It is also spoken as an adoptive language by a few ethnic minority groups and individuals in Somali majority regions.

The Somali language is spoken in Somali inhabited areas of Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Yemen and by members of the Somali diaspora.

Somali is the best-documented of the Cushitic languages, with academic studies of the language dating back to the late 19th century. Somali is classified within the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic family, specifically, Lowland East Cushitic in addition to Afar and Saho. Main articles: Afroasiatic languages and Cushitic languages