Mali Languages

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Mali

Languages

Description

Mali is a multilingual country. The languages spoken there reflect ancient settlement patterns, migrations, and its long history. Ethnologue counts more than 80 languages. Of these, French is the official language and Bambara is the most widely spoken.

All together 13 of the indigenous languages of Mali have the legal status of national language:

• Bambara
• Bomu
• Bozo
• Dogon
• Fulfulde
• Hassaniya Arabic
• Mamara
• Maninkakan
• Soninke
• Songhay
• Syenara
• Tamasheq
• Xaasongaxango

Word List(s)

French

• French Genealogical Word List
• Useful French phrases (Omniglot)

Bambara

• Useful phrases in Bambara (Omniglot)
• Bambara Phrasebook (Wikitravel)

Alphabet and Pronunciation

French

• French phonology (Wikipedia)
• French alphabet (Wikipedia)
• French Alphabet and Pronunciation (Omniglot)

Bambara

• Bambara phonology (Wikipedia)
• Bambara Alphabet and Pronunciation (Omniglot)

Language Aids and Dictionaries

French

• French Letter Writing Guide
• English to French Dictionary (Glosbe)
• Learn French (duolingo)
• Learn French (Babbel)

Bambara

• English to Bambara Dictionary (Glosbe)
• Bambara 101 (101Languages)

Additional Resources

• Mali (Wikitravel)
• Mali (Britannica)