France
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Algerian Jewish Sign Language
[ajs] Scattered. Users: Unknown number in France, very few in Israel, none in Algeria (Lanesman and Meir 2012). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: AJSL, Ghardaia Sign Language. Classification: Sign language, Shared sign language.
Alsatian
[gsw] Grand-Est region: south and west bank of Rhine river. Users: 900,000 in France (2013). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Alemannic, Alemannisch, Alsacien, Elsaessisch. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Alemannic.
Arabic, Algerian Spoken
[arq] Users: 1,350,000 in France (2008 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.
Arabic, Moroccan Spoken
[ary] Users: 1,140,000 in France (2008 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.
Arabic, North Levantine Spoken
[apc] Users: 46,400 in France (2008 census). Ethnic population: 300,000 (2021 A. Dusséaux). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.
Arabic, Tunisian Spoken
[aeb] Users: 447,000 in France (2008 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.
Armenian, Western
[hyw] Major cities. Users: 70,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Indo-European, Armenian.
Arpitan
[frp] Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Ain, north and central Isere, Loire, Rhone, and Savoy departments; Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region: Doubs, Haute-Alpes, south Jura, and Saone-et-Loire departments; Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: border area. Users: 150,000 in France (2013). Total users in all countries: 227,000. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Recognized language (2013, Law No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Franco-provençal, Patois, Romand, arpetan, francoprovençal, patouès. Autonym: Arpitan. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, Southeastern.
Basque
[eus] Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Pyrenees Atlantiques province, Labourd (Lapurdi) and Basse-Navarre departments, Bayonne and Soule areas; border with Spain. Users: 72,000 in France (2013). Ethnic population: 730,000 (Johnstone 1993). Status: 7 (Shifting). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Euskara. Classification: Language isolate.
Bengali
[ben] Users: 7,000 in France (2018), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese.
Breton
[bre] Brittany region: Finistere, western Cotes-d’Armor, and western Morbihan departments; elsewhere dispersed. Users: 206,000 (2013 R. Milin), decreasing. Status: 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Autonym: Brezhoneg. Classification: Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Brythonic.
Caló
[rmq] Occitania region. Users: 15,000 in France. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Gitano, Iberian Romani. Classification: Mixed language, Iberian-Romani.
Catalan
[cat] Occitania region: Pyrenees-Orientales department. Users: 126,000 in France (2013). Status: 5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), education. Alternate Names: Català. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, East Iberian.
Cham, Western
[cja] Users: 1,000 in France. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Chamic, Coastal, Cham.
Corsican
[cos] Corsica region; possibly in Marseilles, Paris, other urban centers. Users: 150,000 in France (2013), decreasing. Ethnic population: 315,000 (2017). Total users in all countries: 151,000. Status: 6b (Threatened). Statutory language of provincial identity in Corsica (2002, Act. No. 2002-92 (22 Jan) on Corsica, Article 7), mainly used in education. Alternate Names: Corse, Corsi, Corso. Autonym: Corsu. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Corsican.
English
[eng] Widespread. Users: 26,436,000 in France, all users. L1 users: 236,000 in France (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. L2 users: 26,200,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: anglais. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English.
Erromintxela
[emx] Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Users: 500 in France (2009 J. McLaughlin). Total users in all countries: 1,000. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Basque Caló, Basque Romani, Caló Vasco, Errumantxela, Euskado-romani, Euskado-rromani. Autonym: Erromintxela. Classification: Mixed language, Basque-Romani.
French
[fra] Users: 63,900,000 in France, all users. L1 users: 62,400,000 in France (2020). L2 users: 1,500,000 (2018). Total users in all countries: 274,067,040 (as L1: 79,867,770; as L2: 194,199,270). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1958, Constitution, Article 2.1). Autonym: français. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French.
French Sign Language
[fsl] Scattered. Users: 100,000 in France (2019 Fédération Nationale des Sourds de France). Approximately 0.15% of the total population. Other estimates: 80,000 (1998 D. Gillot), 119,000 deaf signers (2010 Association Française des Interprètes en Language des Signes), 169,000 deaf (2014 IMB), 300,000 (2019 EUD). Approximately 1,000 use the southern variety, called Marseille Sign Language (Sallagoity 1975). Total users in all countries: 103,405. Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2005, Code de l’éducation, Partie législative, Deuxième partie, Livre III, Titre 1er, Chapitre II, Article L312-9-1, Section 3 bis), Recognized as a complete language for use in education. Alternate Names: LSF, Langue des signes française. Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language.
German, Standard
[deu] Users: 4,000,000 in France (2020), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Allemand, Deutsch. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German.
