Losengo language

{{Short description|Bantu language spoken in Democratic Republic of Congo}}

{{Infobox language

|name=Losengo

|nativename=

|states=Democratic Republic of the Congo

|region=

|speakers=67,000

|date=1983–2002

|ref=e18

|familycolor=Niger-Congo

|fam2=Atlantic–Congo

|fam3=Benue–Congo

|fam4=Bantoid

|fam5=Bantu (Zone C)

|fam6=Bangi–Ntomba (C.30)

|fam7=Zamba–Binza

|fam8=Losengo languages

|iso3=lse

|lc1=bkt |ld1=Boloki

|lc2=ndl |ld2=Ndolo

|guthrie=C.36

|glotto=luse1252

|glottoname=Lusengo

|glotto2=ndol1238

|glottoname2=Ndolo

|glotto3=bolo1262

|glottoname3=Boloki

}}

Losengo (Lusengo) is a Bantu language spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has had a significant effect on Lingala, the most important Bantu language in the two Congos.

Maho (2009) lists the following dialects:

• Poto (Pfoto), including Yakata
• Mpesa (Limpesa)
• Mbudza (cf. the related Budza language)
• Mangala (Ngala) [the name of the Bangi lingua franca that became Lingala]
• Loki (Boloki)
• Kangana
• Ndolo

(Yamongeri, however, is a variety of Mongo.)