Cyprus Languages

Cyprus Wiki Topics
Beginning Research
Research Strategies Record Finder Online Learning
Record Types
Census Records Church Records Civil Registration Land & Property Military Records	Nobility Notarial Records Online Records Probate Records Religious Records
Cyprus Background
Gazetteers History Jurisdictions Languages Maps	Naming Customs Social Life & Customs For Further Reading
Local Research Resources
Archives & Libraries Societies FamilySearch Centers

Cyprus

Languages

Description

Cyprus has two official languages:

• Greek

• Used for official purposes
• Everyday language is Cypriot Greek

• Turkish

• Used for official purposes
• Everyday language is Turkish Greek

Cyprus minority languages are:

• Armenian
• Cypriot Maronite Arabic

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)

Greek

• Greek Genealogical Word List

Turkish

• Turkish Genealogical Word List

Armenian

Cypriot Maronite Arabic

• Arabic Genealogical Word List

Russian

French

German