Herero language

Lore & Background

The Herero language was first transcribed into a Latin-based alphabet at the end of the 19th century, largely due to the translation of the Bible by missionary Gottlieb Viehe (1839–1901). Father Peter Heinrich Brincker (1836–1904) also translated several theological works and songs into Otjiherero. These efforts laid the foundation for written Herero.

Otjiherero is taught in Namibian schools both as a native tongue and as a secondary language, and it is a principal material at the University of Namibia. It is also one of six minority languages used by the Namibian State Radio (NBC). As of 2008, the only dictionary in Otjiherero was published by Gamsberg Macmillan.

Varieties of Herero include Central Herero, Mbandero (East Herero), and Botswana Herero, though some classifications treat Hakaona, Zemba, and Kuvale as separate languages. The Himba people speak a dialect very close to Otjiherero, and Northwest/Zemba is found on both sides of the Namibian–Angolan border.

Reader's Guide

The Herero language serves as a key marker of identity for the Herero and Mbanderu peoples, with a speaker population of about 250,000 across Namibia, Botswana, and Angola. Its written form emerged from 19th-century missionary translations, and it continues to be used in education and media in Namibia. The language's significance is reflected in its inclusion in the University of Namibia curriculum and its use by the Namibian State Radio. The existence of multiple varieties and ongoing scholarly debate about classification—such as whether Hakaona, Zemba, or Kuvale are separate languages—highlights the linguistic diversity within the Herero-speaking community. The only published dictionary, by Gamsberg Macmillan (2008), underscores the language's limited but important documentation. Herero's legacy is tied to both its role in daily life and its preservation through institutional support.

Did You Know?

• The sounds /f s l/ in Herero are found only in loanwords.
• Missionary Gottlieb Viehe translated the Bible into Herero at the end of the 19th century.
• The Himba people speak a dialect very close to Otjiherero.
• As of 2008, the only dictionary in Otjiherero was published by Gamsberg Macmillan.