It was the primary language of the Benin Empire and its predecessor, Igodomigodo for thousands of years.

It is the majority language spoken in Edo State, particularly in Benin City, and the surrounding local governments and senatorial districts in the Southern parts of the State.

Edo has a rather average consonant inventory for an Edoid language.

The three rhotics have been described as voiced and voiceless trills as well as a lax English-type approximant.

However, Ladefoged[4]: 241  found all three to be approximants, with the voiced–voiceless pair being raised (without being fricatives) and perhaps at a slightly different place of articulation compared to the third but not trills.