Zarma language

Zarma
Djerma, Zabarma
Zarma ciine, zarma sanni
زَرْمَ ݘِينٜ / زَرْمَ سَنِّ‎
Native toNiger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria
RegionWest Africa
EthnicityZarma
Native speakers
6.0 million (2021)[1]
Dialects
Arabic (Ajami)
Braille
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3dje
Glottologzarm1239  Zarma
Location of Songhay languages[2]

Northwest Songhay:

  Korandje
  Koyra Chiini
  Tadaksahak
  Tasawaq
  Tagdal

Eastern Songhay:

  Tondi Songway Kiini
  Humburi Senni
  Koyraboro Senni
  Zarma language
  Songhoyboro Ciine
  Dendi
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Zarma (Zarma Ciine/Sanni; Ajami: زَرْمَ ݘِينٜ / زَرْمَ سَنِّ) is one of the Songhay languages. It is the leading indigenous language of the southwestern lobe of the West African nation of Niger, where the Niger River flows and the capital city, Niamey, is located. Zarma is the second-most common language in the country, after Hausa, which is spoken in south-central Niger. With over 6 million speakers, Zarma is easily the most widely spoken Songhay language.[1]

In earlier decades, Zarma was rendered Djerma, using French orthography, but it is usually now 'Zarma', the form that the Zarma people use in their language.

Alternative names for Zarma are Djerma, Jerma, Dyabarma, Dyarma, Dyerma, Adzerma, Zabarma, Zarbarma, Zarmaci or Zerma.

  1. ^ a b Zarma at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Closed access icon
  2. ^ This map is based on classification from Glottolog and data from Ethnologue.