Language families
WALS sorts its 2,662 languages into 254 families. The 26 with at least 20 languages in the atlas have their own page.
Large families
- Austronesian324 languages in WALS · 32 with a page
- Niger-Congo324 languages in WALS · 19 with a page
- Indo-European176 languages in WALS · 39 with a page
- Sino-Tibetan146 languages in WALS · 13 with a page
- Afro-Asiatic145 languages in WALS · 20 with a page
- Pama-Nyungan121 languages in WALS · 11 with a page
- Trans-New Guinea98 languages in WALS · 14 with a page
- Altaic65 languages in WALS · 13 with a page
- Oto-Manguean56 languages in WALS · 4 with a page
- Austro-Asiatic48 languages in WALS · 9 with a page
- Eastern Sudanic47 languages in WALS · 10 with a page
- Uto-Aztecan44 languages in WALS · 11 with a page
- Algic31 languages in WALS · 5 with a page
- Mayan30 languages in WALS · 4 with a page
- Arawakan29 languages in WALS · 4 with a page
- Mande28 languages in WALS · 1 with a page
- Nakh-Daghestanian28 languages in WALS · 7 with a page
- Uralic27 languages in WALS · 7 with a page
- Central Sudanic26 languages in WALS · 2 with a page
- Hokan26 languages in WALS · 6 with a page
- Salishan26 languages in WALS · 2 with a page
- Na-Dene24 languages in WALS · 4 with a page
- Penutian24 languages in WALS · 5 with a page
- Dravidian23 languages in WALS · 5 with a page
- Tupian23 languages in WALS · 2 with a page
- Cariban20 languages in WALS · 3 with a page
Smaller families
Families with fewer than 20 languages in WALS, listed with the members that have a page here.
- Abun: Abun
- Ainu: Ainu
- Alacalufan: Qawasqar
- Arauan: Paumarí
- Araucanian: Mapudungun
- Asmat-Kamrau Bay: Asmat
- Aymaran: Aymara (Central)
- Barbacoan: Awa Pit
- Basque: Basque
- Border: Imonda
- Bororoan: Bororo
- Bunuban: Gooniyandi
- Burushaski: Burushaski
- Caddoan: Wichita
- Cayuvava: Cayuvava
- Chapacura-Wanham: Wari'
- Chibchan: Bribri, Ika, Rama, Teribe
- Chimakuan: Quileute
- Choco: Epena Pedee
- Chonan: Selknam
- Chukotko-Kamchatkan: Chukchi, Itelmen
- Eskimo-Aleut: Greenlandic (West)
- Fur: Fur
- Garrwan: Garrwa
- Guaicuruan: Abipón
- Gunwinyguan: Bininj Gun-Wok, Ngalakan, Nunggubuyu
- Haida: Haida
- Hatim-Mansim: Hatam
- Hmong-Mien: Hmong Njua
- Huavean: Huave (San Mateo del Mar)
- Ijoid: Ijo (Kolokuma)
- Iroquoian: Oneida
- Japanese: Japanese
- Kadu: Krongo
- Kartvelian: Georgian
- Keresan: Acoma
- Khoe-Kwadi: Nama
- Kiowa-Tanoan: Kiowa
- Kordofanian: Moro
- Korean: Korean
- Kunama: Kunama
- Kutenai: Kutenai
- Kxa: Ju|'hoan
- Maban: Maba
- Macro-Ge: Canela
- Mangarrayi-Maran: Mangarrayi
- Matacoan: Wichí
- Maybrat: Maybrat
- Mirndi: Wambaya
- Misumalpan: Miskito
- Mixe-Zoque: Zoque (Copainalá)
- Mura: Pirahã
- Muskogean: Choctaw, Koasati
- Nambikuaran: Nambikuára (Southern)
- Nivkh: Nivkh
- North Halmaheran: Sahu, Tidore, West Makian
- Northern Daly: Malakmalak
- Northwest Caucasian: Abkhaz, Kabardian
- Oregon Coast: Siuslaw
- Pano-Tacanan: Araona, Shipibo-Konibo
- Peba-Yaguan: Yagua
- Páezan: Páez
- Quechuan: Quechua (Imbabura)
- Ramu-Lower Sepik: Yimas
- Saharan: Kanuri
- Sandawe: Sandawe
- Sentanic: Sentani
- Sepik: Alamblak
- Siouan: Lakhota
- Skou: Dumo
- Solomons East Papuan: Lavukaleve
- Songhay: Koyra Chiini, Koyraboro Senni
- South Bougainville: Nasioi
- Southern Daly: Murrinh-Patha
- Tai-Kadai: Dong (Southern), Nung (in Vietnam), Thai
- Takelma: Takelma
- Tangkic: Kayardild, Yukulta
- Tarascan: Purépecha
- Tiwian: Tiwi
- Tonkawa: Tonkawa
- Torricelli: Arapesh (Mountain)
- Trumai: Trumai
- Tsimshianic: Tsimshian (Coast)
- Tucanoan: Barasano, Cubeo, Retuarã
- Tunica: Tunica
- Wakashan: Makah, Nuuchahnulth
- Waorani: Waorani
- Wappo-Yukian: Wappo
- Warao: Warao
- Washo: Washo
- Worrorran: Ungarinjin
- Yangmanic: Wardaman
- Yanomam: Sanuma
- Yele: Yelî Dnye
- Yeniseian: Ket
- Yuchi: Yuchi
- Yukaghir: Yukaghir (Kolyma)
- Zuni: Zuni