Tambas language

Last updated January 15, 2026

Tambas
Native to	Nigeria
Region	Plateau State
Native speakers	2,000 (2019)^[1]
Language family	Afro-Asiatic Chadic West Chadic Bole–Angas Ron (A.4) Tambas
Language codes
ISO 639-3	`tdk`
Glottolog	`tamb1267`

Tambas (also known as Tambes, Tembis) is a West Chadic language spoken in Plateau State, Nigeria.

Notes

↑ Tambas at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)

Further reading

A Sociolinguistic Profile of the Rom (Tambas) [tdk] Language of Plateau State, Nigeria

Languages of Nigeria

Official languages

English

National languages

Recognised languages

Indigenous languages

Indigenous languages (grouped by Nigerian state)

Adamawa	Baa Bacama Bali Bata Boga Bura Chamba Leko Daba Daka Dong Fali of Mubi Ga'anda Gaa Gude Gudu Holma Huba Hwana Hya Kamwe Kanakuru Kirya-Konzəl Kofa Koma Kpasam Kugama Kumba Lamang Longuda Margi Margi South Mumuye Ngwaba Nyong Nzanyi Psikyɛ Sukur Taram Teme Tso Vere Waja Wom Yendang Zizilivakan
Akwa Ibom	Anaang Ekit Ibibio Obolo Oron
Bauchi	Ɓeele Bole Bure Ciwogai Dass Dazawa Deno Dikaka Dulbu Galambu Gera Geruma Giiwo Guruntum Jalaa Jarawa Jimi Karekare Kariya Kir-Balar Kubi Kushi Kusur–Myet Kutto Kwaami Labir Longuda Mangas Mburku Miya Pa'a Piya Polci Shiki Siri Tso Warji Zangwal Zumbun
Bayelsa	Izon Epie Urhobo-Isoko Southeast Ijo
Benue	Eggon Igede
Borno	Afade Bura Cibak Cineni Dghwede Glavda Gude Guduf-Gava Gvoko Jara Jilbe Kamwe Kanakuru Lamang Maaka Mafa Margi Margi South Nggwahyi Putai Tera Wandala Yedina
Cross River	Abanyom Efik Mbe Mbembe
Delta	Urhobo-Isoko Ika Izon Isoko Ukwuani Uhrobo
Edo	Afenmai Ishan Bini
Gombe	Awak Bangwinji Bole Dadiya Jara Kamo Ngamo Pero Tangale Tera Tula Waja
Jigawa	Bade Teshenawa
Kaduna	Adara Ahwai Anib Atsam Ayu Berom Bu-Ninkada Bina Bishi Cori Doka Dungu Duya Ekhwa Gbagyi-Gbari Gwandara Gyong Hasha Hausa Hyam Ikulu Jju Kaivi Kinuku Koonu Kuzamani Mada Mala Nghan Nikyob-Nindem Ninzo Numana Nungu Nyankpa Ruma Sambe Sha Shamang T'kurmi Timap TiSeni Tivori Toro Tugbiri-Niragu Tumi Tyap (Fantswam, Gworog, Sholyio, Takad, Tyap Mabatado, Tyecharak, Tyuku) Vono Wachi Zhire
Kano	Ɗuwai Hausa Tikurmi
Kebbi	Cipu Damakawa Hun-Saare
Kogi	Basa-Benue Bassa Nge Igala Nupe Oworo
Kwara	Kakanda Kupa Nupe
Nasarawa	Ake Alumu Basa-Benue Duhwa Eggon Hasha Jili Toro
Niger	Asu Bariba Cipu Gbagyi Gwandara Jijili Kakanda Nupe Pongu
Ondo	Itsekiri Izon Ukaan
Plateau	Barkul Berom Bogghom Bole Cakfem-Mushere Dass Fyam Fyer Goemai Horom Izere Jorto Koenoem Kofyar Kulere Miship Montol Mundat Mwaghavul Ngas Pe Pyapun Rigwe Ron Sha Sur Tal Tambas Tarok Tyap (Takad) Yankam Yiwom
Rivers	Abua Baan Biseni Defaka Degema Ekpeye Eleme Engenni Gokana Ijaw Ikwerre Kalabari Khana Kugbo Nkoroo O’chi’chi Obolo Obulom Odual Ogba Ogbogolo Ogbronuagum Ogoni Okodia Oruma Tee Ukwuani-Aboh-Ndoni
Taraba	Baissa Fali Bete Buru Dadiya Donga Kholok Kpati Laka Lufu Mumuye Nyam Nyingwom Pangseng Rang Tarok Waja Waka Yendang Yoti
Yobe	Bade Bole Ɗuwai Karekare Ngamo Ngizim

Sign languages

Immigrant languages

Scripts

West Chadic languages

Hausa–
Gwandara (A.1)

Bole–
Tangale (A.2)

Bole	Ɓeele Bole Bure Daza Deno Galambu Gera Geruma Giiwo Karai-karai Kubi Ngamo Maaka Pali
Tangale	Goji Kanakuru Kholok Kulung Kutto Kwaami Nyam Pero Piya-Kwonci Tangale

Angas (A.3)

Ron (A.4)

Duhwa
Fyer
Kulere
Mundat
Ron
- Bokkos
- Daffo-Butura
- Shagawu
Sha
Tambas

Bade (B.1)

North Bauchi
(Warji) (B.2)

South Bauchi
(Barawa) (B.3)

Zaar	Dass Geji Polci Saya Zari Zeem
Guruntum	Guruntum-Mbaaru Ju Tala Zangwal
Boghom	Boghom Jimi Jum Kir-Balar Mangas

Others

Poki

Italics indicate extinct languages. See also: Chadic languages

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