Yaka language (Congo–Angola)

{{Short description|Bantu language spoken in Angola and DRC}}

{{For|other languages with the name spoken in Congo|Yaka language (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox language

|name=Yaka

|altname=Iyaka

|nativename=Kiyaka

|states=Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola

|ethnicity=Yaka

|speakers={{sigfig|912,780|1}}

|date=2000

|ref=e18

|familycolor=Niger-Congo

|fam2=Atlantic–Congo

|fam3=Volta-Congo

|fam4=Benue–Congo

|fam5=Bantoid

|fam6=Southern Bantoid

|fam7=Bantu (Zone H)

|fam8=Kongo-Yaka

|fam9=Yaka languages

|lc1=yaf |ld1=Kiyaka

|lc2=noq |ld2=Ngoongo

|lc3=ppp |ld3=Pelende (duplicate code)

|lc4=lnz |ld4=Lonzo (duplicate code)

|glotto=yaka1269

|glottorefname=Yaka-Pelende-Lonzo

|guthrie=H.31

}}

Yaka, also spelled Iaca and Iyaka, is a Bantu language spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola. There are two dialects, Yaka proper, which comprises 99% of speakers, and Ngoongo (distinguish West Ngongo language). The alleged varieties Pelende and Lonzo are political rather than ethnolinguistic entities.Hammarström (2015) Ethnologue 16/17/18th editions: a comprehensive review: online appendices