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| Languages ofBurundi | |
|---|---|
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| Official | Kirundi,French,English |
| National | Kirundi |
| Minority | Swahili |
| Foreign | Arabic,English,Swahili |
| Signed | Burundian Sign Language |
| Keyboard layout | |
Burundi has three official languages:Kirundi,French, andEnglish, where English became the third official language of the country in 2014. Of these, only Kirundi is spoken by the vast majority of the population. It is recognised as thenational language by theBurundian constitution of 2005.[1]
Burundi is unusual among African states in having a single indigenous language shared by its entire population. In one estimate, 98 percent of Burundians speak Kirundi.[2] UnderBelgian colonial rule (1919–62), Kirundi was taught, whereas underGerman rule (1894–1916),Swahili had been encouraged.[2] In recent years, the Burundian government has promoted the use of the Kirundi language as a way to unify the country's different ethnic groups.[2]
The country is considered part ofFrancophonie. As a legacy ofBelgian colonial rule, French has an important role in government, business, and the educated classes but only between 3 and 10 percent of the population speak the language fluently.[2] Burundian vernacular French also frequently incorporatesloanwords from Kirundi,Lingala and other languages.[2] French is spoken by a significant minority and is spoken mainly as asecond language, as aFrench pidgin, or by foreign residents of the country. English was adopted as part of moves towards regional integration with theEast African Community after 2007 but has little effective presence in the country.[2][3]
Spoken languages in Burundi include Swahili which is widely spoken in theGreat Lakes region.[2] It is especially used in commerce and in connection with the country'sMuslim minority or with immigration from elsewhere in East Africa.[2]
