Google Speech, in partnership with the AI Research Center in Accra, has launched voice support for 15 additional African languages, enhancing features like Voice Search, talk-to-type on Gboard, and voice input on Translate.
The new languages include Chichewa, Hausa, Igbo, Kikuyu, Nigerian Pidgin, Oromo, Rundi, Shona, Somali, Tigrinya, Twi, South Ndebele, Swati, Tswana, and Yoruba. This expansion increases the total number of African languages with voice technology to 25 and the global total to 94.
The initiative aims to improve digital accessibility for approximately 300 million people across Africa, enabling easier online interactions.
In Ethiopia, Oromo and Tigrinya will benefit over 85 million people, while Kikuyu joins Swahili in Kenya’s voice options.
Chichewa and Shona will support about 65% of Malawi’s population and 12 million Shona speakers in Zimbabwe. In West Africa, Twi and four major Nigerian languages—Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Nigerian Pidgin—serve an estimated 129 million speakers.
Alex Okosi, Managing Director of Google Africa, highlighted the significance of this technology in enhancing voice interaction for over 300 million people.
Meanwhile, Matt Brittin, Google’s President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, noted that the next decade will be “Africa’s digital decade,” with many accessing the Internet for the first time.
Previously, languages like Amharic, Afrikaans, and Swahili were already supported for voice features.
