Kpelle language
| Kpelle | |
|---|---|
| 'Kpɛlɛwoo | |
| Region | Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast |
| Ethnicity | Kpelle people |
Native speakers | (1.3 million cited 1991–2012) |
Niger–Congo?
| |
| African Reference Alphabet, Kpelle syllabary | |
| Official status | |
Official language in | Liberia |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-2 | kpe |
| ISO 639-3 | kpe – inclusive codeIndividual codes: gkp – Guinea Kpellexpe – Liberia Kpelleknu – Kono |
| Glottolog | kpel1252 |
The Kpelle /kəˈpɛlə/ language (endonym: Kpɛlɛɛ) is spoken by the Kpelle people of Liberia, Guinea and Ivory Coast and is part of the Mande language family. Guinean Kpelle (also known as Guerze in French), spoken by half a million people, is concentrated primarily, but not exclusively, in the southeastern forest regions of Guinea bordering Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone. Half a million Liberians speak Liberian Kpelle, which is taught in Liberian schools.