List of endangered languages in the United States

Language Endangerment Status
Extinct (EX)
Endangered
Safe
  • no list
Other categories
Related topics
UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger category
UNESCO Atlas of the World's
Languages in Danger categories

An endangered language is a language that it is at risk of falling out of use, generally because it has few surviving speakers. If it loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language. UNESCO defines four levels of language endangerment between "safe" (not endangered) and "extinct":[1]

  • Vulnerable
  • Definitely endangered
  • Severely endangered
  • Critically endangered
Language Speakers Status Comments
Achumawi language[1] 8 Critically endangered  
Acoma-Laguna language[1] 10,670 (2007) Definitely endangered Keresan languages
Ahtna language[1] 80 Critically endangered  
Alabama language[1] 370 Definitely endangered  
Aleut language (Eastern)[1] 150 (2011) Critically endangered Number of speakers includes both Eastern and Western dialects.
Aleut language (Western)[1] 150 (2011) Severely endangered Number of speakers includes both Eastern and Western dialects.
Arapaho language (Wyoming)[1] 1,000 Vulnerable  
Arikara language[1] 3 Critically endangered  
Assiniboine language (United States)[1] 250 Critically endangered  
Blackfoot language (United States)[1] 5,100 Vulnerable  
Caddo language[1][2] 2 Critically endangered  
Cahuilla language[1] 15 Critically endangered  
Central Alaskan Yup'ik language[1] 18,950 Vulnerable Two varieties, one on Nunivak Island.
Central Pomo language[1] 8 Critically endangered  
Central Siberian Yupik language (St. Lawrence Island)[1] 1,010 Vulnerable  
Central Sierra Miwok language[1] 12 (1994) Critically endangered  
Chemehuevi language[1] 500-800, 20 first-language speakers (2011) [3] Critically endangered  
Cherokee language (North Carolina)[1] 1,000 Critically endangered  
Cherokee language (Oklahoma)[1] 22,000 Critically endangered  
Cheyenne language (Montana)[1] 1,900 (2015) Vulnerable  Number of speakers includes both Montana and Oklahoma dialects.
Cheyenne language (Oklahoma)[1] 1,900 (2015) Vulnerable Number of speakers includes both Montana and Oklahoma dialects.
Chickasaw language[1] 75 native speakers (2017) Severely endangered  
Chinook Jargon language[1] 640 (2019) Critically endangered  
Choctaw language (Louisiana)[1] 9,600 native speakers (2015) Vulnerable Number of speakers includes all Choctaw dialects.
Choctaw language (Mississippi)[1] 9,600 native speakers (2015) Vulnerable Number of speakers includes all Choctaw dialects.
Choctaw language (Oklahoma)[1] 9,600 native speakers (2015) Vulnerable Number of speakers includes all Choctaw dialects.
Cocopa language (Arizona)[1] 370 in USA (2015), 145 in Mexico Severely endangered  
Coeur d'Alene language[1] 4 (2007) Critically endangered  
Comanche language[1] 100 (2007) Severely endangered  
Creek language[1] 4,500 native speakers (2015) Vulnerable Also called the Muscogee language.
Crow language[1] 3,500 native speakers (2007) Vulnerable  
Gros Ventre language[1] 45 (2013) Critically endangered The last fluent speaker died in 2007.
Gwich'in language (United States)[1] 560 (2013) Severely endangered  
Halkomelem language[1] 260 in Canada (2014), 25 in USA (1997) Severely endangered Primarily in Canada
Hän language (United States)[1] 20 (2007) Critically endangered  
Havasupai language[1] 145 (2015) Definitely endangered  
Hawaiian language[1] 24,000 native speakers (2008) Vulnerable  
Hawai'i Sign Language 30 (2013) Critically endangered The few elderly signers are bilingual with the dominant ASL
Hidatsa language[1] 200 native speakers (2007) Vulnerable  
Holikachuk language[1] 5 speakers with some knowledge (2007) Critically endangered The last fluent speaker died in 2012
Hopi language[1] 6,780 native speakers (2010) Vulnerable  
Hualapai language[1] 300 (2015) Vulnerable  
Hupa language[1] 1 native speakers, 30 L2 users (2017) Critically endangered  
Ingalik language[1] 40 native speakers (2015) Critically endangered Also called The Deg Xinag language
Ipai language[1] 6 native speakers (2007) Critically endangered  
Isleño Spanish[1] 50 native speakers (2020) Critically endangered  
Jemez language[1] 3,000 (2007) Vulnerable  
Jicarilla Apache language[1] 510 native speakers (2015) Severely endangered  
Kalispel-Pend d'Oreille[1] 70 native speakers (2013) Critically endangered Montana Salish language.
