The Sikkimese language, also called "Sikkimese Tibetan", "Bhutia", "Drenjongké" ( "Rice Valley language"), Dranjoke, Denjongka, Denzongpeke, and Denzongke, belongs to the Southern Tibetic languages. It is spoken by the Bhutia in Sikkim and northeast Nepal. The Sikkimese people refer to their own language as Drendzongké and their homeland as Drendzong (; "Rice Valley").