Sidamo language page

Classification and where spoken

Sidamo is a language of the Highland East Cushitic Group spoken by the Sadamain in the southern highlands east and west of Lake Awasa, Ethiopia.

Number of speakers

Grimes (1996) gives a figure of 1.5 million Sidamo speakers. Earlier estimates generally range from 650,000 to 860,000 (Bender 1976); UBS (1982) notes 857,000.

Usage

Sidamo is a local first language.

Orthographic status

Very little is written in Sidamo. As far as we know, the only printed literature to date is the Bible, written in Amharic characters.

Sets of learning materials

One set of learning materials for Sidamo appears sufficient.