Languages of Guinea
Encyclopedia
The Republic of Guinea is a multilingual country, with over 40 languages spoken. The official language
is French
, which was inherited from colonial rule. Several indigenous languages have been given the status of national language
s: Fula
(or Pular); Malinké (or Maninka); Susu
; Kissi; Kpelle
(known in French as Guerzé) and Toma
.
French is the language of state and of official institutions. It is used by 15 to 25% of the population. At the end of the Ahmed Sékou Touré
regime, French was the only language used in business and schools.
Fula (32%) is mostly spoken in Middle Guinea
, where the major city is Labé
.
Malinké (23%) is mostly spoken in Upper Guinea
, where Kankan
is the major city.
Susu (10%) is mostly spoken in Guinée maritime, where the capital is Conakry
.
Guerzé (3.8%), Kissi (3.5%) and Toma (1.8%) are spoken in Guinée Forestière
. More specifically, Guerzé is spoken in Nzérékoré
and Yomou
. Kissi is spoken in Guéckédou and Kissidougou
.
Finally, Kono
is a language used in the south of Guinea, mostly in Lola
.
According to a report by Alpha Mamadou Diallo , the first language
of inhabitants of the city of Conakry
in decreasing order was: Susu 42%, Pular 20%, Maninka 19%, Kissi 4%, Guerzé 4%, French 2% and Toma 2%.
Official language
An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction. Typically a nation's official language will be the one used in that nation's courts, parliament and administration. However, official status can also be used to give a...
is French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, which was inherited from colonial rule. Several indigenous languages have been given the status of national language
National language
A national language is a language which has some connection—de facto or de jure—with a people and perhaps by extension the territory they occupy. The term is used variously. A national language may for instance represent the national identity of a nation or country...
s: Fula
Fula language
The Fula or Fulani language is a language of West Africa. It is spoken as a first language by the and related groups from Senegambia and Guinea to Cameroon and Sudan...
(or Pular); Malinké (or Maninka); Susu
Susu language
Sosoxui is the language of the Soso people of Guinea, West Africa. It is in the Mande language family.It is one of the national languages of Guinea and spoken mainly in the coastal region of the country. The language was also used by people in present-day Guinea as a trade language.e.g...
; Kissi; Kpelle
Kpelle language
The Kpelle language is spoken by the Kpelle people and is part of the Mande family of languages. Guinean Kpelle [gkp] , spoken by half a million people, concentrated primarily, but not exclusively, in the forest regions of Guinea, whose capital, Nzérékoré, is the third largest city in Guinea and...
(known in French as Guerzé) and Toma
Toma
-Places:In Burkina Faso*Toma, Burkina Faso, town in Nayala province*Toma Department, department in Nayala province, Burkina Faso*Toma, Banwa, town in Burkina Faso*Toma Koura, village in Tansila Department of Banwa Province, Burkina FasoIn Japan...
.
French is the language of state and of official institutions. It is used by 15 to 25% of the population. At the end of the Ahmed Sékou Touré
Ahmed Sékou Touré
Ahmed Sékou Touré was an African political leader and President of Guinea from 1958 to his death in 1984...
regime, French was the only language used in business and schools.
Fula (32%) is mostly spoken in Middle Guinea
Middle Guinea
Middle Guinea refers to the central part of the Republic of Guinea....
, where the major city is Labé
Labé
Labé is the main city and administrative capital of the Fouta Djallon region of Guinea. It has a population of about 58,649 . It is the second largest city in the country after the capital Conakry...
.
Malinké (23%) is mostly spoken in Upper Guinea
Upper Guinea
Upper Guinea or la Haute-Guinée is a large plain covering eastern Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and extending into north western Côte d'Ivoire. Mostly forming the upper watershed of the River Niger, it is sparsely populated and is home to the Haut Niger National Park.Upper Guinea can also refer to...
, where Kankan
Kankan
Kankan is the largest city in Guinea in land area, and the third largest in population at 207,790 . The city is located on the Milo River in eastern Guinea and lying about 345 miles east of Conakry....
is the major city.
Susu (10%) is mostly spoken in Guinée maritime, where the capital is Conakry
Conakry
Conakry is the capital and largest city of Guinea. Conakry is a port city on the Atlantic Ocean and serves as the economic, financial and cultural centre of Guinea with a 2009 population of 1,548,500...
.
Guerzé (3.8%), Kissi (3.5%) and Toma (1.8%) are spoken in Guinée Forestière
Guinée Forestière
Guinée Forestière is a forested mountainous region in southeastern Guinea, extending into northeastern Sierra Leone. It is one of four natural regions into which Guinea is divided and covers 23% of the country...
. More specifically, Guerzé is spoken in Nzérékoré
Nzérékoré
Nzérékoré, also spelled N'Zérékoré, is the largest city in the Guinée Forestière region of south-eastern Guinea and is capital of the Nzérékoré Prefecture. It is Guinea's third largest city . It was the centre of a rising against French rule in 1911. It is now known as a market town, and for its...
and Yomou
Yomou
Yomou is a town located in southeastern Guinea. It is the capital of Yomou Prefecture. It has an estimated population of 29,138 growing from 9,661 ....
. Kissi is spoken in Guéckédou and Kissidougou
Kissidougou
Kissidougou is a city in southern Guinea. It is the capital of in the Kissidougou Prefecture, and had a population of 66,018 in the 1996 census. Following intensified conflicts in Sierra Leone and Liberia during the fall and winter of 2000, many people from the city of Guéckédou fled to...
.
Finally, Kono
Kono
Kono is a village in Rivers State, Nigeria. It is situated on the coast in Khana Local Government Area, about 45 miles from Port Harcourt. The dialect spoken in Kono is Khana, and the people are Ogoni. Everton F.C. Footballer Joseph Yobo was born and grew up in Kono....
is a language used in the south of Guinea, mostly in Lola
Lola, Guinea
Lola is a town in the Forest Region of Guinea, lying near the Liberian border. It is the capital of Lola Prefecture and has a population 60,711 ....
.
According to a report by Alpha Mamadou Diallo , the first language
First language
A first language is the language a person has learned from birth or within the critical period, or that a person speaks the best and so is often the basis for sociolinguistic identity...
of inhabitants of the city of Conakry
Conakry
Conakry is the capital and largest city of Guinea. Conakry is a port city on the Atlantic Ocean and serves as the economic, financial and cultural centre of Guinea with a 2009 population of 1,548,500...
in decreasing order was: Susu 42%, Pular 20%, Maninka 19%, Kissi 4%, Guerzé 4%, French 2% and Toma 2%.