An extinct language may be narrowly defined as a language with no native speakers and no descendant languages. Under this definition, a language becomes extinct upon the death of its last native speaker, the terminal speaker. A language like Latin is not extinct in this sense, because it evolved into the modern Romance languages; it is impossible to state when Latin became extinct because there is a diachronic continuum (compare synchronic continuum) between ancestors Late Latin and Vulgar Latin on the one hand and descendants like Old French and Old Italian on the other; any cutoff date for distinguishing ancestor from descendant is arbitrary. For many languages which have become extinct in recent centuries, attestation of usage is datable in the historical record, and sometimes the terminal speaker is identifiable. In other cases, historians and historical linguists may infer an estimated date of extinction from other events in the history of the sprachraum.

List

21st century <onlyinclude> Date Language Language family Region Terminal speaker Notes7 March 2026HupaNa-DeneCalifornia, United StatesVerdena ParkerUndergoing revitalization since the 1970s.16 October 2025Lekwungen dialect of North Straits SalishSalishanBritish Columbia, CanadaČeyɬəm (Elmer George)20 September 2025Aurê-AuráTupianMaranhão, BrazilAurá14 July 2025CaddoCaddoanOklahoma, United StatesEdmond JohnsonUnder a process of revitalization since 2022.by 2024MawesNorthwest Papuan?West Papua, Indonesia2 May 2023Columbia-MosesSalishanWashington, United StatesPauline Stensgarby 2023ItonamaIsolateBeni Department, Boliviaby 2023Kuyubí dialect of MoréChapacuranRondônia, Brazil5 October 2022Mednyj AleutMixed Aleut–RussianCommander Islands, RussiaGennady Yakovlev19 April 2022QuapawSiouanTulsa, Oklahoma, United StatesArdina Moore16 February 2022YahganIsolateMagallanes, ChileCristina Calderónby 2022?MogholMongolicHerat Province, Afghanistan Unknown if still spoken.25 September 2021Wukchumni dialect of Tule-Kaweah YokutsYokutsCalifornia, United StatesMarie Wilcox27 August 2021YuchiIsolateTennessee (formerly) and Oklahoma in the United StatesMaxine Wildcat Barnett7 March 2021Bering Aleut dialect of Aleut Eskimo-Aleut Kamchatka Krai, Russia Vera Timoshenkoafter 2020DompoNiger–CongoBrong-Ahafo region, Banda District, Ghanahttps://asaaseradio.com/preserve-our-tongues-ghla-sounds-alarm-on-disappearing-languages/27 July 2018TuscaroraIroquoianNorth Carolina, United StatesHoward "Howdy" Hill Under a process of revival. 4 April 2020 Aka-Cari dialect of Northern AndamaneseGreat Andamanese Andaman Islands, India Licho 23 March 2019 Ngandi Gunwinyguan Northern Territory, Australia C. W. Daniels 4 January 2019 Tehuelche Chonan Patagonia, Argentina Dora ManchadoNovember 2018 Sapé Isolate Venezuela Ramón Quimillo Lezama 2018 Patwin Wintuan California, United States Bertha Wright MitchellBeing taught in schools and learned by adults. 1 speaker reported in 2021.2017Air MatoaEtna Bay, Indonesiaby 2017Hokkaido AinuAinuHokkaido, Japan Semispeakers remain. 9 December 2016 Mandan Siouan North Dakota, United States Edwin Benson 30 August 2016 Wichita Caddoan Oklahoma, United States Doris McLemore29 July 2016 Gugu Thaypan Pama-Nyungan Queensland, Australia Tommy George 11 February 2016 Nuchatlaht dialect of Nuu-chah-nulth Wakashan British Columbia, Canada Alban Michael 4 January 2016 Whulshootseed dialect of Lushootseed Salishan Washington, United States Ellen Williams by 2016Marti KeWestern DalyNorthern Territory, AustraliaPatrick Nudjulu or Agatha Perdjert 4 February 2014 Klallam Salishan Washington, United States Hazel Sampsonbeing taught as a second language on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington StateJanuary 2014ToronaAtlantic–CongoSouth Kordofan, South SudanKaraɽul Alunga Almendi 5 June 2013 Livonian Uralic Latvia Grizelda Kristiņa Under a process of revival. 1 native speaker as of 2020. 26 March 2013 Yurok Algic California, United States Archie ThompsonRomney, Lee. (2013, February 6). Revival of nearly extinct Yurok language is a success story. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 7, 2013 Under a process of revival.by 2013DemushboPanoanAmazon Basin, Brazil 1 speaker in 2010. 2 October 2012 Cromarty dialect of Scots Indo-European Northern Scotland, United Kingdom Bobby HoggObituary: Robert (Bobby) Hogg, engineer and last speaker of the Cromarty dialect The Scotsman. 15 October 2012. 