Cyprus Languages

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Cyprus

Languages

Description[edit | edit source]

Cyprus has two official languages:^[1]

Greek

Used for official purposes
Everyday language is Cypriot Greek
Written in Latin Script

Turkish

Used for official purposes
Everyday language is Cypriot Turkish

Cyprus minority languages are:

Language without official status:

English -

Widely spoken
On road signs, public notices, and in advertisements
English was the sole official language during British colonial rule and the lingua franca until 1960, and continued to be used (de facto) in courts of law until 1989 and in legislation until 1996.
English language as a second language - 80.4% of Cypriots

Other Languages spoken:

Russian

Widely spoken among the country's minorities, residents and citizens of post-Soviet countries, and Pontic Greeks.
The third language used on many signs of shops and restaurants, particularly in Limassol and Paphos.

French 12%
German 5%

Word List(s)[edit | edit source]

Greek

Turkish

Armenian

Cypriot Maronite Arabic

Russian

French

German

Alphabet and Pronunciation[edit | edit source]

Greek

Turkish

Armenian

Cypriot Maronite Arabic

Russian

French

German

Language Aids and Dictionaries[edit | edit source]

Greek

Turkish

Armenian

Cypriot Maronite Arabic

Russian

French

German

Additional Resources[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Cyprus," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus#:~:text=Cyprus%20has%20two,registers%20significantly.%5B215%5D, accessed 6 September 2021.

[1] Wikipedia contributors, "Cyprus," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus#:~:text=Cyprus%20has%20two,registers%20significantly.%5B215%5D, accessed 6 September 2021.

[1]