Indigenous languages Native American population What's new on our site today!

Alabama Indian Language (Alibamu, Albama)

Language: Alabama is a Muskogean language of the American South, related to better-known languages like Chickasaw and Creek. Due to forced relocation in the 1800's, most Alabama Indians live in Texas today, sharing the Alabama-Coushatta reservation with their traditional allies the Coushattas. Only 100 people there, mostly elders, still speak the Alabama language fluently, but some young Alabamas are working to keep their ancestral language alive. Like other Muskogean languages, Alabama is an agglutinative language with morphologically complex verbs and SOV word order.

Thanks for your interest in indigenous American languages!

Sponsored Links

Names: Alternate spellings of the name Alabama include Albaamaha, Alibamu, Albama, Alabamer, Alabamu, Alaba, Limanu, Albaamo, Aibamo, Aybamo, Halbama, Holbama, Alebamah, Alila mo, and Alebamon. The Alabama language in particular is sometimes referred to as Albaamo innaałiilka, which literally means "Alabama language." In older literature the Alabamas were sometimes referred to as Mamoanyadi, Mamohanya, or Mamohandi, which are names that come from the language of the neighboring Biloxi tribe; or by the names of a specific Alabama Indian band or village, such as Autauga (Atagi), Tawasa (Touacha or Towassee), Pawokti, or Okechoyatte. Other historical bands and villages that might have spoken Alabama or had cultural connections with the Alabamas include Kaskinampo, Muklasa, Wetumka, and Tuskegee.

Alabama Language

Alabama language samples and resources.

Alabama Culture and History

Information and links about the Alabama Indian tribe past and present.

Alabama Indians Fact Sheet

Our answers to common questions about the lifestyle of Alabama Indian people.

Alabama Legends

Introduction to Alabama mythology.

Alabama Language Resources

Our Online Alabama Materials

Alabama Vocabulary:
Our list of vocabulary words in the Alabama Indian language, with comparison to words in other Muskogean languages.

Alabama Pronunciation Guide:
How to pronounce Alabama words.

Alabama Animals:
Picture dictionary of animal words in the Alabama language.

Alabama Body Parts:
Online and printable worksheets showing parts of the body in the Alabama language.

Alabama Colors:
Worksheet showing color words in the Alabama language.

Alabama Numbers:
Worksheet showing how to count in the Alabama language.

Native Languages of Alabama:
Map showing where in the state the Alabama and Koasati languages were originally spoken.

Alabama Dictionaries and Language Books for Sale
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links

Dictionary of the Alabama Language:
Alabama dictionary available for sale.

Native Languages of the Southeastern United States:
Survey of Southeast Native American languages, including Alabama.

Myths and Folktales of the Alabama-Coushatta Indians of Texas:
Book of traditional Koasati and Alabama Indian stories.

Native American Dictionaries:
Alabama and other American Indian dictionaries and language materials for sale.

Alabama Language Lessons and Linguistic Descriptions

Alabama Dictionary:
Online glossary and pronunciation guide to the Alabama language.

Alabama Orthography:
Alabama Indian phonology and spelling.

Hello Oklahoma: Alabama Tribe:
Alabama language greeting, alphabet and links.

House of Languages: Alabama
Facts about Alabama language usage over time.

Wikipedia: Alibamu:
Encyclopedia article on the Alabama language.

Alabama Language Tree:
Theories about Alabama's language relationships compiled by Linguist List.

Alabama Language Structures:
Alabama linguistic profile and academic bibliography.

Alabama Words of Life:
Bible passages translated into Alabama-Coushatta.

Native Words:
Translation services in Alabama and other Indian languages.

Links, References, and Additional Information

Endangered Languages Project: Alabama:

Learning Alabama:
  Bibliographies of Alabama language resources.
  OLAC: Alabama:
  Reference list of Alabama language materials.
  Wikipedia: Alabama People

Alabama Coushatta:
Encyclopedia articles on the Alabama tribe and their language.
Lengua Alabama

Idioma Alabama:
Information on the Alabama language in Spanish.
Alabama Language and Literature Resources

Alabama Language:

Alabama People:
Alabama Indian links.

Back to the tribes of the Southeast region
Back to our Native American websites for schools

Native American artists Warbonnet Cherokee home Cree games Tribal tattoos

Would you like to sponsor our work on the Alabama language?