11 July 2012 Upper Chinook Chinookan Oregon, United States Gladys Thompson 10 March 2012 Holikachuk Na-Dene Alaska, United States Wilson "Tiny" Deacon 2012AndoaZaparoanPeruHipólito Arahuanaza 2012 Mardijker Portuguese-based creole Jakarta, Indonesia Mimi Abrahams Dhungaloo dialect of Taribelang Pama-Nyungan Queensland, Australia Roy Hatfield 10 April 2011 Apiaká Tupian Mato Grosso, Brazil Pedrinho Kamassuri 2011 Lower Arrernte Pama-Nyungan Northern Territory, Australia Brownie Doolan Perrurle 24 October 2010 Pazeh dialect of Pazeh–Kaxabu Austronesian Taiwan Pan Jin-yu 20 August 2010 Cochin Indo-Portuguese Creole Portuguese-based creole Southern India William Rozario 26 January 2010 Aka-Bo Andamanese Andaman Islands, India Boa Sr. by 2010Piru dialect of LuhuAustronesianMaluku, Indonesia</onlyinclude> November 2009 Aka-Kora Andamanese Andaman Islands, India Ms. BoroAndamanese tribes, languages die, The Hindu 22 February 2009 Great Andamanese koiné Andamanese Andaman Islands, India Nao Jr. 2009 Olrat Austronesian Banks Islands, Vanuatu Maten Womal 2009 Nyawaygi Pama-Nyungan Queensland, Australia Willie Seaton by 2009 Papora-Hoanya Austronesian Taiwan 30 July 2008TübatulabalUto-AztecanCalifornia, United StatesJames Andreas 24 February 2008 Plains Apache Na-Dene Oklahoma, United States Alfred Chalepah Jr. 21 January 2008 Eyak Na-Dene Alaska, United States Marie Smith JonesJohn McWhorter,"No Tears For Dead Tongues", Forbes, 2/21/2008 @ 6:00PM.2008OrochTungusicKhabarovsk Krai, Russia 10 August 2007 Gros Ventre Algic Montana, United States Theresa LamebullMithun 336 2007 Northeastern Maidu Maiduan Central California, United States Under process of revival by 2007 Rusenu Trans–New Guinea? eastern East Timor by 2007 Hpun Sino-Tibetan Myanmar 11 July 2006 Wasco dialect of Upper Chinook Chinookan Oregon, United States Madeline Brunoe McInturff 2006OmuranoIsolatePeruEsteban Macusi2006Aghu TharnggalaPama-NyunganQueensland, Australia2006Ludza dialect of South EstonianUralicLatvia Nikolājs Nikonovs by 2006 Zumaya Afroasiatic Cameroon Most speakers have shifted to Fula.after 2005WarluwarraPama-NyunganAustraliaNo speakers reported in 2021 census 3 November 2005 Osage Siouan Oklahoma, United States Lucille Roubedeaux being revived 2005 Berbice Creole Dutch Dutch-based creole Guyana Bertha Bell"Berbice Dutch officially extinct". Radio Netherlands Worldwide. February 25, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2015 2005 Kerek Chukotko-Kamchatkan Chukotka Ekaterina Khatkana2005Northern PomoPomoanCalifornia, United States by 2005 Barrow Point Pama-Nyungan Queensland, Australia Urwunjin Roger Hart 20 September 2004 Nüshu script unclassified Hunan, China Yang Huanyi 2004UmotínaBororoanMato Grosso, BrazilJulá Paré2004UruUru–ChipayaIru-Itu, BoliviaJulia Vilac. 2004?Duli–Gewe Niger-CongoCameroon 29 December 2003 Akkala Sami Uralic Kola Peninsula, Russia Marja SerginaRantala, Leif, Aleftina Sergina 2009. Áhkkila sápmelaččat. Oanehis muitalus sámejoavkku birra, man maŋimuš sámegielalaš olmmoš jámii 29.12.2003. Roavvenjárga. 4 rememberers persisted as of 2018. 22 November 2003 Wintu Wintuan California, United States Flora Jones 14 September 2003 Klamath-Modoc Plateau Penutian Oregon, United States Neva Eggsman September 2003 Garig-Ilgar Pama-Nyungan Northern Territory, Australia 2003NonuyaWitotoanColombiaHumberto Ayace by 2003 Areba Pama-Nyungan Queensland, Australia by 2003 Atampaya Pama-Nyungan Queensland, Australia by 2003MakolkolunclassifiedNew Britain, Papua New Guineapossible Papuan language4 November 2002SerranoUto-AztecanCalifornia, United StatesDorothy Ramonbeing revived 31 August 2002 Unami Algic Delaware, United States Edward ThompsonChambers, Steve. "The vanishing voice of the Lenape." Star-Ledger. 17 Nov 2002. Retrieved 8 Dec 2013. 23 May 2002 Gaagudju Isolate Northern Territory, Australia Big Bill Neidjie 2002TandiaAustronesianWest Papua, IndonesiaSpeakers shifted to Wandamen.2002AkurioCaribanSuriname by 2001 Amanayé Tupian Brazil by 2001UmbugarlaArnhem Land languages orDarwin Region languagesNorthern Territory, AustraliaButcher Knightby 2001NgurmburArnhem Land languages orDarwin Region languagesNorthern Territory, AustraliaButcher Knightby 2001BahuanaArawakanBrazilClaudina de Souza SoaresLanguage had recently gone extinct by 20012000MákuIsolateRoraima, BrazilSinfrônio Magalhães (Kuluta)2000SowaAustronesianPentecost, VanuatuMaurice TabiGray (2013), The Languages of Pentecost Island PémonoCaribanVenezuelaJuanita GarciaMapia Austronesian Mapia Atoll, IndonesiaMesmesAfroasiaticEthiopiaAbegazAhland, Michael Bryan. (2010). Language death in Mesmes. Dallas: SIL International and the University of Texas at Arlington.Bustorf, Dirk. (2007). "Mäsmäs", in: Siegbert Uhlig (ed.): Encyclopaedia Aethiopica, vol. 3: D-Ha, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, p. 838-39.KamarianAustronesianwest Seram Island, IndonesiaApolistaArawakanApolobamba It is possible there are still a few very old speakers. There may be two distinct languages under this label. Rennellese Sign Language unclassified Solomon Islands Kagobai WanhamChapacuranBrazilFirmino Miguelemby 2000Central PomoPomoan Northern California 2000sToráChapacuranBrazilfew semispeakers remain

20th century