List of endangered languages in the United States explained

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]

Languagedata-sort-type=number Speakers!StatusComments
Achumawi language8Critically endangered 
Acoma-Laguna language10,670 (2007)Definitely endangeredKeresan languages
Ahtna language80Critically endangered 
Alabama language370Definitely endangered 
Aleut language (Eastern)150 (2011)Critically endangeredNumber of speakers includes both Eastern and Western dialects.
Aleut language (Western)150 (2011)Severely endangeredNumber of speakers includes both Eastern and Western dialects.
Arapaho language (Wyoming)1,000Vulnerable 
Arikara language3Critically endangered 
Assiniboine language (United States)250Critically endangered 
Blackfoot language (United States)5,100Vulnerable 
Caddo language[2] 2Critically endangered 
Cahuilla language15Critically endangered 
Central Alaskan Yup'ik language18,950VulnerableTwo varieties, one on Nunivak Island.
Central Pomo language8Critically endangered 
Central Siberian Yupik language (St. Lawrence Island)1,010Vulnerable 
Central Sierra Miwok language12 (1994)Critically endangered 
Chemehuevi language500-800, 20 first-language speakers (2011) [3] Critically endangered 
Cherokee language (North Carolina)1,000Critically endangered  
Cherokee language (Oklahoma)22,000Critically endangered 
Cheyenne language (Montana)1,900 (2015)Vulnerable Number of speakers includes both Montana and Oklahoma dialects.
Cheyenne language (Oklahoma)1,900 (2015)VulnerableNumber of speakers includes both Montana and Oklahoma dialects.
Chickasaw language75 native speakers (2017)Severely endangered 
Chinook Jargon language640 (2019)Critically endangered 
Choctaw language (Louisiana)9,600 native speakers (2015) VulnerableNumber of speakers includes all Choctaw dialects.
Choctaw language (Mississippi)9,600 native speakers (2015) VulnerableNumber of speakers includes all Choctaw dialects.
Choctaw language (Oklahoma)9,600 native speakers (2015) VulnerableNumber of speakers includes all Choctaw dialects.
Cocopa language (Arizona)370 in USA (2015), 145 in MexicoSeverely endangered 
Coeur d'Alene language4 (2007)Critically endangered 
Comanche language100 (2007)Severely endangered 
Creek language4,500 native speakers (2015)VulnerableAlso called the Muscogee language.
Crow language3,500 native speakers (2007)Vulnerable 
Gros Ventre language45 (2013)Critically endangeredThe last fluent speaker died in 2007.
Gwich'in language (United States)560 (2013)Severely endangered 
Halkomelem language260 in Canada (2014), 25 in USA (1997)Severely endangeredPrimarily in Canada
Hän language (United States)20 (2007)Critically endangered 
Havasupai language145 (2015)Definitely endangered 
Hawaiian language24,000 native speakers (2008)Vulnerable 
Hawai'i Sign Language30 (2013)Critically endangeredThe few elderly signers are bilingual with the dominant ASL
Hidatsa language200 native speakers (2007)Vulnerable 
Holikachuk language5 speakers with some knowledge (2007)Critically endangeredThe last fluent speaker died in 2012
Hopi language6,780 native speakers (2010)Vulnerable 
Hualapai language300 (2015)Vulnerable 
Hupa language1 native speakers, 30 L2 users (2017)Critically endangered 
Ingalik language40 native speakers (2015)Critically endangeredAlso called The Deg Xinag language
Ipai language6 native speakers (2007)Critically endangered 
Isleño Spanish50 native speakers (2020)Critically endangered 
Jemez language3,000 (2007)Vulnerable 
Jicarilla Apache language510 native speakers (2015)Severely endangered 
Kalispel-Pend d'Oreille70 native speakers (2013)Critically endangeredMontana Salish language.
Karuk language12 native speakers, 30 L2 (2007)Severely endangered 
Kashaya language24 native speakers (2007)Critically endangered 
Kawaiisu language5 native speakers (2005)Critically endangered 
Kickapoo language (Kansas)1,141 native speakers in USA (2013)VulnerableThere 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)VulnerableThere 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)VulnerableThere are 420 speakers in Mexico but the number is mixed with Sauk and Fox (2010).
Kiksht language Critically endangered 
Kings River Yokuts0Extinct[4]  
Kiowa language100, all levels;[5] 20 first-language speakers[6] Severely endangered 
Kiowa Apache language0 [7] ExtinctExtinct, current attempt at revival.
Klallam language0 [8] Extinct Extinct, current attempt at revival.
Koasati language (Louisiana)350 [9] Definitely endangered 
Koasati language (Texas)50 Definitely endangered 
Konkow language32 [10] Critically endangered 
Koyukon language 65 [11] Critically endangered 
Kutenai language345 (2010-2016) [12] [13] Severely endangeredPrimarily in Canada
Kwak'wala language450 (2016) [14] Critically endangeredPrimarily in Canada
Lake Miwok language Critically endangered 
Louisiana Creole language9,600 native speakers (2010)Severely endangered 
Louisiana French language150,000 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 endangeredPrimarily in Canada
Maliseet-Passamaquoddy language Severely endangered 
Mandan language0ExtinctExtinct, current attempt at revival.
Maricopa language Severely endangered 
Massachusett language5 child speakers; 400 adult learnersVulnerableCurrent 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 endangeredNorth Alaskan: Kotzebue Sound & North Slope
Northern Haida language Critically endangeredPrimarily 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 endangeredPrimarily in Canada
Omaha-Ponca language Critically endangered 
Oneida language (New York) Critically endangeredAlso in Canada
Oneida language (Wisconsin) Critically endangered 
Onondaga language (New York) Critically endangeredAlso in Canada
Osage language Vulnerable 
Ottawa language (Michigan) Critically endangeredAlso 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 endangeredKeresan languages
Sahaptin language Severely endangered 
Sauk-Fox language Critically endangered 
Seneca language (United States) Severely endangered 
Seward Peninsula Inupiaq language (King Island) Critically endangeredInupiat language
Seward Peninsula Inupiaq language (Little Diomede Island) Critically endangeredInupiat language
Seward Peninsula Inupiaq language (Norton Sound) Critically endangeredInupiat language
Shawnee language Vulnerable 
Shoshoni language (Idaho) Vulnerable 
Shoshoni language (Nevada) Vulnerable 
Shoshoni language (Wyoming) Vulnerable 
Sioux language VulnerableDakota (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 endangeredInterior Salish languages, Montana Salish language
Straits Salish language Severely endangeredPrimarily in Canada
Tanacross language Critically endangered 
Tanaina language Severely endangered 
Tanana language Critically endangered 
Taos language Definitely endangered 
Texas German6,000Critically 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 endangeredWintuan languages
Yaqui language (United States) Definitely endangered 
Yavapai language Severely endangered 
Yuchi language Critically endangered 
Yurok language Critically endangered 
Zuni language Vulnerable 

