1. Swahili: This is the lingua franca of East Africa, meaning it's commonly used for communication between people who speak different native languages. It's an official language in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, and has significant presence in others.
2. Amharic: The official language of Ethiopia, Amharic is spoken by a large population and has a rich history and culture. It's also used in parts of Eritrea and Sudan.
3. Somali: The official language of Somalia, Somali is also widely spoken in neighboring countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti.
Important Note: While these three are prominent, East Africa has hundreds of languages spoken by various ethnic groups. Some other notable languages include:
* Oromo: Spoken in Ethiopia
* Kinyarwanda: Spoken in Rwanda
* Luganda: Spoken in Uganda
* Kiswahili: A closely related language to Swahili, also widely spoken in Kenya and Tanzania.
So, while the three languages mentioned are important, they only scratch the surface of the linguistic diversity in East Africa.