The Biu–Mandara or Central Chadic languages of the Afro-Asiatic family are spoken in Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon.

A reconstruction of Proto-Central Chadic has been proposed by Gravina (2014).Gravina, Richard. 2014. Proto-Central Chadic Lexicon . Webonary.

Languages Gravina (2014) Gravina (2014) classifies Central Chadic as follows, as part of a reconstruction of the proto-language. Letters and numbers in parentheses correspond to branches in previous classifications. The greatest changes are breaking up and reassigning the languages of the old Mafa branch (A.5) and Mandage (Kotoko) branch (B.1).Gravina, R. (2014). The phonology of Proto-Central Chadic: the reconstruction of the phonology and lexicon of Proto-Central Chadic, and the linguistic history of the Central Chadic languages (Doctoral dissertation, LOT: Utrecht).

Central Chadic South SouthLanguages are closer to each other than are those of the northern branch Bata (A.8) Bata Proper: Bacama, Bata, Fali, Gude, Gudu, Holma (†), Jimi, Ngwaba (from A.1 Tera), Nzanyi, Sharwa Tsuvan: Tsuvan, Zizilivakan Daba (A.7) Daba Proper: Daba, Mazagway Hidi Mina: Mina, Mbudum Buwal: Buwal, Gavar Mafa (= South A.5 Mafa (d)): Mafa, Mefele, Cuvok Tera (A.1): East Tera: Boga, Ga'anda, Hwana (West Tera): Jara, Tera Sukur (A.6) Hurza Hurza (from A.5 Mafa): Vame, Mbuko North Margi–Mandara–Mofu Margi (A.2) Bura: Bura, Cibak, Putai, Nggwahyi Margi Proper: Kilba, Margi South, Margi Mandara (A.4): Wandala: Mandara (Malgwa), Glavda Dghwede: Cineni, Dghwede, Guduf, Gava, Gvoko Podoko: Podoko, Matal (from A.5 Mafa) Mofu (part of South A.5 Mafa) Tokombere: Ouldeme, Mada, Muyang, Molokwo Meri: Zulgo, Gemzek, Merey, Dugwor Mofu Proper: Mofu North, Mofu-Gudur Maroua Maroua (part of South A.5 Mafa (c)): Giziga North, Giziga South, Mbazla Lamang Lamang (West A.4 Wandala): Lamang, Hdi, Mabas Higi Higi (A.3): Bana, Hya, Psikyɛ, Kamwe, Kirya-Konzel Musgum – North Kotoko Kotoko Island: Buduma Kotoko North: Mpade, Afaɗə, Malgbe, Maltam Musgum (B.2): Musgum, Mbara, Muskum (†) Kotoko Centre Kotoko Centre: Lagwan, Mser Kotoko South Kotoko South: Zina, Mazera Gidar

Jilbe was not classified, as no sources were available.

Blench (2006) The branches of Biu–Mandara traditionally go by either names or letters and numbers in an outline format. Blench (2006) organizes them as follows:Blench, 2006. The Afro-Asiatic Languages: Classification and Reference List (ms)

