Oromo language page

Classification and where spoken

Oromo belongs to the Lowland East Cushitic family (Oromo subgroup) and is spoken in the southern half of Ethiopia as well as mostly in Eastern Province, Kenya.

Number of speakers

Variety
Country
Speakers
Source
 
Kenya
100-150,000
Heine & Möhlig
Oromo Borana
Ethiopia
512,000
UBS
Oromo Borana
Kenya
80,000
UBS
Oromo Borana-Arsi-Guji
Ethiopia
3,809,000
Grimes 1996
Oromo, Qotu
Ethiopia
2,142,000
Grimes (1996)
Oromo, Western
Ethiopia
5.75 million
UBS
Oromo, West-Central
All
8 million
Grimes (1996)
Oromo overall  
18 million
Gragg

Usage

Oromo is a significant regional first language and is spoken by the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia. It is broadcast over the Voice of Revolutionary Ethiopia, and there is a weekly newspaper, Berisa, in Oromo.

Orthographic status

There is no standardized orthography; Oromo is written either with Amharic or Romanized script. Gragg (personal communication, 1984) states that "a written standard using the Ethiopia syllabary is gradually being evolved."

Sets of learning materials

One set of learning materials appears to be sufficient.