Fang (Faŋ / Paŋwe)

Fang is a Bantu language spoken in Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and São Tomé and Príncipe. In 2013 there were about 1 million speakers of Fang, including 589,000 in Equatorial Guinea, 121,000 in Cameroon, 8,100 in Congo, and 350,00 in Gabon.

In Equatorial Guinea Fang is spoken in Centro Sur, Kié-Ntem, Litoral, and Wele-Nzas provinces. In Cameroon it is spoken in the South region. In Congo it is spoken in the Sangha department, and in Gabon it is spoken in the northwest, mainly in Woleu-Ntem and Estuaire provinces, and also in Ogooué-Ivindo and Ngounié provinces.

Fang is also known as Pahouin, Pamue or Pangwe. Dialects include Ntumu, Okak, Mveny, Nzaman, Mekaa and Atsi. It is closely related to Bulu and Ewondo.

Ways to write Fang were developed by Christian missionaries during the 19th century. Other spelling systems were developed during the 20th century. There are different orthographies used in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and other countries. The alphabet shown below is one of the ones used in Equatorial Guinea. Others are available.

Fang alphabet and pronunciation

Fang  alphabet and pronunciation

Source: Bíkaŋŋ bá tsili ya byɔ́ Faŋ (Alphabet of the Fang Language of Equatorial Guinea)

Note

Fang has several tones which may or may not be indicated. Accents such as the acute accent (á), can be used.

Download an alphabet chart for Fang (Excel)

Sample text

Abiali bod bese, tege ai sesala, bene etie dzia a mis memvende 'enyiñ, dzom dzia etu fili nkóbó, fili ntsogan, fili mboan. Ve abiali te, mod ose ayem dze ene abe, dze ene mbeñ asu e mod mbog antoa ai mfi na enyiñ ewulu mezen mene sosoo.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Sample videos in and about Fang

Information about Fang | Numbers

Links

Information about Fang
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fang_language
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fang_(langue)
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioma_fang
https://ac-languesculturesbantu.org/courses/fang
https://archive.org/details/dictionnairefran00leje/
https://www.sil.org/resources/search/language/fan

Bantu languages

Bangi, Basaa, Bemba, Bena, Benga, Bhaca, Bukusu, Bulu, Central Teke, Chichewa, Chokwe, Chuwabu, Comorian, Digo, Duala, Eton, Ewondo, Fang, Ganda/Luganda, Gogo, Gusii, Gwere, Haya, Hehe, Herero, Ibinda, Ikizu, Jita, Kamba, Kiga, Kikuyu, Kimbundu, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Kisi, Kongo, Konjo, Koti, Kukuya, Kunda, Kuria, Lambya, Lingala, Loma, Lozi, Luba-Katanga, Luchazi, Lunda, Luvale, Makaa, Makonde, Makhuwa, Mandekan, Maore, Masaaba, Mbukushu, Mbunda, Mende, Mongo, Mushungulu, Mwani, Nambya, Nande, Nkore, North Teke, Northern Ndebele (South Africa), Northern Ndebele (Zimbabwe), Northern Sotho, Nyamwezi, Nyakyusa, Nyemba, Nyole, Nyungwe, Nzadi, Oroko, OshiWambo, Pagibete, Punu, Ronga, Safwa, Sena, Sengele, Shona, Soga, Songe, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Sukuma, Swahili, Swati, Tanga, Tembo, Tonga, Tshiluba, Tsonga, Tswa, Tswana, Tumbuka, Umbundu, Venda, Vwanji, Xhosa, Yao, Yasa, Zigula, Zinza, Zulu

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 28.11.23

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