Tigrinya (or ትግርኛ, pronounced [tɪˈɡriːnjə]) is an Afro-Asiatic language, belonging to the family’s Semitic branch. Tigrinya speakers primarily inhabit the Tigray Region in northern Ethiopia (65%), as well as the contiguous borders of southern Eritrea (35%). Tigrinya is written in the Ge’ez script, which is an abugida: each symbol represents a consonant+vowel syllable. The earliest written example of Tigrinya is a text of local laws found in the district of Logosarda, which dates from the 13th century. Writing system: Tigrinya alphabet (Ge’ez script) Official language in: Eritrea