Fongbe

Fongbe, also written Fongbé, is a Gbe language spoken by the Fongbe people in southern Benin and nearby areas of Togo. It is part of the Gbe branch of the Niger-Congo language family and is closely related to Fon and Ewe. Some sources treat Fongbe as a distinct language, while others describe it as a dialect of Fon, reflecting ongoing scholarly and sociolinguistic variation.

Geographic distribution and varieties: Fongbe is spoken primarily in Benin’s coastal and southern regions, with smaller communities in neighboring Togo. The language comprises several regional varieties that differ in pronunciation and vocabulary but remain largely mutually intelligible to a reasonable degree.

Phonology and writing: The language is tonal, using a Latin-based script with diacritics to mark vowels and tone. It is used in education, local media, and literature in Benin, and a standardized orthography has been developed to support literacy and linguistic research.

Linguistic features and status: Fongbe shares many features typical of Gbe languages, including an analytic grammar and a rich system of verb serialization. It plays a role in traditional and contemporary culture and has been the subject of linguistic documentation since the 19th century, with dictionaries and grammars available to support study and literacy efforts.