Herero language

Herero is a Bantu language spoken by the Herero and Mbanderu peoples, primarily across Namibia and Botswana, with smaller speaker communities in southwestern Angola. Estimates from 2015 to 2018 recorded speakers in these three countries.

The language’s geographic range includes a region known as Hereroland, which covers the Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, and Kunene areas. The Himba people, who are closely related to the Herero and Mbanderu, speak a dialect very similar to Otjiherero. Many Herero-speakers also live in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital.

In terms of sound, certain consonants in Herero appear only in loanwords. The writing system was developed in the late 19th century, when missionary Gottlieb Viehe translated the Bible into Herero, transcribing the spoken language using the Latin script. Another missionary, Peter Heinrich Brincker, translated theological works and songs.

Otjiherero is taught in Namibian schools as both a first and second language, and it is a core subject at the University of Namibia. It is also one of six minority languages used by the Namibian State Radio (NBC). The only published dictionary in Otjiherero comes from Gamsberg Macmillan.

The language has several varieties. The Hakaona variety is now considered a separate Bantu language, as is Zemba (Otjizemba) in some classifications. Maho (200) also removes Kuvale to Bantu Zone R.10, while distinguishing North-West Herero (Kaokoland Herero, including Zemba, Himba, and Hakaona) as R.311, and Botswana Herero (including Mahalapye Herero) as R.312—both closely related to but distinct from Herero proper. Within Herero proper, two dialects are recognized: Central Herero and Mbandero (East Herero).

Northwest/Zemba is spoken on both sides of the Namibian–Angolan border. Central Herero covers a large area in central Namibia, with East Herero and a few isolated pockets further east, still within Namibia. Botswana Herero consists of scattered communities in Botswana, making up about 15% of the Herero proper population.

Ethnologue treats Zimba as a separate language but keeps Himba, East Herero, and Botswana Herero within the Herero language. It no longer considers Kuvale a dialect, classifying it as a distinct language instead.