TIGRINYA LANGUAGE

also spelled Tigrigna, also called Tigray, or Tigrai, Semitic language of the Tigray people of northern Ethiopia and central Eritrea. Written records include religious texts prepared by mission societies and an increasing number of more recently printed textbooks and literary works. The language is closely related to Ge'ez, the ancient language of Ethiopia, and to the Tigr language. There were nearly 6,000,000 speakers in the late 20th century.