Fon (Fɔngbè)

Fon is a member of the Eastern Gbe branch of the Niger-Congo language family. It is spoken mainly in the Atlantique, Littoral and Zou departments in southern Benin, and also in the Plateaux region of southern Togo. In 2016 there were about 1.9 million speakers of Fon in Benin. There were about 35,500 speakers of Fon in Togo in 1991.

Fon is used in schools, administration, religious services, business and newspapers, and on radio and TV stations in Benin. It is also used in adult education and literacy programs.

There are over 50 dialects of Fon spoken in Benin.

Fon alphabet and pronunciation

Fon alphabet and pronunciation

Notes

Fon has two tones: high and low. The high tone can be marked with an acute accent (á), and the low tone can be marked with a grave accent (à).

Download an alphabet chart for Fon (Excel)

Sample text in Fon

Acɛ, susu kpo sisi ɖokpo ɔ kpo wɛ gbɛtɔ bi ɖo ɖò gbɛwiwa tɔn hwenu; ye ɖo linkpɔn bɔ ayi yetɔn mɛ kpe lo bɔ ye ɖo na do alɔ yeɖee ɖi nɔvinɔvi ɖɔhun.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Sample videos in Fon

Information about Fon | Tower of Babel in Fon

Links

Information about the Fon language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fon_language
http://www.ethnologue.com/language/fon
http://www.language-archives.org/language/fon

Fongbe Primer: Functional Fon Language for our Eveyday World
http://www.restorationhealing.com/fon_language_book

Volta-Niger languages

Aja, Ayizo, Edo, Ewe, Fon, Gen, Igala, Igbo, Ikwerre, Isoko, Nupe, Ogba, Urhobo, Yorùbá

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 23.04.21

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