Skip to content
Yolŋu Matha dialect

Yolŋu Matha

Also known as: Dhuwal-Dhuwala, Yolngu languages

A cluster of closely-related Pama-Nyungan languages spoken across Yolŋu communities of north-east Arnhem Land. Centred on Yirrkala and Galiwinʼku.

Shareable facts

Want a Yolŋu Matha app?

Vote and we'll prioritise it. Top-voted dialects move up the roadmap. One vote per email.

We'll email you a confirmation link.

Frequently asked questions

What language is Yolŋu Matha?

Yolŋu Matha is a dialect of the Yolŋu Matha language.

Where is Yolŋu Matha spoken?

Yolŋu Matha is primarily spoken in Australia.

Which region is Yolŋu Matha associated with?

Yolŋu Matha is part of the Southeast Asia region on DialectAtlas.

Is Yolŋu Matha known by other names?

Yes — Yolŋu Matha is also referred to as Dhuwal-Dhuwala, Yolngu languages.

Nearby dialects

See on the atlas →
Kriol

555 km away

An English-based creole spoken across northern Australia by Aboriginal communities, especially in the Northern Territory and the Kimberley. Native to many speakers and used in bilingual schools and broadcasting.

Torres Strait Creole

610 km away

An English-based creole spoken across the Torres Strait Islands and adjacent communities of far northern Queensland. Closely related to Tok Pisin and Bislama within the Melanesian Pidgin family.

Aboriginal Australian English

656 km away

A distinct Australian English variety used widely across Aboriginal communities. Shows substrate influence from many Aboriginal languages and forms a continuum with Kriol in northern Australia.

Tiwi

680 km away

A non-Pama-Nyungan language of the Tiwi Islands north of Darwin, the only living member of its family. One of the most morphologically complex languages on record, with a famously elaborate noun-classification system.

Enga

1,063 km away

A Trans-New Guinea language and the largest Papuan language by speakers, used across Enga Province in the western highlands of Papua New Guinea. Around 250,000 speakers.

Kuman

1,127 km away

A Trans-New Guinea language of the Chimbu / Simbu Province in the central highlands of Papua New Guinea. Around 80,000 speakers.

Continue exploring