Tigrina (also Tigrinya) is spoken mainly in the African area of Eritrea. It is a Semitic language, identified with the Tigrinya People, and is one of two main tongues spoken in Eritrea. In the Tigray region of Ethiopia it has official status. Emigrants and refugees from Eritrea have spread the language to nearby areas. A colony of the Tigrinya People was established in Israel. The “Tigre” tribal tongue, also spoken in Eritrea, should be distinguished from Tigrina, as the two are separate languages.