CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE HTML> <html> <head> <title>Eton language and alphabet</title> <meta name="description" content="Eton is a Bantu language spoken in central Cameroon by about 250,000 people." />  <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-WB7PSHBG');</script>  <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.omniglot.com/images/logos/omniglot_thumbnail.jpg" /> <meta property="og:type" content="https://www.facebook.com/pg/Omniglot-100430558332117/posts/" /> <link href="/styles/style.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <script src="https://the.gatekeeperconsent.com/cmp.min.js" data-cfasync="false"></script> <script async src="//www.ezojs.com/ezoic/sa.min.js"></script> <script> window.ezstandalone = window.ezstandalone || {}; ezstandalone.cmd = ezstandalone.cmd || []; </script></head> <body> <a id="top"></a> <div id="header">  <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-WB7PSHBG" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <p><a href="/index.htm"><img src="/images/logos/header_omniglot.png" width="600" height="70" alt="Omniglot - the online encyclopedia of writing systems & languages" /></a></p> <ul> <li><a href="/index.htm">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/writing/index.htm">Alphabets</a></li> <li><a href="/conscripts/index.htm">Constructed scripts</a></li> <li><a href="/writing/languages.htm">Languages</a></li> <li><a href="/language/phrases/phraseindex.htm">Phrases</a></li> <li><a href="/language/numbers/index.htm">Numbers</a></li> <li><a href="/language/ml.htm">Multilingual Pages</a></li> <li><a href="/search.htm">Search</a></li> <li><a href="/news/index.htm">News</a></li> <li><a href="/about.htm">About</a></li> <li><a href="/contact.htm">Contact</a></li> </ul></div> <div id="bodybox"> <span style="text-align:center;"><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-162"></div> <script> ezstandalone.cmd.push(function() { ezstandalone.showAds(162); }); </script></span><div id="body"> <h1>Eton (Ìtón)</h1> <p>Eton is a member of the Beti group of Bantu languages. It is spoken by about 250,000 people in Cameroon, in particular in the Lekié department of the Centre Region of Cameroon, and also in Yaoundé, the capital. In rural areas people of all ages speak Eton, however in Yaoundé younger people speak only French. </p> <p><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2037484.7392034708!2d10.312544140766411!3d4.12904671216173!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x108b10ef0774289b%3A0xbc2866949c0fc700!2sLekie%2C%20Cameroon!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1651067092298!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="400" height="300" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> </p> <p>Eton is also known as éton or Ìtón. There are two main dialects: the Northern Eton (ìtón ŋ́kē) and the Southern Eton (ìtón ɛ́kwɛ̄). It is closely related to Ewondo, and also Mengisa, Bulu and Fang. </p> <p>There appear to be several ways to write Eton with the Latin alphabet. The one used here is the practical orthography used in Mark Van De Velde's <em>A Description of Eton</em>. </p> <h2>Eton alphabet and pronunciation</h2> <p><img src="../images/writing/iton.gif" width="610" height="563" alt="Eton alphabet and pronunciation" /> </p> <p><a href="../charts/eton.xls">Download an alphabet chart for Eton</a> (Excel) </p> <h2>Videos in and about Eton</h2> <div class="intrinsic-container intrinsic-container-16x9"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dCr4jMWJWbw" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> <div class="intrinsic-container intrinsic-container-16x9"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/71Ys5q1FkOA" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> <div class="intrinsic-container intrinsic-container-16x9"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l11t8fSkXAQ" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> <h2>Links</h2> <p>Information about Eton<br /> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eton_language">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eton_language</a><br /> <a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eton_(langue_bantoue)">https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eton_(langue_bantoue)</a><br /> <a href="https://www.ethnologue.com/language/eto">https://www.ethnologue.com/language/eto</a><br /> <a href="https://lirias2repo.kuleuven.be/bitstream/handle/1979/233/description+of+eton.pdf;jsessionid=A8BF642827DAC4BD6E75351BAE33B9B9?sequence=5">A Description of Eton - Phonology, morphology, basic syntax and lexicon</a> (PDF) </p> <h2>Bantu languages</h2> <p><a href="/writing/aka.htm">Aka</a>, <a href="/writing/bafaw-balong.htm">Bafaw-Balong</a>, <a href="/writing/bangi.htm">Bangi</a>, <a href="/writing/basaa.php">Basaa</a>, <a href="/writing/bemba.php">Bemba</a>, <a href="/writing/bena.htm">Bena</a>, <a href="/writing/benga.htm">Benga</a>, <a href="/writing/bhaca.htm">Bhaca</a>, <a href="/writing/bube.htm">Bube</a>, <a href="/writing/bukusu.htm">Bukusu</a>, <a href="/writing/bulu.htm">Bulu</a>, <a href="/writing/centralteke.htm">Central Teke</a>, <a href="/writing/chichewa.php">Chichewa</a>, <a href="/writing/chokwe.htm">Chokwe</a>, <a href="/writing/chuwabu.htm">Chuwabu</a>, <a href="/writing/comorian.htm">Comorian</a>, <a href="/writing/dciriku.htm">Dciriku</a>, <a href="/writing/digo.htm">Digo</a>, <a href="/writing/duala.php">Duala</a>, <a href="/writing/eton.htm">Eton</a>, <a href="/writing/ewondo.php">Ewondo</a>, <a href="/writing/fang.htm">Fang</a>, <a href="/writing/ganda.php">Ganda/Luganda</a>, <a href="/writing/gogo.htm">Gogo</a>, <a href="/writing/gusii.htm">Gusii</a>, <a href="/writing/gwere.htm">Gwere</a>, <a href="/writing/haya.htm">Haya</a>, <a href="/writing/hehe.htm">Hehe</a>, <a href="/writing/herero.php">Herero</a>, <a href="/writing/ibinda.htm">Ibinda</a>, <a href="/writing/ikizu.htm">Ikizu</a>, <a href="/writing/ikoma.htm">Ikoma</a>, <a href="/writing/jita.htm">Jita</a>, <a href="/writing/kabwa.htm">Kabwa</a>, <a href="/writing/kako.htm">Kako</a>, <a href="/writing/kamba.htm">Kamba</a>, <a href="/writing/kiga.htm">Kiga</a>, <a href="/writing/kikuyu.htm">Kikuyu</a>, <a href="/writing/kimbundu.htm">Kimbundu</a>, <a href="/writing/kinyarwanda.htm">Kinyarwanda</a>, <a href="/writing/kirundi.php">Kirundi</a>, <a href="/writing/kisi.htm">Kisi</a>, <a href="/writing/kogo.htm">Kogo</a>, <a href="/writing/komo-bantu.htm">Komo</a>, <a href="/writing/kongo.htm">Kongo</a>, <a href="/writing/konjo.htm">Konjo</a>, <a href="/writing/koti.htm">Koti</a>, <a href="/writing/kukuya.htm">Kukuya</a>, <a href="/writing/kunda.htm">Kunda</a>, <a href="/writing/kuria.htm">Kuria</a>, <a href="/writing/lambya.htm">Lambya</a>, <a href="/writing/lingala.htm">Lingala</a>, <a href="/writing/loma.htm">Loma</a>, <a href="/writing/lozi.htm">Lozi</a>, <a href="/writing/lubakatanga.htm">Luba-Katanga</a>, <a href="/writing/luchazi.htm">Luchazi</a>, <a href="/writing/lunda.htm">Lunda</a>, <a href="/writing/luvale.htm">Luvale</a>, <a href="/writing/makaa.htm">Makaa</a>, <a href="/writing/makonde.htm">Makonde</a>, <a href="/writing/makhuwa.php">Makhuwa</a>, <a href="/writing/nko.htm">Mandekan</a>, <a href="/writing/maore.htm">Maore</a>, <a href="/writing/masaaba.htm">Masaaba</a>, <a href="/writing/mbama.htm">Mbama</a>, <a href="/writing/mbere.htm">Mbere</a>, <a href="/writing/mbukushu.htm">Mbukushu</a>, <a href="/writing/mbunda.htm">Mbunda</a>, <a href="/writing/mbuun.htm">Mbuun</a>, <a href="/writing/mende.htm">Mende</a>, <a href="/writing/mongo.htm">Mongo</a>, <a href="/writing/zigula.htm">Mushungulu</a>, <a href="/writing/mwani.htm">Mwani</a>, <a href="/writing/nambya.htm">Nambya</a>, <a href="/writing/nande.htm">Nande</a>, <a href="/writing/ngoni.htm">Ngoni</a>, <a href="/writing/nkore.htm">Nkore</a>, <a href="/writing/northteke.htm">North Teke</a>, <a href="/writing/northernndebele.htm">Northern Ndebele (South Africa)</a>, <a href="/writing/sindebele.htm">Northern Ndebele (Zimbabwe)</a>, <a