Family Tree of Languages

Last updated: 2016

This post shows the languages and language families of the world and their possible family tree (meaning, how the language might have historically separated assuming only one original human language in prehistoric times from which all contemporary languages ultimately derive).

If you find this interesting, you may also want to check out my world map of (currently spoken) language families.

Please note that only the outmost level of the mindmap shows generally accepted or at least probable language relations or families. Two languages separated by a comma are languages that could be related, but this relationship is not established yet, while two languages joined with a hyphen are an accepted mini-family.

The distinction of the 3 fundamental branches "Austral, Boreal, Khoisan" was taken from British linguist Roger Blench.

Click here to open the picture in a new tab

Below is the list in text format:

• Boreal branch
• Nostratic super-macrofamily
• Kartvelian
• Afroasiatic
• Elamo-Dravidian
• Dravidian
• Harappan
• Elamic
• Lulubean
• Eurasiatic macrofamily
• Macro-Indo-European
• Indo-European
• Gutian
• Elymian
• Altaic
• Turko-Mongolic
• Turkic
• Para-Mongolic
• Mongolic
• Khitan
• Manchu-Tungusic
• Koreanic-Japonic
• Koreanic (Buyeo, Silla, Korean, Jeju)
• Japonic (Japanese, Ryukyu, Gaya)
• Uralo-Siberian
• Uralic-Yukaghiric
• Uralic
• Yukaghiric
• Eskimo-Siberian
• Nivkh
• Chukotko-Kamchatkan
• Eskimo-Aleut
• Aegean
• Tyrsenian (Etruscan, Raetic, Lemnian, Camunic)
• Minoian & Eteocrete
• Eteocypriot
• Dene-Daic super-macrofamily
• Dene-Caucasian macrofamily
• Sumerian
• Baikal-Siberic
• Dene-Yenisseian
• Na-Dene
• Karasuk
• Burushaski
• Yenisseian
• Xiongnu
• Dingling
• Vasco-Caucasian
• North Caucasian
• North West Caucasian
• Abkhaso-Adygeian
• Hattic
• Kaskian
• Alarodian
• Hurro-Urartian (Hurrian, Urartian, Kassite)
• Nakho-Dagestanian
• Vasconic
• Basque-Aquitanian
• Iberian
• Tartessian
• Nahali-Kusunda
• Nahali
• Kusunda
• Macro-Sino-Tibetan
• Sino-Tibetan
• Mishmic/Digaro
• Kamengic/Kho-Bwa
• Siangic
• Miji
• Hruso
• Miju/Kaman
• Puroik/Sulung
• Austric macrofamily
• Hmong-Mien
• Austroasiatic
• Austro-Tai
• Austronesian
• Tai-Kadai
• Amerindian macrofamily
• Ge-Pano-Carib
• Macro-Carib
• Macro-Panoan
• Macro-Ge
• North Central Amerindian
• North Amerindian
• Almosan
• Keresiouan
• Penutian-Hokan
• Penutian
• Hokan
• Central Amerindian
• Tanoan
• Uto-Aztecan
• Oto-Manguean
• South Amerindian
• Andean-Chibchan-Paezan
• Chibchan-Paezan
• Andean
• Equatorial-Tucanoan
• Equatorial
• Macro-Tucanoan
• North Picene (unclassified but Boreal branch)
• Sikanic (unclassified but Boreal branch)
• Nuragic (unclassified but Boreal branch)
• Khoisan branch
• Kx'a
• Ju/!Kung
• 'Amkoe/Hoa/Hoan
• Tuu
• Khoe-Sandawe
• Khoe-Kwadi
• Kwadi
• Khoe
• Sandawe
• Austral branch
• Kongo-Saharan macrofamily
• Nilo-Saharan
• Niger-Kongo
• Australian macrofamily
• Macro-Pama-Nyungan
• Greater Pama-Nyungan
• Pama-Nyungan
• Tangkic
• Garawan
• Arnhem-Eastern Daly
• Macro-Gunwinyguan/Arnhem & Enindhilyagwa
• Eastern Daly
• Bunuban
• Jarrakan
• Arnhem Land (Iwaidjan & Glimbiyu)
• Mirndi
• Nyulnyulan
• Wagaydyic
• Worroran
• Yangmanic
• Northern Daly
• Southern Daly
• Western Daly
• Marrku-Wurrugu
• Tiwi
• Wagiman
  
• Darwin
• Indo-Pacific macrofamily
• Proto-Negrito (mostly isolates and substrates)
• Andamanese
• Great Andamanese
• Little Andamanese (Ongan, Jarawa, Sentinelese)
• Shompen
• Proto-Orang-Asli
• Proto-Philippine
• Tasmanian
• North Tasmanian
• North Eastern Tasmanian
• Eastern Tasmanian
• Western Tasmanian
• Papuan
• Wurm's Trans-New Guinea
• Mairasi
• Lakes Plain
• Eastern Trans-Fly
• Nimboran
• Tor-Kwerba (Orya, Tor, Sause, Kwerba, Mawes, Isirawa)
• Kaure + Kapori + Kosare
• Ross's Trans-New Guinea
• Trans-New Guinea + Dem + Pawaia
• Goilalan
• Kiwaian & Porome
• Pauwasi
• Teberan
• Left May-Kwomtari
• Left May
• Kwomtari-Fas
• Pyu
• Amot-Musan
• Border & Elseng
• Trans-Fly-Bulaka River (Bulaka River, Pahoturi, Waia, Yam)
• Doso-Turumsa
• Lower Mamberamo
• East Geelvink Bay
• Namla-Tofanma
• Skou
• Abinomn
• Busa
• Extended West Papuan
• West Papuan (Halmahera, West Bird's Head) + Amberbaken + Hattam + Abun + Mai Brat
• East Bird's Head + Sentani
• Yawa
• Yale
• Lepki-Murkim
• Kembra
• Massep
• Dibiyaso/Bainapi
• East Papuan
• Yele-West New Britain
• Anem
• Ata
• Yeli Dnye
• Baining + Kol + Sulka
• South Bougainville
• North Bougainville
• Central Solomon
• Kuot
• Sepik-Ramu
• Talap
• Ramu-Lower Sepik
• Arafundi & Piawi
• Yuat & Maramba
• Torricelli-Sepik
• Torricelli-Monumbo
• Monumbo-Lilau
• Torricelli
• Sepik
• Proto-Vedda (unclassified but Austral branch)
• Proto-Vazimba-Beosi (unclassified but Austral branch)
• Proto-Mbenga (unclassified but Austral branch)
• Bangime (unclassified but Austral branch)
• Hadza & Oropom (unclassified but Austral branch)
• Jalaa (unclassified but Austral branch)
• Laal (unclassified but Austral branch)
• Dompo (unclassified but Austral branch)
• Kujarge (unclassified but Austral branch)
• Rimba (unclassified but Austral branch)
• Pericu (unclassified but Austral branch)
• Yagan (unclassified but Austral branch)
• Kawesqar (unclassified but Austral branch)