Koi language

Koyee (कोयी) is a Sino-Tibetan language belonging to the Kiranti languages spoken in the Khotang district of Nepal. Like other Kiranti languages, it displays a fairly complex system of person-marking and stem alternations. The term "Koyee" has dual significance, describing both a language and a tribe. Its origins trace back to various sources. According to records from 2015 BS, the term could have been derived from "kuyama" (IPA- kujämä), words in the Koyee language that mean "dark." This might be connected to the location of Sungdel on the hill 'Lourya,' which seems to be dark. The people residing in this shadowy area came to be known as the Koyee tribe, and the language they spoke became known as Koyee language. Over time, phonological changes, such as the shift from "u" to "o(backness)" have contributed to the evolution of the term. Koyee people who settle down in easter side of Nepal are known as Koyu (कोयू).

Alternate spellings and names are Kohi, Koi B.ʌʔ’, Koyee, Koyi, Koyu.