KikongoKongo

Kikongo, also called Kikongo language, is a Bantu language spoken in the Congo Basin by the Kongo people. It belongs to the Niger-Congo language family and forms part of the Kongo subgroup of Bantu languages, with related varieties such as Yombe, Sundi, and Kakongo.

Geographic distribution includes the western Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, and the Angolan province of Cabinda, with diaspora communities across Central Africa. In some regions, Kituba (Kikongo ya Leta) functions as a widely used lingua franca and is sometimes considered a separate, creole-based language derived from Kikongo.

Kikongo has a number of regional dialects. The language is typically written in the Latin alphabet, and orthography varies by country and organization. Efforts by linguistic communities and researchers have produced standardized orthographies for educational and literacy projects.

Like many Bantu languages, Kikongo features noun class systems and rich verb morphology. Word order is generally subject–verb–object, and tone or pitch can distinguish meaning in some varieties. The language has a long history in the region, with influence from Christian missions and colonial institutions shaping its use in education, media, and church life.

See also Kituba; Kikongo languages; Kongo people.