Sierra Leone
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Arabic, North Levantine Spoken
[apc] Users: 46,400 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.
Bassa
[bsq] Western Area: Western Urban district, Freetown. Users: 8,500 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Bassa.
Bom-Kim
[bmf] Southern province: northeast Bonthe district, 13 villages west of Waanje river (Bom dialect); southeast Bonthe district, villages around Kwako lake, mostly in Nyandehun and Tamuke (Kim dialect). Users: Bom: a few hundred speakers; Kim: less than 15 speakers (2014 T. Childs). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Bom, Bome, Bomo, Bum. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Bullom-Kissi, Bullom, Northern.
Bullom So
[buy] Northern province: Kambia district, Samu region; Guinea border coast to Sierra Leone river. Users: 7,700 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Bolom, Bulem, Bullin, Bullun, Mandenyi, Mandingi, Mani, Mmani, Northern Bullom. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Bullom-Kissi, Bullom, Northern.
English
[eng] Users: 1,172,800 in Sierra Leone, all users. L1 users: 2,800 in Sierra Leone (2019). L2 users: 1,170,000 (Leclerc 2017g). Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English.
Gola
[gol] Eastern province: Kenema and Kailahun districts; Southern province: Pujehun district. Liberia border area and inland. Users: 15,000 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Gula. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Gola.
Greek
[ell] Users: 1,200 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic.
Hindi
[hin] Users: 15,000 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani.
Kisi, Southern
[kss] Eastern province: Kailahun district, Moa river area near both Guinea and Liberia borders. Users: 131,000 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Gissi, Kisi, Kissien. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Bullom-Kissi, Kissi.
Kissi, Northern
[kqs] Eastern province: Kono district, Guinea border and inland; Northern province: southeast corner, Koinadugu district. Users: 61,500 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Gizi, Kisi, Kisie, Kissien, kìsìéí. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Bullom-Kissi, Kissi.
Klao
[klu] Western Area: Western Urban district, Freetown. Users: 14,000 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Klaoh, Klau, Kroo, Kru. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Western, Klao.
Kono
[kno] Eastern province: west and central Kona district; Northern province: Koinadugu district, south of Bagbe river. Users: 341,000, all users. L1 users: 316,000 (2019). L2 users: 25,000 (1981 D. Cranmer). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Konnoh. Autonym: Kɔnɔ. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Vai-Kono.
Krio
[kri] Western Area: Freetown peninsula communities; south of Freetown, York and Banana islands. Users: 8,200,000 in Sierra Leone, all users. L1 users: 780,000 in Sierra Leone (2019). L2 users: 7,420,000 (2019). Total users in all countries: 8,237,900 (as L1: 817,900; as L2: 7,420,000). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Brought to western part of Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1787 by early settlers from England. Used as trade language and for social interaction among all sixteen ethnic groups in Sierra Leone. Alternate Names: Creole, Patois. Autonym: Krio. Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Krio.
Kuranko
[knk] Northern province: Kabala area. Users: 415,000 in Sierra Leone (2019). Total users in all countries: 651,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Koranko, Kurankokole. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Mokole.
Limba, East
[lma] Northern province: east Bombali and west Koinadugu districts; Western Area: peninsula south of Freetown. Users: 800 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Yimba, Yumba. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Limba.
Limba, West-Central
[lia] Northern province: east Bombali and northeast Kambia districts, Little Scarcies river area; north of Makeni. Users: 516,000 (2019). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial working language in Northern province (2004, Local Government Act, Article 16(1)), may be used in local council deliberations. Alternate Names: Yimba, Yumba. Autonym: Hulimba ha. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Limba.
Loko
[lok] Northern province: Bombali district; Bumpe, Koya, and Ribbi chiefdom areas; Sanda Loko chiefdom. Users: 208,000 (2019). Status: 5* (Developing). Autonym: Landogo. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Mende-Loma, Mende-Bandi, Mende-Loko.
Maninkakan, Eastern
[emk] Northern province: Koinadugu district, Kabala area; small groups throughout the country. Users: 161,000 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Alternate Names: Eastern Malinke, Kankan Maninka, Madingo, Malinké, Mande, Mandingo, Maninga, Maninka, Maninka-Mori, Maninkakan, Maninkaxan, Southern Malinke. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding.
Mende
[men] Eastern province: Kailahun, Kenema, and Pujehun districts; Northern province: Bombali and Moyamba districts’ border areas; along the coast and south and east; Southern province: most of interior. Users: 2,470,000 in Sierra Leone (2019). Total users in all countries: 2,511,600. Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial working language in Eastern and Northern provinces; also in Southern province interior (2004, Local Government Act, Article 16(1)). Alternate Names: Boumpe, Hulo, “Kossa” (pej.), “Kosso” (pej.). Autonym: Mɛnde, Mɛnde yia. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Mende-Loma, Mende-Bandi, Mende-Loko.
N’ko
[nqo] Scattered. Users: No known L1 speakers in Sierra Leone. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Status: 9 (Second language only). Classification: Mixed language.
Pular
[fuf] Widespread but especially north. Users: 277,000 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Fouta Dyalon, Fula, Fulbe, Fullo Fuuta, Futa, Futa Jallon, Fuuta Jalon. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Fula, West Central.
Sherbro
[bun] Southern province: Bonthe and Mayamba districts; Western Area: Rural district, Benducha, Ima, Nongoba, Ribbi, Shenge, Sicie, and Timdel; southwest coastal areas. Users: 208,000 (2019). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Amampa, Mampa, Mampwa, Shiba, Southern Bullom. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Bullom-Kissi, Bullom, Southern.
Sierra Leone Sign Language
[sgx] Western Area: Freetown district, scattered. Users: 39,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 23,000–46,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of total population. Another estimate: 200 deaf signers out of 3,000–5,000 total deaf (2008 WFD). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language.
Susu
[sus] Northern province: interspersed throughout western sections. Users: 184,000 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Sose, Soso, Sosoxui, Soussou, Susoo. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Susu-Yalunka.
Themne
[tem] Northern province: Bombali, Port Loko, and Tonkolili districts; west of Sewa river to Little Scarcie; Southern province: northwest Moyamba district; Western Area: Rural district. Users: 2,070,000, all users. L1 users: 1,830,000 (2019). L2 users: 240,000 (1981 D. Cranmer). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial working language in Northern province (3 districts), Southern province and Western Area (1 district each) (2004, Local Government Act, Article 16(1)). Alternate Names: Temen, Temne, Timene, Timmannee, Timne. Autonym: Themne. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Temne-Banta.
Vai
[vai] Southern province: Pujehun district, south corner. Users: 23,200 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Gallinas, Gallines, Vei, Vy. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Vai-Kono.
Yalunka
[yal] Northern province: Balaki subprefecture, Falaba and Yifin areas, Balaki, Bouria, Foulaya, Jouloubaya, Kunsi, and Solia villages. Users: 46,400 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Dialonke, Djallonke, Jalonke, Jalunga, Jalunga xuwiina’, Jalungas, Kjalonke, Yalunke. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Susu-Yalunka.
Yoruba
[yor] Users: 6,300 in Sierra Leone (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri.