Ainu

Language isolateUnder 10 native speakersLatin (Katakana)

RegionJapan (Hokkaido)

FamilyLanguage isolate

SpeakersUnder 10 native speakers

ScriptLatin (Katakana)

TypeAlphabetic

About Ainu

The language of the indigenous Ainu of northern Japan. A famous isolate with no proven relatives. Now critically endangered, with revival classes growing. Its yukar epics tell the world through animal eyes. Officially recognized as an indigenous language only in 2019.

Related Languages

Basque

Language isolate750,000Latin

The only surviving pre-Indo-European language in Western Europe. Not related to any other known lang...

Burushaski

Language isolate100,000Perso-Arabic

Spoken in the deep valleys of Hunza and Nagar in northern Pakistan. Has resisted 150 years of classi...