Bobo language

The Bobo language is a Mande language of Burkina Faso and Mali; the western city of Bobo Dioulasso is named partly for the Bobo people. It consists of Northern and Southern dialects. The Northern dialect is also known as Konabéré. Northern and Southern Bobo share only 20%–30% intelligibility according to Ethnologue, and by that standard are considered separate languages.

RegionBurkina Faso, Mali

EthnicityBobo

Native speakers

(340,000 cited 1995–2021)^[1]

Language family

Niger–Congo?

• Mande
  • Western Mande
    • Northwestern
      • Soninke–Bobo
        • Bobo

Quick facts Region, Ethnicity ...

Bobo
Bobo
Region	Burkina Faso, Mali
Ethnicity	Bobo
Native speakers	(340,000 cited 1995–2021)[1]
Language family	Niger–Congo? Mande Western Mande Northwestern Soninke–Bobo Bobo
Language codes
ISO 639-3	Either: bwq – Southern bbo – Northern
Glottolog	bobo1253
Majority areas of Bobo speakers, in medium yellow, on a map of Burkina Faso

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The terms Bobo Fing 'Black Bobo' and Bobo Madaré are used to distinguish them from Bobo Gbe 'White Bobo' and the Bobo Oule 'Red Bobo' of Burkina.