
Mandombe
Maninka
Manipuri
Mansi Or Vogul
Manx
Manyika
Maori
Maori English
Marathi
Mari Or Cheremis
Maria
Marshallese
Marwari
Masaba
Masalit
Mauritian Creole
Mawa
Maya
Mazanderani
Meadow Mari
Meankieli
Mehri Or Mahri
Meitei
Meithei
Mende
Menominee
Meru
Meru Or Kimeru
Miami
Michoacan Nahuatl
Min
Min Bei
Min Dong
Min Nan
Min Zhong
Minangkabau
Mirandese
Mirpuri
Mizo
Moghol
Mohawk
Moksha
Moldovan
Molengue
Mon
Monegasque
Mongo
Mongolian
Mono
Montagnais
Montenegrin
Mor
Moroccan
Mosquito
Motu
Muher
Mundang
Mundari
Munji
Muria
Muscogee Creek
Musgu
Muskum
Mussau
Languages That Start With N
Nǀu
Nafaanra
Nagarchal
Nagumi
Nahuatl
Nama
Nanai
Nara
Naukan Yupik
Nauruan
Navajo
Ndali
Ndebele
Ndonga
Ndyuka
Neapolitan
Negidal
Nemadi
Nepal Bhasa
Nepalese
Nepali
Nestorian
New Zealand Sign Language
Ngbee
Ngumba
Nias
Niellim
Nihali
Nimboran
Ningbo
Niuean
N’Ko
Nogai
Nooksack
North Ndebele
Northern Sami
Northern Sotho
Northern Thai
Norwegian
Norwegian Bokmal
Norwegian Nynorsk
Nottoway
Nuer
Nuosu
Nuosu/Yi
Nuristani
Nuuchahnulth
Nyabwa
Nyah Kur
Nyakyusa
Nyamwezi
Nyangia
Nyanja
Nyoro
Languages That Start With O
Occidental
Occitan
Odia
Ogham
Oirat
Oirata
Ojibwa
Ojibwe
Okinawan
Okinawan Japanese
Old Church Slavonic
Old English
Omagua
Omotik
Oneida
Onge
Ongota
Ontong Java
Oriya
Ormuri
Oroch
Orok
Oromo
Oscan
Osmanya
Ossetian
Ostyak
Otomi
Languages That Start With P
Pahari
Paite
Pakistani
Pali
Palula
Pandan Bikol
Pangasinan
Pangasinense
Papiamento
Parachi
Paratio
Parya
Pashayi
Pashto
Patois
Pattani Malay
Persian
Peul
Phags
Phalura
Phoenician
Phuthi
Picard
Pidgin
Piemonteis
Pig Latin
Pilipino
Pima
Piman
Pipil
Piraha
Pitjantjatjara
Plautdietsch
Pohnpeian
Polish
Portuguese
Pothohari
Pu
Puelche
Puma
Punjabi
Languages That Start With Q
Quanzhou
Quebecois
Quebocis
Quechua
Quechuan
Quinalt
Quinqui
Qusqu
Languages That Start With R
Raga
Rajasthani
Ramanos
Rarotongan
Rer Bare
Rhade
Rhaeto
Rinconada
Rohingya
Roma
Romani
Romanian
Romansh
Romany
Rotokas
Runic
Runyankole
Russian
Rusyn
Ruthenian
Rwanda
Rwandan
Languages That Start With S
Sadri
Saho
Sahu
Salar
Samburu
Sami
Samoan
Sandawe
Sango
Sanskrit
Santali
Sapudi
Sara
Saraiki
Sardinian
Sarikoli
Sasak
Saurashtra
Savara
Savi
Sawai
Scots
Scots Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic
Semnani
Senaya
Serbian
Serbo
Serbo-Croatian
Serer
Seroa
Sesotho
Seto Or Setu
Setswana
Shan
Shanghaiese
Shanghainese
Shavian
Sherpa Language
Shilluk
Shimaore
Shina
Shona
Shor
Shoshoni
Shughni
Shumashti
Shuna
Shuswap
Sichuan Yi
Sicilian
Sidamo
Siddhaṃ
Sika
Sikkimese
Silesian
Sindhi
Sinhala
Sinhalese
Sininkere
Sioux
Sivandi
Skolt Sami
Slavey
Slovak
Slovene
Slovenian
Somali
Sonjo Or Temi
Soqotri
Sora
Sorani
Sorbian
Sotho
Sourashtra
South Bolivian Quechua
South Estonian
South Ndebele
Southern Quechua
Southern Sami
Southern Sotho
Spanish
