Mao language (India)

Meetei Mayek
This article contains the Meitei alphabet. Without proper rendering support, you may see errors in display.
Not to be confused with Mao languages or Southern Mao language.

Mao
Sopvoma, Emela, Mao' La
Mao written in Meitei script
Pronunciationmau
Native toIndia
RegionNagaland, Manipur
EthnicityMao Naga, Poumai Naga
Native speakers
240,205 (2011 census)[1]
Sino-Tibetian
Dialects
  • Paomata
Official status
Recognised minority
language in
India
Language codes
ISO 639-3Either:
nbi – Mao
pmx – Poumai
Glottolognaga1397
ELPMao Naga

Mao, also known as Sopvoma, is a Sino-Tibetan language of the Angami–Pochuri linguistic sub-branch.[2] It is spoken primarily in Senapati district, northwestern Manipur and in Nagaland, India. It is similar to Angami.[3] The speakers of this language use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.[4]

  1. ^ "Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues – 2011". censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Mao (Naga) language and alphabet". omniglot.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Mao (Naga) language and alphabet". omniglot.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Meitei | Ethnologue". Ethnologue. Retrieved 3 May 2023.