Native to Ecuador, Colombia Native speakers 2,400 (2001–2008) | Ethnicity Cofán people Language family language isolate | |
Region Oriente or Ecuadorian Amazon Official language in Ecuador: indigenous languages official in own territories | ||
The Cofán language (also Kofan or Kofane; autonym: A'ingae) is the language of the Cofán people, an indigenous group native to Napo Province northeast Ecuador and southern Colombia, between the Guamués River (a tributary of the Putumayo River) and the Aguarico River (a tributary of the Napo River).
Approximately 60% of Cofán speakers in Ecuador are literate in their own language. There is extensive bilingualism with Spanish on both sides of the border. Intermarriage with Siona people and Secoya people also promotes bilingualism.
The language is written in the Roman script and has ten vowels (five with and without nasalization) and twenty-eight consonants.
Cofán had been classified as a Chibchan language, but this appears to be due to borrowed vocabulary.