The Kpelle /kəˈpɛlə/^[2] language (endonym: "Kpɛlɛɛ"^[3]) is spoken by the Kpelle people of Liberia, Guinea and Ivory Coast and is part of the Mande language family. Guinean Kpelle (also known as Guerze in French), spoken by half a million people, is concentrated primarily, but not exclusively, in the southeastern forest regions of Guinea bordering Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone. Half a million Liberians speak Liberian Kpelle, which is taught in Liberian schools.

The Lord's Prayer in Kpelle:^[4]

Kunâŋ gáa ŋele sui,

Tɔɔ ku iláai siɣe a maa waa.

Tɔɔ Ikâloŋ-laai é pá,

Tɔɔ ínîa-mɛni é kέ,

Nɔii ma ɓɛ yɛ̂ɛ berei gáa la Ɣâla-taai.

I kukɔ sâa a kuɣele-kuu tɔnɔ-tɔnɔ mii-sɛŋ;

I ipôlu fe kutɔ̂ŋ-karaa-ŋai dîa,

Yɛ̂ɛ berei kwa kupôlu fè la kuɓarâai ditɔ̂ŋ-karaa-ŋai dîai;

Tɔɔ kutúɛ kufe pili yee-laa-maa su,

Kέlɛ, i kukúla mɛni nyɔ́mɔɔ su.