Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 1, 2026

Ikizu language

Ikizu is a Bantu language spoken by the Ikizu peoples of Tanzania. Its dialects are Ikizu proper and Sizaki. Maho (2009) treats Sizaki (Shashi) as a separate language. However, Ethnologue 16th edition retired the ISO code for Sizaki, merging it into Ikizu.

Last revised
Aug 1, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
126 w
Citations
2
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Ikizu
Ikikizu
Native toTanzania
Native speakers
53,000 (2009)1
Dialects
  • Sizaki
  • Ikizu
Language codes
ISO 639-3ikz
Glottologikiz1238
JE.402,4042
ELPIkizu

Ikizu (Ikikizu, Kiikiizo) is a Bantu language spoken by the Ikizu peoples of Tanzania. Its dialects are Ikizu proper and Sizaki. Maho (2009) treats Sizaki (Shashi) as a separate language. However, Ethnologue 16th edition retired the ISO code for Sizaki, merging it into Ikizu.

Orthography

Ikizu uses the Latin alphabet. It does not include the letters Q, V, or X. The letters B and C are only used in the forms Bh and Ch.

References

References

  1. Ikizu at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  2. Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
Sources

Sources

  • Sewangi, Seleman S. (2008). Kiikiizo: Msamiati wa Kiikiizo–Kiingereza–Kiswahili na Kiingereza–Kiikiizo–Kiswahili / Ikiizo–English–Swahili and English–Ikiizo–Swahili Lexicon. ISBN 9987691110.