Noongar language

Noongar (/ˈnʊŋɑːr/), also Nyungar (/ˈnjʊŋɡɑːr/^[a]), is an Australian Aboriginal language or dialect continuum, spoken by some members of the Noongar community and others. It is taught actively in Australia, including at schools, universities and through public broadcasting.^[3][4] The country of the Noongar people is the southwest corner of Western Australia. Within that region, many Noongar words have been adopted into English, particularly names of plants and animals.^[5]

This article should specify the language of its non-English content, using {{langx}}, {{transliteration}} for transliterated languages, and {{IPA}} for phonetic transcriptions, with an appropriate ISO 639 code. Wikipedia's multilingual support templates may also be used - notably nys for Nyungar. (October 2024)

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Noongar
Nyungar
Native to	Australia
Region	Western Australia
Ethnicity	Noongar (Amangu, Ballardong, Yued, Kaneang, Koreng, Mineng, Njakinjaki, Njunga, Pibelmen, Pindjarup, Wardandi, Whadjuk, Wiilman, Wudjari)
Native speakers	less than 240 (2014)[1]
Language family	Pama–Nyungan Nyungic Noongar
Dialects	Wudjari (Kwetjman) Mineng (Minang) Bibbulman (Pipelman) Kaniyang (Kaneang) Wardandi Balardung (incl. Tjapanmay?) Yuat (Juat) Wiilman Whadjuk ?Pinjarup
Writing system	Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3	nys – inclusive code [2] Individual codes: xgg – Koreng (Goreng) xrg – Mineng (Minang) xbp – Bibbulman (Pipelman) wxw – Wardandi pnj – Pinjarup xwj – Whadjuk (Wajuk)
Linguist List	qsz Juat (Yuat)
Glottolog	nyun1247
AIATSIS[3]	W41
The Noongar language subgroup, and its individual varieties, before contact with Europeans References [1] Long (2014). [2] SIL Global (2025). [3] W41 Noongar at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

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Noongar was first recorded in 1801 by Matthew Flinders, who made a number of word lists.^[6]