| Herero | |
|---|---|
| Otjiherero | |
| Native to |  Namibia Botswana |
| Region | Kunene, Omaheke and Otjozondjupa in Namibia; Ghanzi in Botswana |
Native speakers | 237,000 |
Niger–Congo
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-1 | hz |
| ISO 639-2 | her |
| ISO 639-3 | her |
| ELP | Herero |
| person | |
| people | Ovaherero |
| language | Otjiherero |
The Herero language (Herero: Otjiherero) is a Bantu language of the Niger-Congo group. It is spoken by the Herero people in Namibia and Botswana. There are about 237,000 Herero speakers in both countries, 206,000 in Namibia and the rest in Botswana.[1]
The language is spoken in an area called Hereroland. This area includes the regions of Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, and Kunene. The Himba people, who are related to the Herero people, speak a dialect that is very close to Herero. A large minority of people in Windhoek (the capital of Namibia) speak Herero.
The Herero language is written in the Latin alphabet. The first written work in Herero was a translation of the Bible by missionary Gottlieb Viehe (1839-1901). Father Peter Heinrich Brincker (1836-1904), another missionary, translated several religious works and songs into Herero.
Herero is taught in Namibian schools and at the University of Namibia. It is one of the six minority languages used in broadcasts by the Namibian State Radio (NBC). Gamsberg Macmillan, as of 2008[update], has published the only dictionary in Herero.
