Tonal Languages
84
of 500 languages in database (17%)
In tonal languages, the pitch contour on a syllable — rising, falling, high, low, or level — changes the lexical meaning of a word. Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, Yoruba, and many African and Southeast Asian languages are tonal. About 70% of the world's languages have some degree of tone.
Senoufo, Cebaara
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
43
phonemes
Margi
Afro-Asiatic
·
Africa
44
phonemes
Awiya
Afro-Asiatic
·
Africa
39
phonemes
Iraqw
Afro-Asiatic
·
Africa
48
phonemes
Kadugli (Miri)
Kadugli-Krongo
·
Africa
63
phonemes
Kpelle
Mande
·
Africa
49
phonemes
Dagbani
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
37
phonemes
Ga
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
47
phonemes
Beembe
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
41
phonemes
Luvale
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
36
phonemes
Gbeya
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
45
phonemes
Kanuri
Saharan
·
Africa
35
phonemes
Logbara
Central Sudanic
·
Africa
42
phonemes
Mahas-Fiyadikka
Nubian
·
Africa
45
phonemes
Maasai
Nilotic
·
Africa
43
phonemes
Aghem
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
49
phonemes
Bariba
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
31
phonemes
Bobo
Mande
·
Africa
40
phonemes
Bisa
Mande
·
Africa
41
phonemes
Dan
Mande
·
Africa
92
phonemes
Doayo
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
48
phonemes
Ejagham de l'ouest
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
32
phonemes
Fe'efe'fe
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
44
phonemes
Kunama
Language isolate
·
Africa
34
phonemes
Mambila
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
40
phonemes
Lwaa
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
59
phonemes
Ao-Naga
Sino-Tibetan
·
Eurasia
35
phonemes
Nara
Language isolate
·
Africa
59
phonemes
Pwo Karen
Sino-Tibetan
·
Eurasia
52
phonemes
Sandawe
Language isolate
·
Africa
64
phonemes
Sango
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
44
phonemes
Hakka Chinese
Sino-Tibetan
·
Eurasia
47
phonemes
Yao
Hmong-Mien
·
Eurasia
49
phonemes
Dafla
Sino-Tibetan
·
Eurasia
27
phonemes
Karen
Sino-Tibetan
·
Eurasia
39
phonemes
Lakkia
Tai-Kadai
·
Eurasia
59
phonemes
Yay
Tai-Kadai
·
Eurasia
38
phonemes
Cham
Austronesian
·
Eurasia
35
phonemes
Telefol
Nuclear Trans New Guinea
·
Papunesia
27
phonemes
Gadsup
Nuclear Trans New Guinea
·
Papunesia
19
phonemes
Auyana
Nuclear Trans New Guinea
·
Papunesia
20
phonemes
Chipewyan
Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit
·
North America
61
phonemes
Navaho
Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit
·
North America
54
phonemes
Karok
Language isolate
·
North America
41
phonemes
Tiwa
Kiowa-Tanoan
·
North America
41
phonemes
Tewa
Kiowa-Tanoan
·
North America
57
phonemes
Otomi
Otomanguean
·
North America
58
phonemes
Mazahua
Otomanguean
·
North America
63
phonemes
Mazateco
Otomanguean
·
North America
38
phonemes
Mixtec
Otomanguean
·
North America
32
phonemes
Barasano
Tucanoan
·
South America
25
phonemes
Ticuna
Ticuna-Yuri
·
South America
38
phonemes
Ocaina
Huitotoan
·
South America
38
phonemes
Angas
Afro-Asiatic
·
Africa
44
phonemes
Standard Chinese; Mandarin
Sino-Tibetan
·
Eurasia
49
phonemes
Japanese
Japonic
·
Eurasia
40
phonemes
Chinese
Sino-Tibetan
·
Eurasia
48
phonemes
Vietnamese
Austroasiatic
·
Eurasia
45
phonemes
Wu
Sino-Tibetan
·
Eurasia
41
phonemes
Punjabi
Indo-European
·
Eurasia
73
phonemes
Hausa
Afro-Asiatic
·
Africa
46
phonemes
Thai
Tai-Kadai
·
Eurasia
47
phonemes
Yorouba
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
32
phonemes
Burmese
Sino-Tibetan
·
Eurasia
56
phonemes
Igbo
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
65
phonemes
Somali
Afro-Asiatic
·
Africa
52
phonemes
Bamana
Mande
·
Africa
58
phonemes
Dioula
Mande
·
Africa
39
phonemes
Zulu
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
43
phonemes
Rundi
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
29
phonemes
Akan
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
60
phonemes
Xhosa
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
84
phonemes
Moore
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
43
phonemes
Ewe
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
45
phonemes
Luganda
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
33
phonemes
Kikamba
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
31
phonemes
Norwegian
Indo-European
·
Eurasia
48
phonemes
Dholuo
Nilotic
·
Africa
38
phonemes
Tiv
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
40
phonemes
Nupe
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
38
phonemes
Manipuri
Sino-Tibetan
·
Eurasia
38
phonemes
Fɔn
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
42
phonemes
Mandingo
Mande
·
Africa
34
phonemes
Mambila
Atlantic-Congo
·
Africa
43
phonemes