Oromo (pron. /ˈɒrəmoʊ/ or /ɔːˈroʊmoʊ/) is an Afroasiatic language. It is the most widely spoken tongue in the family's Cushitic branch. Forms of Oromo are spoken as a first language by more than 24 million Oromo and neighboring peoples in Ethiopia and parts of northern Kenya. Oromo is a dialect continuum; not all varieties are mutually intelligible. Older publications often refer to the language as Galla, a term that is considered pejorative and no longer used.