Arabic, Eastern Egyptian Bedawi Spoken [avl] 780,000 in Egypt (1996). Population total all countries: 1,610,000. Bedouin regions in Sinai and along parts of the Red Sea coast, most of the way to the southern border, along the whole east bank until it reaches the Bedawi language. Also spoken in Israel, Jordan, Palestinian West Bank and Gaza, Syria. Alternate names: Bedawi, Levantine Bedawi Arabic. Dialects: Northeast Egyptian Bedawi Arabic, South Levantine Bedawi Arabic, North Levantine Bedawi Arabic. Similar to some Hijazi dialects in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Egyptian Spoken
[arz] 44,406,000 in Egypt (1998). Population total all countries: 46,321,000. Also spoken in Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. Alternate names: Lower Egypt Arabic, Normal Egyptian Arabic, Massry. Dialects: North Delta Arabic, South Central Delta Arabic, Cairene Arabic. The media have established a normal Egyptian Spoken Arabic based on Cairo speech. Cairene is the most widely understood dialect used for nonprint media, both in Egypt and throughout the sedentary Arab world. It is an amalgam of Delta Arabic and Middle Egypt Arabic, with borrowings from literary Arabic. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Sa`idi Spoken
[aec] 18,900,000 (1996). Southern Egypt from the edge of Cairo to the Sudan border. The Middle Egypt dialect is in Bani Sweef, Fayyuum, and Gizeh. Upper Egypt dialect is from Asyuut to Edfu and south. Some might be in Libya or the Gulf. Alternate names: Sa`idi, Upper Egypt Arabic. Dialects: Middle Egypt Arabic, Upper Egypt Arabic. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Standard
[arb] Middle East, North Africa. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Western Egyptian Bedawi Spoken
[ayl] 300,000 in Egypt (1996). Bedouin regions from the edge of Alexandria west to the Libyan border. Some in western oases. Alternate names: Bedawi, Libyan Spoken Arabic, Sulaimitian Arabic, Maghrebi Arabic. Dialects: Western Egyptian Bedawi Arabic, Tripolitanian Arabic, Southern Libyan Arabic, Eastern Libyan Arabic. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Domari
[rmt] 234,000 in Egypt (2004). Muslim Gypsies in Egypt: 1,080,000. The Ghagar live mainly in Dakahlia Governorate, north of Cairo. Dialects: Nawar (Ghagar), Helebi. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Dom
Egypt Sign Language
[esl] Classification: Deaf sign language
Greek
[ell] 42,000 in Egypt (2004). Alexandria. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Kenuzi-Dongola
[kzh] 100,000 in Egypt (1996). Ethnic population: 100,000 in Egypt. 40% in the Upper Nile valley, mainly at Kom Ombo, the rest in various cities. Alternate names: Dongola-Kenuz, Nile Nubian, Dongolawi, Metoki. Dialects: Dongola, Kenuz (Kenuzi, Kunuzi, Kenzi). Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic, Eastern, Nubian, Central, Dongolawi
Nobiin
[fia] 200,000 in Egypt (1996). Northern Province, northwards from Burgeg to the Egyptian border at Wadi Halfa. Also at New Halfa in Kassala Province. 40% in the Upper Nile Valley, mainly near Kom Ombo; the rest in various cities. Alternate names: Fiadidja-Mahas, Mahas-Fiadidja, Fadicca, Fadicha, Fedija, Fadija, Fiadidja, Fiyadikkya, Fedicca, Nile Nubian, Mahas, Sukot. Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic, Eastern, Nubian, Northern
Siwi
[siz] 5,000 (1995). Northwestern desert, Siwa Oasis, several isolated villages in the western oasis. Alternate names: Siwa, Sioua, Oasis Berber, Zenati. Dialects: Not closely related to other Berber languages. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Eastern, Siwa.
Extinct Languages
Coptic
[cop] Extinct. Alternate names: Neo-Egyptian. Dialects: Bohairic, Sahidic. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Egyptian
courtesy of Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.), 2005. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com/.