Biu–Mandara Tera (A.1): Tera, Pidlimdi (Hinna), Jara, Ga'anda, Gabin, Boga, Ngwaba, Hwana Bura–Higi Bura (A.2): Bura-Pabir (Bura), Cibak (Kyibaku), Nggwahyi, Huba (Kilba), Putai (Marghi West), Marghi Central (Margi, Margi Babal), Marghi South ? Kofa Higi (A.3): Kamwə (Psikyɛ, Higi), Bana, Hya, ? Kirya-Konzəl Wandala–Mafa Wandala (Mandara) (A.4) East: Wandala (Mura, Mandara, Malgwa), Glavda (Gəlvaxdaxa) Parəkwa (Podoko) West: Gəvoko, Guduf-Gava (Cineni), Dghweɗe, Hdi (Xədi, Hedi, Tur), Lamang, Woga, Vemgo, Mabas Sukur (Sakwun, A.6) Mafa (A.5) Northeast Mafa: Vame (Pəlasla), Mbuko, Gaduwa Matal (Muktele) South Mafa (a) Wuzlam (Ouldémé), Muyang, Maɗa, Məlokwo (b) Zəlgwa-Minew, Gemzek, Ɗugwor, Mikere, Merey (c) North Giziga, South Giziga, North Mofu, Mofu-Gudur (South Mofu), Baldemu (Mbazlam) (d) Cuvok, Mafa, Mefele, Shügule Daba (A.7) North Daba: Buwal (Gadala), Gavar (Kortchi) South Daba: Mina (Besleri, Hina), Daba (Mazagway), Mbədam Bata (Gbwata) (A.8): Bacama, Bata (Gbwata), Sharwa, Tsuvan, Gude, Fali of Mubi, Zizilivakan (Ulan Mazhilvən, Fali of Jilbu), Jimi (Jimjimən), Gudu, Holma (†), Nzanyi Mandage (Kotoko) (B.1) South Mandage: Msər (Kousseri), Lagwan (Logone) ? Jilbe North Mandage: Afaɗə, Maslam, Malgbe (Gulfey), Mpadə Buduma (Yedina) East–Central Gidar (Kaɗa) Munjuk (B.2): Mbara, Muskum (Muzuk) (†), Mpus, Beege (Jafga), Vulum (Mulwi) Mida'a (< B.1): Jina, Majəra

Newman (1977) Central Chadic classification per Newman (1977):

Names and locations (Nigeria) Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations (in Nigeria only) from Blench (2019).

Branch Code Primary locations+ Distributions of Biu–Mandara branches in Nigeria Tera A1 Gombi LGA, Adamawa State and Biu LGA, Borno State Bata A8 Mubi LGA, Adamawa State Higi A3 Michika LGA, Adamawa State Mandara A4 Gwoza LGA, Borno State and Michika LGA, Adamawa State

