The Jukunoid languages are a branch of the Benue-Congo languages spoken by the Jukun and related peoples of Nigeria and Cameroon. They are distributed mostly throughout Taraba State, Nigeria and surrounding regions.
Their asymmetrical nasal consonants are atypical for West Africa, as can be seen in Wapan.
External relationships Gerhardt (1983) and Güldemann (2018) suggest that Jukunoid may actually be part of the Plateau languages, as it shares similarities with various Plateau groups, especially Tarokoid. However, Blench (2005) argues that Jukunoid is clearly separate from Plateau.
Classification The following classification is from Glottolog; the Kororofa branch has been added from Ethnologue (Glottolog classifies the Kororofa languages as Jukun):
Jukunoid Kuteb Central Kpan–Icen Etkywan (Icen) Kpan Jukun–Mbembe–Wurbo Jukun Jukun (Jukun Takum) Jibu Hõne Wãpha Jan Awei Kororofa Wannu Wapan Jiba Mbembe (Tigon) Wurbo Como Karim Jiru Shoo-Minda-Nye
Ethnologue adds the Yukubenic branch of the Plateau languages as part of a Yukubenic-Kuteb group based on Shimizu (1980), and Blench also follows this classification. Ethnologue also leaves the Wurbo language Shoo-Minda-Nye as unclassified within Jukun–Mbembe–Wurbo, and includes the unclassified Benue–Congo language Tita in its place.
Lau was also recently reported by Idiatov (2017).
However, Blench (2026) classifies Yukubenic and Kuteb–Kapya each as independent branches of Benue–Congo; neither are classified as either Jukunoid or Plateau. Formerly, these languages were known as South Jukunoid languages, which Blench (2026) considers to be invalid since none of them are actually branches of Jukunoid.Blench, Roger. 2026. Rethinking the classification of ‘South Jukunoid’. Third Conference on Bantoid Languages and Linguistics (Bantoid 3), University at Buffalo, May 20–21, 2026.
Names and locations Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).
Language Branch Cluster Dialects Alternate spellings Own name for language Endonym(s) Other names (location-based) Other names for language Exonym(s) Speakers Location(s) Notes Akum Anyar 3 villages in Nigeria; 600 in Cameroon (1976) Taraba State, ca. 6°50N, 9°50E Bete 50 (2002) Taraba State, Wukari LGA, Bete town no data Nyifon Iordaa 1000 (CAPRO n.d. but probably 1990s) Buruku LGA, Benue State no data Jan Awei Jan Awei 12 ? (1997) Gombe State, West of Muri mountains, North of the Benue (precise location unknown) Jukun cluster Jukun Njuku Njikun 35,000 (1971 Welmers);Welmers, William Everrett 1971. Checklist of African Language and Dialect Names. In: Current Trends in Linguistics, Vol. 7, T.A. Sebeok 759-900, The Hague, Mouton. 1700 in Cameroon (1976) Taraba State, Wukari, Takum, Bali and Sardauna LGAs; Nasarawa State, Awe and Lafia LGAs; Plateau State, Shendam and Langtang South LGAs; Benue State, Makurdi LGA; and in Furu-Awa subdivision, Cameroon Jibu Jukun Gayam, Garbabi 25,000 (1987 SIL) Taraba State, Gashaka LGA Takum-Donga Jukun Takum, Donga Jibu Second language speakers only 40,000 (1979 UBS) Taraba State, Takum, Sardauna and Bali LGAs Wase Tofa Jukun Plateau State, Shendam and Langtang South LGAs Jukun–Mbembe–Wurbo group Jukun–Mbembe–Wurbo Kororofa cluster Jukun–Mbembe–Wurbo Kororofa Jukun more than 62,000 (SIL) Abinsi Jukun–Mbembe–Wurbo Kororofa Wapan River Jukun Taraba State, Wukari LGA, at Sufa and Kwantan Sufa; Benue State, Makurdi LGA, at Abinsi Wapan Jukun–Mbembe–Wurbo Kororofa Wapan Wukari and Abinsi 60,000 (1973 SIL) Taraba State, Wukari LGA; Nasarawa State, Awe and Lafia LGAs; Plateau State, Shendam and Langtang South LGAs (precise areas uncertain) Hone Jukun–Mbembe–Wurbo Kororofa Kona 2,000 (1977 