Kono language (Sierra Leone)

Kɔnɔ
Native toSierra Leone
RegionEast
EthnicityKono people
Native speakers
320,000 (2019)
Mande
  • Western Mande
    • Central
Language codes
ISO 639-3kno
Glottologkono1268

The Kono language (Kɔnɔ) is a language spoken in Sierra Leone by the Kono people. The Kono District is situated in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone and contains 14 chiefdoms, each headed by a Paramount Chief. The language varies slightly between chiefdoms.

Kono distinguishes high tone and low tone on syllables:

tone word meaning
high /kɔ́ɔ́/ 'to mature'
low /kɔ̀ɔ̀/ 'rice'