Kpelle language

The Kpelle /kəˈpɛlə/ language (endonym: "Kpɛlɛɛ") is spoken by the Kpelle people of Liberia, Guinea and Ivory Coast and is part of the Mande language family. Guinean Kpelle (also known as Guerze in French), spoken by half a million people, is concentrated primarily, but not exclusively, in the southeastern forest regions of Guinea bordering Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone. Half a million Liberians speak Liberian Kpelle, which is taught in Liberian schools.

Kpelle
Kpɛlɛwoo
RegionLiberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast
EthnicityKpelle people
Native speakers
(1.3 million cited 1991–2012)
Niger-Congo?
  • Mande
    • Southwestern
      • Kpelle
Writing system
African reference alphabet, Kpelle syllabary
Language codes
ISO 639-2kpe
ISO 639-3kpe – inclusive code
Individual codes:
gkp – Guinea Kpelle
xpe – Liberia Kpelle
knu – Kono
Glottologkpel1252
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