Senegal Languages

Senegal Wiki Topics
Beginning Research
Research Strategies Record Finder Finding Town of Origin Online Learning
Record Types
Census Records Church Records Civil Registration Colonial Records Compiled Genealogies Emigration & Immigration	Military Records Notarial Records Online Records Religious Records
Senegal Background
French Word List Gazetteers History Jurisdictions	Languages Maps Social Life and Customs For Further Reading
Local Research Resources
Archives & Libraries Societies

Senegal

Languages

Description

Senegal is a multilingual country with 36 languages listed.
Wolof is the most widely spoken language as a first or second language (80%).
French is the official language (inherited from the colonial era) but only about 15-20% of men and 1-2% of women understand French.
English is taught as a foreign language in many graduate school languages and secondary schools. Widely used by the business and scientific community.

Those with national language status include:

• Balanta-Ganja
• Arabic
• Jola-Fonyi
• Mandinka
• Mandjak
• Mankanya
• Noon (Serer-Noon)
• Pulaar
• Serer
• Soninke
• Wolof

American Sign Language is used for education of the deaf in Senegal.

Alphabet and Pronunciation

Alphabet

Pronunciation

Language Aids and Dictionaries

Dictionaries

Online Dictionaries

Language Aids

References

Senegal has French as its official language, although only 12% of the population can speak it. Other minority languages include Serer, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo and Sarakole while Wolof is the national language.

The official language of the Gambia is English. Other languages include Mandingo, Fula, and Wolof. Many official records have been kept in English.

• Wolof
• English Mandinka Dictionary
• Diola/Joola Language with translations. This specific language is tones so it is a bit difficult