Language

Languages of Bhutan
Languages spoken in Bhutan vary from region to region depending upon the ethnicity of the people. The main language, however, is the Dzongkha which has been derived from the Tibet. Dzongkha also enjoys the status of official language and is spoken by a large number of people in the country. For a novice, Dzongkha can be a bit confusing despite the fact that most of the consonants in this language are pronounced in the same way as in English. The reason for this is that vowels have pretty different pronunciation in Dzongkha. Also, most of the times when preceded by a consonant, the letter 'h' is omitted from pronunciation.

Apart from Dzongkha, English is also spoken widely, specially in the Urban areas where the people are much more educated than their counterparts in the rural areas. English is the medium of instruction in schools while all the government documents are written in both English and Dzongkha language.
The number of listed languages in Bhutan including Dzongkha are 24. These languages and the principal areas in which they are spoken are :

¤ Adap - South central, between Damphu and Shemgang, Ada village, Wangdue Phodrang District.
¤ Brokkat - Dur in central Bumthang District.
¤ Brokpake - Sakteng Valley east of Trashigang District, mainly in Merak and Sakteng villages.
¤ Bumthangkha - central Bhutan
¤ Chalikha - In and around Chali area, Mongar District, east Bhutan, north of Monggar
¤ Chocangacakha - East of Dzongkha, in lower areas of Monggar District, Tsamang and Tsakaling villages, and Lhuntsi District, Kurmet village.
¤ Dakpakha - Near Brokpake.
¤ Dzalakha - Northeastern in Lhüntsi, Kurto District.
¤ Gongduk - Eastern Bhutan, Mongar District, Gongdu Gewog, villages of Dagsa, Damkhar, Pangthang, Pam, Yangbari, Bala.
¤ Khengkha - Zhemgang, Mongar districts; near Bumthangkha. Middle dialect in northwest part of Zhemgang. Upper dialect is northeast of Zhemgang; also Mongar District. Lower Kheng is in southern Zhemgang
¤ Layakha - Northern Punakha District, around Laya; Gasa District; Thimphu District, Lingzhi gewog
¤ Lepcha - Lower valleys in the west and south
¤ Lhokpu - South western Bhutan, between Samtsi and Phuntsoling in Samtsi District, in 2 villages of Taba and Damtey. Also in Loto Kuchu, Sanglong, Sataka, and Lotu villages.
¤ Lunanakha - North, northeastern quadrant of Punakha District, community of Lunana, on the Pho Chhu River north from Punakha, on the right fork about halfway up the valley
¤ Nepali - In the foothills the entire length of Bhutan, especially south central
¤ Nupbikha - Around Trongsa town
¤ Nyenkha - Sephu Geo
¤ Tshangla - Eastern and southeastern Bhutan, especially in Tashigang and Dungsam
¤ Olekha - central Bhutan
¤ Lakha - Bhutan
¤ Tibetan - Bhutan
¤ Tseku - Bhutan