South 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 Daba Daba Daba A single village, less than 1,000. Mostly in Cameroun Adamawa State, Mubi LGA. Between Mubi and Bahuli Mafa Mafa Mafa (Mofa) in Nigeria. Cameroon dialects divided into West, Central and Eastern. Mofa Matakam (not recommended) 2,000 (1963), 136,000 in Cameroon (1982 SIL) Borno State, Gwoza LGA; mainly in Cameroon Sakun Sukur Sakun, Gemasakun Gә̀mà Sákún Sugur Adikummu Sukur 5,000 (1952); 10,000 (1973 SIL). 7 villages Adamawa State, Madgali LGA Ga’anda cluster Tera Ga’anda Tlәka’andata pl. Ka’andәca Kaɓәn Mokar [name of the place where the rolling pot stopped] 7,600 (1952); 10,000 (1973 SIL);␣4. Six villages Adamawa State, Gombi LGA Kaɓәn Tera Ga’anda Gabin Tlәkaɓәnɗa pl. Kaɓәnca 12 villages Fәrtata Tera Ga’anda Tlәfәrtata pl. Fәrtaca 5 villages Boga Tera Boka 5 villages Adamawa State, Gombi LGA Hwana Tera Hona, Hwona 6,604 (1952 W&B); 20,000 (1973 SIL), estimate more than 20,000 (Blench 1987) Adamawa State, Gombi LGA, Guyuk and 30 other villages Jara Tera Jera 4,000 (SIL) Borno State, Biu LGA; Bauchi State, Ako LGA Also refers to the languages of the Jarawan Bantu group including: the Jarawa cluster, Mbárù, Gùra, Rúhû, Gubi, Dulbu, Láb􀬎̀r, Kulung, and Gwa Tera cluster Tera Tera 46,000 (SIL); 50,000 (Newman 1970) Borno State, Biu LGA; Gombe State, Gombi LGA, Kwami district, Ako LGA, Yamaltu and Ako districts, Dukku LGA, Funakaye district Nyimatli Tera Tera Wuyo-Ɓalɓiya-Waɗe; Deba-Zambuk-Hina-Kalshingi-Kwadon [orthography based on this cluster] Yamaltu, Nimalto, Nyemathi Gombe State, Ako, Gombe, Kwami, Funakai, Yamaltu LGAs; Borno State, Ɓayo LGA Pidlimdi Tera Tera Hinna, Hina, Ghәna Borno State, Biu LGA Bura Kokura Tera Tera Borno State, Biu LGA Boga Tera, Eastern Boka Adamawa State, Gombi LGA Bata cluster Bata Bata Bwatye Bata Bata Mulyen (Mwulyin), Dong, Opalo, Wa-Duku Gboare, Bwatiye Kwaa–Ɓwaare Ɓwaare Bachama 11,250 (1952) 20,000 (1963) Adamawa State, Numan and Guyuk LGAs, Kaduna State, north east of Kaduna town. Bacama fishermen migrate long distances down the Benue River, with camps as far as the Benue/Niger confluence. Bata Bata Bata Koboci, Kobotschi (Kobocĩ, Wadi, Zumu (Jimo), Malabu, Bata of Ribaw, Bata of Demsa, Bata of Garoua, Jirai Batta, Gbwata 26,400 (1952), est. 2,000 in Cameroon; 39,000 total (1971 Welmers) Adamawa State, Numan, Song, Fufore and Mubi LGAs; also in Cameroon Fali cluster Bata Fali Fali of Mubi, Fali of Muchella Vimtim, Yimtim 4 principal villages. Estimate of more than 20,000 (1990) Adamawa State, Mubi LGA Vin Bata Fali Uroovin Uvin Vimtim Vimtim town, north of Mubi Huli Bata Fali Bahuli Urahuli Huli, Hul Bahuli town, northeast of Mubi Madzarin Bata Fali Ura Madzarin Madzarin Muchella Muchella town, northeast of Mubi Ɓween Bata Fali Uramɓween Cumɓween Bagira Bagira town, northeast of Mubi Gudu Bata Gutu, Gudo 1,200 (LA 1971) Adamawa State, Song LGA, 120 km. west of Song. Approximately 5 villages. Guɗe Bata Gude, Goudé Mubi Cheke, Tcheke, Mapuda, Shede, Tchade, Mapodi, Mudaye, Mocigin, Motchekin 28,000 (1952), est. 20,000 in Cameroon Adamawa State, Mubi LGA; Borno State, Askira–Uba LGA; and in Cameroon Holma Bata Holma Da Holmaci Bali Holma 4 speakers (Blench, 1987). The language has almost vanished and has been replaced by Fulfulde. Adamawa State. Spoken north of Sorau on the Cameroon border Ngwaba Bata Gombi, Goba Fewer than 1000 Adamawa State, Gombi LGA, at Fachi and Gudumiya Nzanyi Bata Paka, Rogede (Rɨgudede), Nggwoli, Hoode, Maiha, Magara, Dede, Mutidi; and Lovi in Cameroon Njanyi, Njai, Njei, Zany, Nzangi, Zani, Njeny, Jeng, Njegn, Njeng, Nzangɨ sg., Nzanyi pl. Jenge, Jeng, Mzangyim, Kobochi, Kobotshi 1.B Wur Nzanyi 14,000 in Nigeria (1952), 9,000 in Cameroon. Nigeria: Adamawa State, Maiha LGA. Cameroon: West of Dourbeye near Nigerian border in Doumo region, Mayo-Oulo Subdivision, Mayo-Louti Division, North Province. Zizilivәkan Bata Zilivә ÀmZírív Fali of Jilbu ‘a few hundred’ in Cameroon Adamawa State, Mubi LGA, Jilbu town; and in Cameroon

North