href="/writing/nsotho.htm">Northern Sotho</a>, <a href="/writing/nyamwezi.htm">Nyamwezi</a>, <a href="/writing/nyakyusa.htm">Nyakyusa</a>, <a href="/writing/nyemba.htm">Nyemba</a>, <a href="/writing/nyole.htm">Nyole</a>, <a href="/writing/nyoro.htm">Nyoro</a>, <a href="/writing/nyungwe.htm">Nyungwe</a>, <a href="/writing/nzadi.htm">Nzadi</a>, <a href="/writing/oroko.htm">Oroko</a>, <a href="/writing/oshiwambo.php">OshiWambo</a>, <a href="/writing/pagibete.htm">Pagibete</a>, <a href="/writing/punu.htm">Punu</a>, <a href="/writing/ronga.htm">Ronga</a>, <a href="/writing/safwa.htm">Safwa</a>, <a href="/writing/sena.htm">Sena</a>, <a href="/writing/sengele.htm">Sengele</a>, <a href="/writing/shona.php">Shona</a>, <a href="/writing/soga.htm">Soga</a>, <a href="/writing/songe.htm">Songe</a>, <a href="/writing/ndebele.php">Southern Ndebele</a>, <a href="/writing/sesotho.htm">Southern Sotho</a>, <a href="/writing/sukuma.htm">Sukuma</a>, <a href="/writing/swahili.htm">Swahili</a>, <a href="/writing/swati.php">Swati</a>, <a href="/writing/tanga.htm">Tanga</a>, <a href="/writing/tembo.htm">Tembo</a>, <a href="/writing/tonga.htm">Tonga</a>, <a href="/writing/tooro.htm">Tooro</a>, <a href="/writing/tshiluba.php">Tshiluba</a>, <a href="/writing/tsonga.php">Tsonga</a>, <a href="/writing/tswa.htm">Tswa</a>, <a href="/writing/tswana.php">Tswana</a>, <a href="/writing/tumbuka.htm">Tumbuka</a>, <a href="/writing/umbundu.htm">Umbundu</a>, <a href="/writing/venda.htm">Venda</a>, <a href="/writing/vwanji.htm">Vwanji</a>, <a href="/writing/xhosa.htm">Xhosa</a>, <a href="/writing/yao.htm">Yao</a>, <a href="/writing/yasa.htm">Yasa</a>, <a href="/writing/zigula.htm">Zigula</a>, <a href="/writing/zinza.htm">Zinza</a>, <a href="/writing/zulu.htm">Zulu</a></p> <p><a href="/writing/langalph.htm#latin">Languages written with the Latin alphabet</a> </p><p><em>Page created: 27.04.22. Last modified: 28.04.22</em> </p> <p class="right"><script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdnjs.buymeacoffee.com/1.0.0/button.prod.min.js" data-name="bmc-button" data-slug="omniglot" data-color="#FFDD00" data-emoji="" data-font="Cookie" data-text="Buy me a coffee" data-outline-color="#000000" data-font-color="#000000" data-coffee-color="#ffffff"></script> </p> <p class="right">[<a href="#top">top</a>] </p> <hr /> <div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-171"></div> <script> ezstandalone.cmd.push(function() { ezstandalone.showAds(171); }); </script> <p><a href="http://my.kualo.com/uk/go/00572"><img src="https://images.kualo.com/rewards/greenhosting-light.gif" width="162" height="62" class="rightfloat" alt="Green Web Hosting - Kualo"/></a> </p> <p>You can support this site by <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/omniglot">Buying Me A Coffee</a>, and if you like what you see on this page, you can use the buttons below to share it with people you know. </p>  <div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 a2a_default_style"> <a class="a2a_dd" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a> <a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a> <a class="a2a_button_bluesky"></a> <a class="a2a_button_threads"></a> <a class="a2a_button_mastodon"></a> <a class="a2a_button_copy_link"></a> </div> <script defer src="https://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js"></script>  <p> </p> <a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=759259&i=b0" target="_blank"><img src="/images/banners/banner_japanesepod.jpg" width="630" height="83" alt="The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com" /></a><p>If you like this site and find it useful, you can support it by making a donation via <a href="https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=7ZJDTZECMH3SJ">PayPal</a> or <a href="https://www.patreon.com/omniglot">Patreon</a>, or by <a href="/donations.htm">contributing in other ways</a>. Omniglot is how I make my living. </p> <form action="https://www.paypal.com/donate" method="post" target="_top"> <input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="7ZJDTZECMH3SJ" /> <input