Standard Arabic
Stellingwarfs
Suba
Sudanese
Sukuma
Sumerian
Sundanese
Surajpuri
Susu
Susuami
Svan
Swahili
Swati
Swedish
Swiss German
Sylheti
Syriac
Languages That Start With T
Taa
Tachelhit
Tadzhik
Tagalog
Tagbanwa
Tahitian
Tai Dam
Tai Khun
Tai Lu
Tai Nua
Tai Tham
Taishan
Taiwanese
Tajik
Tajiki
Takestani
Talysh
Tamang
Tamazight
Tamil
Tanacross
Tangut
Tat Or Tati
Tatar
Tausug
Tebu
Tehuelche
Teluga
Telugu
Temmne
Teochew
Tepes
Terengganu
Teribe
Tetum
Text
Thai
Tharu
Tibetan
Tibetic Languages
Tigre
Tigre Or Xasa
Tigrigna
Tigrinya
Tiv
Tlingit
Tobagonian Creole
Toda
Tofa
Tok Pisin
Tonga
Tongan
Tongva
Toucouleur
Tregami
Trinidadian Creole
Tsat
Tsez
Tshil
Tshiluba
Tsonga
Tswana
Tu Or Monguor
Tuareg
Tubatulabal
Tulu
Tumbuka
Tumpoon
Tungus
Tunica
Tunisian Arabic
Tupiniquim
Turkish
Turkmen
Turoyo
Tuvan
Twi
Tzeltal
Tzotzil
Languages That Start With U
Uanacross
Ubykh
Udmurt Or Votyak
Uduk
Ugaritic
Uighur
Ukrainian
Ulch Or Olcha
Umbrian
Umbundu
Upper Sorbian
Urdu
Urum
Uspanteco
Ute
Uwet
Uyghur
Uyghur Or Uigur
Uzbek
Languages That Start With V
Vaagri Booli
Vafsi
Vai
Valencian
Vedda
Venda
Venetian
Veps
Vietnamese
Vincentian Creole
Vlax Romani
Volapuk
Voro
Votic
Votic Or Votian
Votyak
Languages That Start With W
Waddar
Wakhi
Walloon
Waray
Warlpiri
Washo
Wasi
Welsh
West Frisian
Western Frisian
Western Itelmen
Weyto
Wintu
Wolane
Wolof
Wu
Wutana
Languages That Start With X
Xaracuu
Xhosa
Xiang
Xibe
Xibe Or Sibo
Xipaya
Xiriana
Xucuru
Languages That Start With Y
Yaaku Language
Yaeyama Language
Yaghnobi
Yakut
Yanesha
Yankunytjatjara Language
Yanomami
Yanyuwa
Yapese
Yaqui
Yauma
Yaunde
Yavapai
Yazdi
Yemenite Hebrew
Yeni
Yeni Language
Yevanic Language
Yi
Yi Language
Yiddish
Yidgha
Yoeme
Yokutsan Languages
Yonaguni Language
Yoruba
Yoruba Language
Yucatec
Yucatec Maya Language
Yuchi
Yuchi Language
Yue
Yukaghir Languages
Yup’Ik
Yurats Language
Yurok Language
Languages That Start With Z
Zaghawa
Zakkur
Zaparo
Zapotec
Zaza
Zazaki
Zhuang
Zulu
Zuni Or Zuni
Zuojiang Zhuang
Zway Or Zay
Zyphe Chin
Conclusion
The comprehensive “A To Z Language Names list” article offers a fascinating exploration into the diversity and richness of human languages worldwide. Highlighting languages from Afrikaans to Zulu, it illuminates the vast array of linguistic expressions, cultural nuances, and historical significance embedded within each language. This extensive compilation serves as a testament to the beauty and complexity of human communication, showcasing the intricate tapestry of languages that shape our global society.
The article underscores the importance of preserving linguistic heritage and embracing the multilingual mosaic that contributes to our collective identity. Ultimately, it inspires a deeper appreciation for the boundless diversity of languages that enrich our world.