Iraqw language

Iraqw
Kángw Iraqw
Native toTanzania
RegionManyara, Arusha
EthnicityIraqw
Native speakers
600,000 (2009)
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3irk
Glottologiraq1241

Iraqw (/ɪˈrɑːk/) is a Cushitic language spoken in Tanzania in the Arusha and Manyara Regions. It is expanding in numbers as the Iraqw people absorb neighbouring ethnic groups. The language has many Datooga loanwords, especially in poetic language. The Gorowa language, to the south, shares numerous similarities and is sometimes considered a dialect.