Afro-Asiatic languages

plural noun

Af·​ro-Asi·​at·​ic languages ˌa-frō-ˌā-zhē-ˈa-tik- How to pronounce Afro-Asiatic languages (audio)
-zē- also -shē-
: a family of languages widely distributed over southwestern Asia and northern Africa, comprising the Semitic, Egyptian, Berber, Cushitic, and Chad subfamilies see hamitic languages

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1957, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Afro-Asiatic languages was circa 1957

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Cite this Entry

“Afro-Asiatic languages.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Afro-Asiatic%20languages. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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