Karuk language[1] 12 native speakers, 30 L2 (2007) Severely endangered  
Kashaya language[1] 24 native speakers (2007) Critically endangered  
Kawaiisu language[1] 5 native speakers (2005) Critically endangered  
Kickapoo language (Kansas)[1] 1,141 native speakers in USA (2013) Vulnerable There are 420 speakers in Mexico but the number is mixed with Sauk and Fox (2010).
Kickapoo language (Oklahoma)[1] 1,141 native speakers in USA (2013) Vulnerable There are 420 speakers in Mexico but the number is mixed with Sauk and Fox (2010).
Kickapoo language (Texas)[1] 1,141 native speakers in USA (2013) Vulnerable There are 420 speakers in Mexico but the number is mixed with Sauk and Fox (2010).
Kiksht language[1]   Critically endangered  
Kings River Yokuts[1] 0 Extinct[4]  
Kiowa language[1] 100, all levels;[5] 20 first-language speakers[6] Severely endangered  
Kiowa Apache language[1] 0 [7] Extinct Extinct, current attempt at revival.
Klallam language[1] 0 [8] Extinct  Extinct, current attempt at revival.
Koasati language (Louisiana)[1] 350 [9] Definitely endangered  
Koasati language (Texas)[1] 50 [9] Definitely endangered  
Konkow language[1] 32 [10] Critically endangered  
Koyukon language[1] 65 [11] Critically endangered  
Kutenai language[1] 345 (2010-2016) [12][13] Severely endangered Primarily in Canada
Kwak'wala language[1] 450 (2016) [14] Critically endangered Primarily in Canada
Lake Miwok language[1]   Critically endangered  
Louisiana Creole language[1] 9,600 native speakers (2010) Severely endangered  
Louisiana French language[1] 150,000 to 200,000 native speakers (2012)  
Luiseño language[1]   Critically endangered  
Lushootseed language[1]   Critically endangered  
Maidu language[1]   Critically endangered  
Makah language[1]   Critically endangered  
Malecite-Passamaquoddy language[1]   Definitely endangered Primarily in Canada
Maliseet-Passamaquoddy language[1]   Severely endangered  
Mandan language[1] 0 Extinct Extinct, current attempt at revival.
Maricopa language[1]   Severely endangered  
Massachusett language[1] 5 child speakers; 400 adult learners Vulnerable Current attempts at revival; Bible translated into the language in 1663
Menominee language[1]   Critically endangered  
Mescalero-Chiricahua Apache language (New Mexico)[1]   Definitely endangered  
Mescalero-Chiricahua Apache language (Oklahoma)[1]   Critically endangered  
Micmac language (Massachusetts)[1]   Vulnerable  
Mikasuki language[1]   Vulnerable  
Mohave language (Arizona)[1]   Severely endangered  
Mohave language (California)[1]   Severely endangered  
Mohawk language (Akwesasne, St. Regis)[1]   Vulnerable  
Mohawk language (Ganienkeh)[1]   Vulnerable  
Mohawk language (Kanatsiohareke)[1]   Vulnerable  
Mono language (Eastern)[1]   Critically endangered  
Mono language (Western)[1]   Critically endangered  
Montana Salish language[1]   Critically endangered  
Munsee language (United States)[1]   Critically endangered  
Navajo language[1]   Vulnerable
Nez Perce language[1]   Critically endangered  
Inupiat language ()[1]   Severely endangered North Alaskan: Kotzebue Sound & North Slope
Northern Haida language[1]   Critically endangered Primarily in Canada
Northern Paiute language (Idaho)[1]   Critically endangered  
Northern Paiute language (Nevada)[1]   Definitely endangered  
Northern Paiute language (Oregon)[1]   Critically endangered  
Northern Pomo language[1]   Critically endangered  
Northern Sierra Miwok language[1]   Critically endangered  
Northern Straits Salish language[1]   Critically endangered  
O'odham language (Akimel)[1]   Vulnerable  
O'odham language (Tohono)[1]   Vulnerable  
Ojibwe language[1]   Vulnerable  
Okanagan language[1]   Definitely endangered Primarily in Canada
Omaha-Ponca language[1]   Critically endangered  
Oneida language (New York)[1]   Critically endangered Also in Canada
Oneida language (Wisconsin)[1]   Critically endangered  
Onondaga language (New York)[1]   Critically endangered Also in Canada
Osage language[1]   Vulnerable  
Ottawa language (Michigan)[1]   Critically endangered Also in Canada
Pacific Gulf Yupik language[1]   Severely endangered  
Panamint language[1]   Critically endangered  
Patwin language[1]   Critically endangered  
Pawnee language[1]   Critically endangered  
Picuris language[1]   Vulnerable  
Plains Sign Talk   Critically endangered  
Potawatomi language (Kansas)[1]   Critically endangered  
Potawatomi language (Michigan)[1]   Critically endangered  
Potawatomi language (Oklahoma)[1]   Critically endangered  
Potawatomi language (Wisconsin)[1]   Critically endangered  
Quechan language[1]   Definitely endangered  
Rio Grande Keresan language[1]   Definitely endangered Keresan languages
Sahaptin language[1]   Severely endangered  
Sauk-Fox language[1]   Critically endangered  
Seneca language (United States)[1]   Severely endangered  
Seward Peninsula Inupiaq language (King Island)[1]   Critically endangered Inupiat language