Notes and References

  1. Book: 2010 . Moseley . Christopher . Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger . Memory of Peoples . 3rd . Paris . UNESCO Publishing . 978-92-3-104096-2 . 2015-04-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220531155026/http://www.unesco.org/tools/fileretrieve/43fdd320.pdf . 31 May 2022.
  2. Web site: 2023-03-15 . Only 2 people alive can speak the Caddo language fluently. They hope a new program can save it . 2023-03-16 . KERA News . en.
  3. Book: Golla . Victor . California Indian languages. . 2011 . Berkeley: University of California Press .
  4. Web site: Hank Oliver, Choinumni Tribe Patriarch, dies at 91 . 28 June 2017 . ABC News . 11 May 2021.
  5. Web site: Cruz . Hannah . Modina Waters using children's story book to keep Kiowa language alive . https://archive.today/20130630011240/http://normantranscript.com/features/x210920925/Modina-Waters-using-children-s-story-book-to-keep-Kiowa-language-alive . dead . 2013-06-30 . The Norman Transcript . 11 May 2021.
  6. Web site: Neely . Amber . UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA . SPEAKING KIOWA TODAY:CONTINUITY AND CHANGE THROUGH THE GENERATIONS . UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA . 11 May 2021.
  7. Web site: Sam Noble Museum . Alonzo Chalepah Plains Apache Collection . Sam Noble Museum . Sam Noble Museum . 12 May 2021.
  8. News: Kaminsky . Jonathan . Last native speaker of Klallam language dies in Washington state . Reuters . 7 February 2014 . Reuters . 12 May 2021.
  9. Book: Kimball . Geoffrey . Koasati Grammar . 1991 . University of Nebraska Press . Nebraska .
  10. Web site: Detailed Languages Spoken at Home and Ability to Speak English. US Census Bureau. www.census.gov. en-US. 2017-11-17.
  11. News: Koyukon. Ethnologue. 2018-03-29. en.
  12. News: Kutenai. Ethnologue. 2018-05-04. en.
  13. Web site: 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. Canada. Government of Canada, Statistics. www12.statcan.gc.ca. 2 August 2017. en. 2018-05-04.
  14. Web site: Aboriginal Mother Tongue (90). Canada. Government of Canada, Statistics. www12.statcan.gc.ca. 28 March 2018. en. 2018-05-21.