List Of Endangered Languages In The United States

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":

  • Vulnerable
  • Definitely endangered
  • Severely endangered
  • Critically endangered
Language Endangerment Status
Extinct (EX)
Endangered
Safe

Other categories

Related topics

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

References

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