ndo

Ndonga, designated by the ISO 639-3 code ndo, is a Bantu language of the Oshiwambo group spoken by the Ovambo people in northern Namibia and parts of southern Angola. It forms part of the Oshiwambo language cluster, a closely related set of languages within the Niger-Congo family. Ndonga is closely related to Oshindonga, and together these languages constitute the two major varieties of Oshiwambo.

Geographically, Ndonga is spoken mainly in northern Namibia, with communities extending into southern Angola. Estimates of the number of speakers vary, but it is commonly described as having hundreds of thousands of speakers. The language operates in everyday communication, local media, and traditional and community events, playing a central role in cultural identity for its speakers. Ndonga is often used alongside other languages in the region, including English and Portuguese, reflecting Namibia’s multilingual context.

Writing system and linguistic features follow a Latin-based orthography established through language standardization efforts. Ndonga uses vowel harmony and tone for some phonemic distinctions, features typical of Bantu languages, and employs a set of diacritics and digraphs in its writing. Education and public life in Namibia increasingly incorporate Ndonga, alongside other indigenous languages, as part of broader language policy aimed at promoting linguistic diversity and accessibility.

See also: Oshiwambo languages, Oshindonga, Namibia, Ndonga language.