Topic summary

Khoekhoe language

Khoekhoe language

Khoekhoe or Khoikhoi ( ; Khoekhoegowab, Khoekhoe pronunciation:), also known by the ethnic terms Nama ( ; Namagowab), Damara (ǂNūkhoegowab), or Nama/Damara and formerly the pejorative term Hottentot, is the most widespread of the non-Bantu languages of Southern Africa that make heavy use of click consonants and therefore were formerly classified as Khoisan, a grouping now recognized as obsolete. It belongs to the Khoe language family, and is spoken in Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa primarily by three ethnic groups: Namakhoen, ǂNūkhoen, and Haiǁomkhoen.