| Languages of Senegal | |
|---|---|
 French in use on an official sign inAgnam-Goly | |
| Official | French |
| National | Wolof,Balanta-Ganja,Jola-Fonyi,Mandinka,Mandjak,Mankanya,Noon,Pulaar,Serer,Soninke |
| Vernacular | Wolof |
| Minority | Bambara,Bandial,Bapeng,Bassari,Bayot,Bedik,Dyula,Gusilay,Jola-Felupe,Karon,Kasa,Kassonke,Kobiana,Laalaa,Maninka,Ndut,Palor,Safen |
| Foreign | English,Arabic,Creole |
| Signed | Francophone African Sign Language |
| Keyboard layout | |
Senegal is a multilingual country:Ethnologue lists 36 languages,Wolof being the most widely spoken language.
French, is the only official language of Senegal, used mainly by the administration, the education and spoken by 26% of the total population.[1] Senegal is a member State of theOrganisation internationale de la Francophonie. A Senegalese,Abdou Diouf, held the position of its Executive Secretary between 2003 and 2014.
Several of the Senegalese languages have the status of "national languages":Wolof,Balanta-Ganja,Arabic,Jola-Fonyi,Mandinka,Mandjak,Mankanya,Noon (Serer-Noon),Pulaar,Serer, andSoninke.
Senegal is aFrancophone country, where, as of 2024, 5.13 million (27.73%) out of 18.50 million people speak French.[2]
In terms of usage,Wolof is thelingua franca and the most widely spoken language in Senegal, as a first or second language (80%).[3]
Mande languages spoken includeSoninke, andMandinka.Jola (Diola) is a main language in theCasamance region. TheGuinea Creole dialect, based onPortuguese is also spoken in that region. In 2008 Senegal, due to its historical connections to Portuguese colonisation in Casamance, was admitted as Associate Observer in theCPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries).
Education for the deaf in Senegal usesAmerican Sign Language, introduced by the deaf American missionaryAndrew Foster. A local language isMbour Sign Language.
A report for the High Council of Francophonie in Paris stated in 1986 that in Senegal, 60,000 people spoke French as a first language and 700,000 spoke French as a second language. The total population of Senegal at the time was 6,500,000.[4]
French is the only official language of education in the Senegalese system, for 96% of public education, and 90% of private education.[1]
English is taught as a subject insecondary school across the country.[5][6]
