The
Jarai (also
Người Gia Rai,
Gia Rai, or
Gia-rai) is an ethnic group based primarily in
Vietnam's
Central Highlands. The Jarai language is a member of the
Malayo-Polynesian branch of the
Austronesian language family. The
Jarai language is related to the
Cham language of central Vietnam and the
Malayo-Polynesian languages of
Indonesia,
Malaysia,
Madagascar,
Philippines and other Pacific Islands (Hawaii, New Zealand,
Easter Island,
Samoa,
Guam,
Fiji, etc.). The speakers of Jarai number approximately 332,557. They are the largest of the upland ethnic groups of the Central Highlands known as
Degar or
Montagnards.