type="image" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_GB/i/btn/btn_donate_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" title="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" alt="Donate with PayPal button" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_GB/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1" /> </form> <p> </p> <p><strong>Note</strong>: all links on this site to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=omniglot-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=61fa7b5f59036aa5bdc6b68aa138acfa&camp=1789&creative=9325">Amazon.com</a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=omniglot-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=omniglot-21&linkCode=ur2&linkId=ecf52b987141620aecad3eedbb023718&camp=1634&creative=6738">Amazon.co.uk</a><img src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=omniglot-21&l=ur2&o=2" width="1" height="1" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.fr/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=omniglot09-21&linkCode=ur2&linkId=18835fb93f11fbd0601e1d2ae2ef371b&camp=1642&creative=6746">Amazon.fr</a><img src="//ir-fr.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=omniglot09-21&l=ur2&o=8" width="1" height="1" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission if you click on any of them and buy something. So by clicking on these links you can help to support this site. </p> <p class="right">[<a href="#top">top</a>] </p> <p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-171"></div> <script> ezstandalone.cmd.push(function() { ezstandalone.showAds(171); }); </script> </p> </div> <div id="footerads"> <ul> <li><a href="https://omniglot.krtra.com/t/F3SkAIlcW9Za">Learn languages quickly</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.echineselearning.com/free-trial/?ecl=refEEEEE&aff=Simon0902">One-to-one Chinese lessons</a></li> <li><a href="http://varsitytutors.pxf.io/c/1242341/488377/4893" rel="nofollow">Learn languages with Varsity Tutors</a></li> <li><a href="http://my.kualo.com/uk/go/00572" target="_blank">Green Web Hosting</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.maayot.com?via=omniglot">Daily bite-size stories in Mandarin</a></li> <li><a href="https://tutors.englishscore.com/gen/usd/?sc=AFF_Global_OGT-SITE">EnglishScore Tutors</a></li> <li><a href="https://englishlikeanative.co.uk/103-10.html">English Like a Native</a></li> <li><a href="/french/frantastique.htm">Learn French Online</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ivisa.com?utm_source=omniglot&utm_medium=affiliate">iVisa</a></li> <li> <a href="https://academy.mosalingua.com/mosaweb/?ref=1322">Learn languages with MosaLingua</a></li> <li><a href="https://ling-app.com/offer-yearly-subscription/?affiliateId=omniglot">Learn languages with Ling</a></li> <li><a href="https://privadovpn.com/#a_aid=Omniglot">PrivadoVPN</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ivisa.com?utm_source=omniglot&utm_medium=affiliate">Find Visa information for all countries</a></li> </ul> </div>  <div id="footer"> <ul> <li><a href="/index.htm">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/news/index.htm" title="New material appears on Omniglot every week - see the latest additions here">News</a></li> <li><a href="/writing/index.htm" title="An alphabetic index of all the writing systems and languages featured on Omniglot">Writing systems</a></li> <li><a href="/conscripts/index.htm" title="Writing systems invented by visitors to Omniglot">Con-scripts</a></li> <li><a href="/writing/languages.htm" title="An index of the languages featured on Omniglot">Languages</a></li> <li><a href="/language/phrases/index.htm" title="A selection of phrases in numerous languages">Useful phrases</a></li> <li><a href="/language/index.htm" title="Advice on learning languages">Language learning</a></li> <li><a href="/language/ml.htm" title="Language names in their own scripts and languages">Multilingual pages</a></li> <li><a