| Languages of Monaco | |
|---|---|
 A bilingual French-Monégasque street sign | |
| Official | French |
| Minority | Monégasque,Italian |
| Foreign | English |
| Signed | French Sign Language |
| Keyboard layout | |
Theofficial language ofMonaco isFrench.Monégasque, a variety ofLigurian, is thenational language of the Monégasque people. However, it is the primary language of very few people. There are several other languages spoken in addition to French and Monégasque, including Italian and English.
French is the only official—and by far the most common—language in Monaco, a result of the roleFrance has had over themicrostate, since the annexation of theCounty of Nice, which surrounds Monaco, in 1860.
Monégasque is the traditional national language of the Monegasque people (who represent only 21.6% of the total population[1]). It is a dialect ofLigurian, and is somewhat similar toItalian.
Because the Monégasques are a minority in Monaco, their tongue was threatened with extinction in the 1970s.[citation needed] However, the language is now being taught in schools. In the old part of Monaco, the street signs are marked with Monégasque in addition to French.
During hisaccession ceremonies in 2005,Albert II, Prince of Monaco, made a speech to his people in Monégasque.
StandardItalian is also a major language in Monaco. Italian nationals make up 19% of the total population.[1]
Italian was the ancestral language of the rulingHouse of Grimaldi, and was the official language of Monaco until 1860, when it was replaced by French.[2] This was due to the annexation of the surroundingCounty of Nice to France following theTreaty of Turin (1860).[2]
Italian is also spoken byCaroline, Princess of Hanover and her childrenAndrea Casiraghi,Charlotte Casiraghi andPierre Casiraghi, as her late husband was Italian.[3]
There is also anAnglophone community in Monaco (8.5% of which are from theUnited Kingdom or theUnited States, with English-speakers from other nations as too insignificant and thus listed within the category of "other," below),[1] in addition to English-speaking tourists visiting the city.
Princess Grace was born an American, and all three of her children (including thereigning Prince) grew up speaking English among other languages.[4] The currentprincess consort of Monaco,Princess Charlene, is a native English speaker, having been born aRhodesian in what is nowZimbabwe.
Occitan (Lenga d'òc) has also traditionally been spoken in Monaco, particularly when it covered a larger geographical territory, but is rarely used today.
Intemelio is a Ligurian dialect spoken historically from the Principality of Monaco to the Italian province ofImperia.