Hmong Daw
[mww] Users: 10,000 in France. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Hmong-Mien, Hmongic, Chuanqiandian.
Italian
[ita] Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions: Nice, Provence, and Savoy. Users: 829,000 in France (2008 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Italiano, Italien. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian.
Kabuverdianu
[kea] Users: 26,000 in France (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, Portuguese based.
Kabyle
[kab] Users: 537,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Kabyle.
Khmer
[khm] Users: 50,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Khmer.
Khmu
[kjg] Users: 1,500 in France (2010). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Khmuic, Mal-Khmu’, Khmu’.
Korean
[kor] Users: 29,200 in France (2019 Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic.
Lesser Antillean French Creole
[acf] Users: 150,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, French based.
Ligurian
[lij] Corsica region: Bonifacio town; Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: between Italy and Monaco borders. Users: 300–400 in Corsica (Salminen 2007). Status: 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Ligure. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian.
Lorraine Franconian
[pfl] Grand-Est region: Lorraine, north and east. Users: 400,000 in France (2013). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Francique, Lottrìnger Plàtt, Plàtt. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, West Middle German.
Luxembourgish
[ltz] Grand-Est region: Moselle river area, Germany border to Luxembourg, Thionville. Users: 40,000 in France (2001 J. Nousse). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Frankish, Luxembourgeois, Lëtzebuergesch, Platt. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, West Middle German, Moselle Franconian.
Morisyen
[mfe] Users: 1,000 in France (2005). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, French based.
Norman French
[nrf] Normandy: Manche department (Cotentinais dialect); Calvados and Orne departments (Augeron dialect); Seine-Maritime department (Cauchois dialect). Users: 17,000 in France (2015 M. Jones). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Normand, Normaund. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French.
Occitan
[oci] Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Ardeche, Cantal, Drome, Haute-Loire, Isere, Loire, and Puy-de-Dome departments; Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Charentes, Correze, and Haute-Vienne departments; Occitania region: all except Pyrenees-Orientales department; Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Users: 110,000 in France (Bernissan 2012). Total users in all countries: 218,310. Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Patois. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, Oc.
Persian, Iranian
[pes] Users: 40,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian.
Picard
[pcd] Hauts-de-France region: Abbeville, Amiens, Arras, Beauvais, Boulogne sur Mer, Calais (except Dunkerque district), Cambrai, Douai, Lille, Saint Quentin, and Valenciennes; Normandy region: near Dieppe, Picardie border. Users: 500,000 in France (Auger 2011). Total users in all countries: 700,000. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Chti, Chtimi, Patois, Patois de Nord, Roubaignot, Rouchi. Autonym: Picard. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French.
Portuguese
[por] Scattered. Corsica region; Hauts-de-France region: Roubaix, near Belgian border; Île-de-France region: Paris; Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Bordeaux; Occitania region: Toulouse. Users: 959,000 in France (2008 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Portugais, Português. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician.
Romani, Balkan
[rmn] Users: 10,500 in France. 10,000 Arlija, 500 Dzambazi. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Balkan.
Romani, Sinte
[rmo] Scattered. Users: 28,400 in France (2000). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Romanes, Sinte, Sinti, Tsigane. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern.
Romani, Vlax
[rmy] Users: 10,000 in France. 8,000 Kalderash, 2,000 Lovari. Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Rom, Romanes, Tsigane, Vlax. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Vlax.
Shuadit
[sdt] Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: Avignon area. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last known speaker, Armand Lunel, died in 1977. Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Judeo-Comtadine, Judeo-Provençal, Shuadi. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, Oc.
Spanish
[spa] Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Lyon; Île-de-France region: Paris; Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Bordeaux; Occitania region: Toulouse; Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: Marseilles and Nice. Users: 6,451,000 in France, all users. L1 users: 461,000 in France (2020). L2 users: 5,990,000 (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Castillan, Espagnol, Español. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian.
Tamazight, Central Atlas
[tzm] Users: 150,000 in France (1995). All Berber speakers 1,500,000 in France. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Atlas.
Tamil
[tam] Paris; major cities. Users: 125,000 in France (Murugaiyan 2013). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil.
Turkish
[tur] Users: 444,000 in France (2008 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish.
Vietnamese
[vie] Users: 10,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Ethnic population: 592,000 (2000). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong, Vietnamese.
West Flemish
[vls] Hauts-de-France region: Dunkerque area and southeast to Belgium border. Users: 30,000 in France (2013). Status: 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Flamand, Frans Vlaams, Vlaams, Vlaemsch, Vlamingen, flamand occidental. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian.
Wolof
[wol] Users: 35,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Wolof.