Seward Peninsula Inupiaq language (Little Diomede Island)[1]   Critically endangered Inupiat language
Seward Peninsula Inupiaq language (Norton Sound)[1]   Critically endangered Inupiat language
Shawnee language[1]   Vulnerable  
Shoshoni language (Idaho)[1]   Vulnerable  
Shoshoni language (Nevada)[1]   Vulnerable  
Shoshoni language (Wyoming)[1]   Vulnerable  
Sioux language[1]   Vulnerable Dakota (Santee-Sisseton), Nakota (Yankton-Yanktonai), and Lakota
Southern Paiute language[1]   Severely endangered  
Southern Pomo language[1]   Critically endangered  
Southern Sierra Miwok language[1]   Critically endangered  
Southern Tiwa language (Isleta Pueblo)[1]   Definitely endangered  
Southern Tiwa language (Sandia Pueblo)[1]   Definitely endangered  
Spokane language[1]   Critically endangered Interior Salish languages, Montana Salish language
Straits Salish language[1]   Severely endangered Primarily in Canada
Tanacross language[1]   Critically endangered  
Tanaina language[1]   Severely endangered  
Tanana language[1]   Critically endangered  
Taos language[1]   Definitely endangered  
Texas German[1] 6,000 Critically endangered  
Tewa language (Arizona)[1]   Definitely endangered  
Tewa language (New Mexico)[1]   Severely endangered  
Tipai language (United States)[1]   Severely endangered  
Tlingit language (United States)[1]   Critically endangered  
Tolowa language[1]   Critically endangered  
Tubatulabal language[1]   Critically endangered  
Tule-Kaweah Yokuts[1]   Critically endangered  
Tuscarora language (United States)[1]   Critically endangered  
Upland Yuman language[1]   Vulnerable  
Upper Kuskokwim language[1]   Critically endangered  
Upper Tanana language (United States)[1]   Critically endangered  
Ute language (Colorado, Southern Ute)[1]   Vulnerable  
Ute language (Colorado, Ute Mountain)[1]   Vulnerable  
Ute language (Utah)[1]   Vulnerable  
Valley Yokuts[1]   Severely endangered  
Washo language[1]   Severely endangered  
Western Apache language[1]   Vulnerable  
Winnebago language (Nebraska)[1]   Severely endangered  
Winnebago language (Wisconsin)[1]   Severely endangered  
Wintu-Nomlaki language, Wintu language[1]   Critically endangered Wintuan languages
Yaqui language (United States)[1]   Definitely endangered  
Yavapai language[1]   Severely endangered  
Yuchi language[1]   Critically endangered  
Yurok language[1]   Critically endangered  
Zuni language[1]   Vulnerable  

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe ff fg fh fi fj fk fl fm fn fo Moseley, Christopher, ed. (2010). Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger (PDF). Memory of Peoples (3rd ed.). Paris: UNESCO Publishing. ISBN 978-92-3-104096-2. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
  2. ^ "Only 2 people alive can speak the Caddo language fluently. They hope a new program can save it". KERA News. 2023-03-15. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  3. ^ Golla, Victor (2011). California Indian languages. Berkeley: University of California Press.
  4. ^ "Hank Oliver, Choinumni Tribe Patriarch, dies at 91". ABC News. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  5. ^ Cruz, Hannah. "Modina Waters using children's story book to keep Kiowa language alive". The Norman Transcript. Archived from the original on 2013-06-30. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  6. ^ Neely, Amber. "UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA" (PDF). SPEAKING KIOWA TODAY:CONTINUITY AND CHANGE THROUGH THE GENERATIONS. UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  7. ^ Sam Noble Museum. "Alonzo Chalepah Plains Apache Collection". Sam Noble Museum. Sam Noble Museum. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  8. ^ Kaminsky, Jonathan (7 February 2014). "Last native speaker of Klallam language dies in Washington state". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  9. ^ a b Kimball, Geoffrey (1991). Koasati Grammar. Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press.
  10. ^ "Detailed Languages Spoken at Home and Ability to Speak English". www.census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  11. ^ "Koyukon". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  12. ^ "Kutenai". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  13. ^ Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics (2 August 2017). "Language Highlight Tables, 2016 Census - Aboriginal mother tongue, Aboriginal language spoken most often at home and Other Aboriginal language(s) spoken regularly at home for the population excluding institutional residents of Canada, provinces and territories, 2016 Census – 100% Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-05-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics (28 March 2018). "Aboriginal Mother Tongue (90)". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-05-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)