pular

Pular, also known as Pulaar or Fulfulde, is a Fula language spoken by the Fula people across West Africa. It is part of the Niger-Congo language family, within the Fula branch of the Atlantic group, and is one of several varieties of Fulfulde. Pular is spoken by millions of people and has a strong regional focus in Senegal, Mauritania, and The Gambia, with substantial communities in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, and neighboring countries.

The language exhibits regional dialects, and speakers in different areas may use distinct phonetic or lexical forms. The names Pulaar and Pular refer to the same language in different regions, and mutual intelligibility varies with dialect. Like other Fulfulde varieties, Pular features a complex system of noun classes and affixation, and it is typically described as a tonal language, though tone realization can vary by dialect. Word order is commonly described as verb–subject–object or variations influenced by emphasis and syntax.

Writing systems for Pular include the Latin script, which is widely used in education and media, and the Ajami Arabic script, which has historical and cultural significance in some communities. In recent years, the Adlam script has also been developed and adopted by some Fula communities to write the language.

In sociolinguistic contexts, Pular serves as a regional lingua franca in parts of its range. It is used in daily communication, radio, literature, education, and increasingly in language technology and digital media to reach speakers across diverse linguistic backgrounds.