Voegelin & Voegelin) Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA; Plateau State, Wase LGA. Villages north and west of Jalingo Dampar Jukun–Mbembe–Wurbo Kororofa Taraba State, Wukari LGA, at Dampar Mbembe Tigong cluster Jukun–Mbembe–Wurbo Mbembe Tigong Noale Tigong, Tigun, Tugun, Tukun, Tigum Akonto, Nzare 2,900 in Nigeria (1973 SIL) Taraba State, Sardauna LGA; mainly in Cameroon Ashuku Jukun–Mbembe–Wurbo Mbembe Tigong Ashaku Ákә́tsә̀kpә́, Ákúcùkpú Kitsipki Nama Jukun–Mbembe–Wurbo Mbembe Tigong Dama, Namu Kporo Nzare ‘I say so’; Eneeme Shoo–Minda–Nye cluster Wurbo Shoo–Minda–Nye May be related to Jessi spoken between Lau and Lankoviri 10,000 (SIL) Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA Shoo Wurbo Shoo–Minda–Nye Shóó dàŋ Shóó Nwii Shóó Banda, Bandawa Minda Wurbo Shoo–Minda–Nye Jinleri Nye Wurbo Shoo–Minda–Nye Nyé Nyé Nwi Nyé Kunini Jiru Wurbo Zhiru Atak, Wiyap, Kir Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA Etkywan Kpan–Icen Icen, Ichen, Itchen Kentu, Kya)tõ, Kyanton, Nyidu 6,330 in Donga district (1952 W&B);Westermann, Diedrich & M.A. Bryan, 1952. Languages of West Africa. London: International African Institute. more than 7,000 (1973 SIL) Taraba State, Takum and Sardauna LGAs Kpan Kpan–Icen Western and Eastern groups: Western: 1 Kumbo–Takum Group: Kumbo (Kpanzon), Takum; 2 Donga (Akpanzhĩ; 3 Bissaula (extinct) Eastern: Apa (per Kilham), Kente, Eregba (per Koelle) Kpanten, Ikpan, Akpanzhi, Kpanzon, Abakan Kpwate, Hwaye, Hwaso, Nyatso, Nyonyo, Yorda, Ibukwo Taraba State, Wukari, Takum and Sardaunda LGAs Como–Karim Wurbo Shomoh, Shomong, Chomo, Shomo Karim, Kirim Kiyu, Nuadhu Taraba State, Karim Lamido and Jalingo LGAs Tita Wurbo Taraba State, Jalingo LGA, at Hoai Petel Blench was not able to identify the people or the location, though Meek had data showing it to be Jukunoid.
Numerals Comparison of numerals in individual languages:
Classification Language 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Jukun-Mbembe-Wurbo, Jukun Hõne (Pindiga/Gwana) zùŋ pyèːnè sáːré nyẽ́ sɔ́nɛ́ sùnjé sùnpyèːnè hūnnè sīnyáu dùb Jukun-Mbembe-Wurbo, Jukun Jibu zyun pyànà sàra yina swana sùnjin sùmpyànn awùyin ajunndúbi dwib Jukun-Mbembe-Wurbo, Jukun Wapa (Wãpha) zùŋ pyĩ̀ sā / sārā nyìnā swã̄nā ʃẽ̀ʒí sémpyè sẽ̄sá sínyáu ádùb Jukun-Mbembe-Wurbo, Kororofa Jiba (Jibe / Kona) zũ̀ː pyèːnà sàːr nyè són sùnʒé sùmpyèːnà húhúnyè zōrhōnnì dùb Jukun-Mbembe-Wurbo, Kororofa Wapan Jukun dzun pyìnà tsara nyena tswana cìnjen / ʃìʒen (5+ 1) tsùpyìn (5+ 2) tsùntsa (5+ 3) tsùnyò (5+ 4) dzwe Jukun-Mbembe-Wurbo, Mbembe Tigon Mbembe nzo pya sra nyɛ tʃwɔ́ tʃwɔ́mbazo (5+ 1) tʃwɔ́mbapya (5+ 2) ɛ́nyɛnyɛ (2 x 4) ?? tʃwɔ́mnyɛ (5+ 4) dʒé Yukuben-Kuteb Akum ájì afã̀ ata aɲɪ̀ acóŋ acóŋ jì (5+ 1) acóŋ afã̀ (5+ 2) acóŋ ata (5+ 3) acóŋ ɲì (5+ 4) īkùr(ù) Yukuben-Kuteb Kapya ūŋɡēmé īfɡɔ̀ ītà īɲɨɪ̀ ìtú tú ŋɡì (5+ 1) tú ófɡõ (5+ 2) tú àtà (5+ 3) tú īɲɨɪ̀ (5+ 4) èbʲí / èbzí Yukuben-Kuteb Kuteb (Kutev) (1) kínzō ífaẽ ítā índʒē ítsóŋ ítsóŋ-ndʒō (5+ 1) ítsóŋ-ífaẽ (5+ 2) ítsóŋ-ítā (5+ 3) ítsóŋ-ndʒē (5+ 4) ridʒwēr Yukuben-Kuteb Kuteb (Kutev) (2) kínzō ifaen itā inje itsóŋ itsóŋ-nzō (5+ 1) itsóŋ-faen (5+ 2) itsóŋ-tā (5+ 3) itsóŋ-nje (5+ 4) rijwēr Yukuben-Kuteb Yukuben kítə́ŋ āpá(ŋ) ātà, ārà ēnzì otòŋ (ō)̄tòŋ kíhín (5+ 1) (ō)̄tòŋ āpá (5+ 2) (ō)̄tòŋ ātà / ārà (5+ 3) (ō)̄tòŋ ēnzì (5+ 4) kùr
See also List of Proto-Jukunoid reconstructions (Wiktionary)
Further reading Shimizu, Kiyoshi. 1980. Comparative Jukunoid, 3 vols. (Veröffentlichungen der Institute für Afrikanistik und Ägyptologie der Universität Wien 7–9. Beiträge zur Afrikanistik 5–7). Vienna: Afro-Pub.
References
External links ComparaLex, database with Jukunoid word lists