Kaili is an Austronesian dialect cluster of the Celebic branch, and is one of the principal languages of Central Sulawesi.
Kaili is also spoken in the mountains which rise on both sides of this valley, and along the coasts of the Makassar Strait and the Gulf of Tomini.
Taking a fine-grade view, it is possible to distinguish sixteen regional varieties of Kaili.
The following table is a list of lowest-level Kaili varieties, presented by negator and alternate name(s) by which each has been known.
The linguist S. J. Esser divided Kaili into western, central and eastern groups.