| Benaadir | |
|---|---|
| Af Reer Xamar | |
| Native to | Somalia |
| Region | Benadir coast |
| Ethnicity | Hawiye &Benadiri |
Native speakers | 1.9 million (2021)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
| Glottolog | bena1268 |
Benadiri Somali, also referred to as "Coastal Somali" (Somali:Af Reer Xamar), is a dialect of theSomali language. It is primarily spoken by theBenadiri people, who inhabit the southernBanaadir coast ofSomalia and intoKenya.[1][2]
Benadiri Somali is spoken on theBenadir coast,[3] spanning fromHobyo to south ofMerca includingMogadishu, as well as in the immediate hinterland. The coastal dialects have additionalphonemes that do not exist in Standard Somali.[4] LinguistGiorgio Banti states the dialect has loan words fromHarari language.[5]
Benadiri Somali is also referred to as Coastal Somali orAf-Reer Xamar ("Language of the People of Hamar"). The dialect is widely considered a southern coastal dialect.[6]
Blench (2006) structures the dialect into three general subdivisions:[7]