href="/events/index.htm">Events</a></li> <li><a href="/language/articles/index.htm" title="Articles about writing systems, language, translation and related topics">Articles</a></li> <li><a href="/links/index.htm" title="A large collection of links to writing and language-related sites">Links</a></li> <li><a href="/books/index.htm" title="Language courses, dictionaries and other language learning materials">Book store</a></li> <li><a href="/gallery/index.htm" title="A gallery of writing and language-related art sent in by visitors to Omniglot">Gallery</a></li> <li><a href="/puzzles.htm" title="Questions about writing systems and languages sent in by visitors to Omniglot">Puzzles</a></li> <li><a href="/faqs.htm" title="Frequently Asked Questions">FAQs</a></li> <li><a href="/about.htm" title="A guide to the contents of Omniglot">About</a></li> <li><a href="/sitemap.htm">Sitemap</a></li> <li><a href="/search.htm">Search</a></li> <li><a href="/contact.htm">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="/media.htm">Media</a></li> <li><a href="/donations.htm">Contribute</a></li> <li><a href="/advertising.htm">Advertising</a></li> </ul> <p class="icons"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/bloggle/"><img src="/images/buttons/blog.png" width="50" height="50" alt="Omniglot Blog" /></a> <a href="http://www.omniglot.com/radio/"><img src="/images/buttons/podcast.png" width="50" height="50" alt="Radio Omniglot Podcast" /></a> <a href="http://www.omniglot.com/celtiadur/"><img src="/images/buttons/celtiadur.png" width="50" height="50" alt="Celtiadur" /></a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/omniglot"><img src="/images/buttons/youtube.png" width="50" height="50" alt="Omniglot YouTube Channel" /></a> <a href="https://soundcloud.com/simon-ager"><img src="/images/buttons/soundcloud.png" width="50" height="50" alt="Tunes, songs and podcasts on SoundCloud" /></a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/"><img src="/images/buttons/facebook.png" width="50" height="50" alt="Omniglot Facebook Fan Club" /></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ieithgi/"><img src="/images/buttons/instagram.png" width="50" height="50" alt="Instagram" /></a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ommiglot"><img src="/images/buttons/tiktok.png" width="50" height="50" alt="TikTok" /></a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/omniglot.bsky.social"><img src="/images/buttons/bluesky.png" width="50" height="50" alt="Bluesky" /></a> <a href="https://polyglot.city/@omniglot"><img src="/images/buttons/mastadon.png" width="50" height="50" alt="Polyglot City (Mastadon" /></a> </p> <p class="copyright"><a href="/copyright.htm">Copyright</a> © 1998–2025 <a href="/aboutme.htm">Simon Ager</a> | Email: <a href="/contact.htm"><img src="/images/various/email.gif" width="177" height="15" style="vertical-align:middle;" alt="The email address to contact Omniglot" /></a> | <a href="http://my.kualo.com/uk/go/00572" rel="nofollow">Hosted by Kualo</a> </p> </div> <script data-cfasync="false" type="text/javascript" id="clever-core"> /* <![CDATA[ */ (function (document, window) { var a, c = document.createElement("script"), f = window.frameElement; c.id = "CleverCoreLoader85823"; c.src = "https://scripts.cleverwebserver.com/2cb306f9d0669fac735e1e109054e46d.js"; c.async = !0; c.type = "text/javascript"; c.setAttribute("data-target", window.name || (f && f.getAttribute("id"))); c.setAttribute("data-callback", "put-your-callback-function-here"); c.setAttribute("data-callback-url-click", "put-your-click-macro-here"); c.setAttribute("data-callback-url-view", "put-your-view-macro-here"); try { a = parent.document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0] || document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; } catch (e) { a = !1; } a || (a = document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0] || document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0]); a.parentNode.insertBefore(c, a); })(document, window); /* ]]> */ </script></body> </html>