Kabuverdianu

A language of Cape Verde Islands

Location

Widespread.

Also spoken in:

Expand All

Collapse All

Angola

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

65,000 in Angola (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use Portuguese [por].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Angola

Argentina

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

14,000 in Argentina (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use Spanish [spa].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Argentina

Brazil

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

4,000 in Brazil (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use Portuguese [por].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Brazil

Canada

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

4,000 in Canada (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use English [eng]. Many also use French [fra].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Canada

France

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

26,000 in France (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use French [fra].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of France

Gabon

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

3,000 in Gabon (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use French [fra].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Gabon

Germany

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

3,000 in Germany (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use Standard German [deu].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Germany

Guinea-Bissau

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

2,300 in Guinea-Bissau (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use Guinea-Bissau Creole [pov]. Most also use Portuguese [por].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Guinea-Bissau

Italy

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

4,100 in Italy (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Primarily women taken by Italian tourists to serve as house help in Italy (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante). Most also use Italian [ita].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Italy

Luxembourg

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

3,300 in Luxembourg (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use French [fra]. Some also use Luxembourgish [ltz]. Some also use Standard German [deu].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Luxembourg

Mozambique

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

2,000 in Mozambique (2017).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use Portuguese [por].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Mozambique

Netherlands

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

20,800 in Netherlands (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use Dutch [nld].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Netherlands

Portugal

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

63,900 in Portugal (2007 J. Leclerc), increasing.

Location

Primarily in the neighborhoods on the outskirts of Lisbon.

Language Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Vigorous. All home, all community, some religion, some work, and some education. Used by all, in predominantly Cape Verdean School districts. Mixed attitudes. The Portuguese tend to view Kabuverdianu as a perversion of the Portuguese language, which has a negative impact on the self image of L1 speakers. Most also use Portuguese [por]. Used as L2 by Portuguese [por].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Kabuverdianu is the second most commonly spoken language in Portugal.

View other languages of Portugal

São Tomé e Príncipe

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

17,500 in São Tomé e Príncipe (2019 D. Eberhard). Based on 2012 census with extrapolations for 2019. Ethnic population: Estimates of ethnic population unreliable due to high rate of mixed marriages and increased awareness of national identity (2020 M. Bouchard).

Location

Highest concentration in Príncipe province. Others scattered throughout São Tomé province.

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Language Use

Some of all ages. Positive attitudes. All also use Portuguese [por]. Some also use Sãotomense [cri]. Used as L2 by Kimbundu [kmb], Principense [pre].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Descendants of Cape Verdeans were imported by the Portuguese as indentured laborers in the 1800s to work on the plantations, following the freeing of the slaves in São Tomé e Príncipe (2018 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

View other languages of São Tomé e Príncipe

Senegal

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

39,000 in Senegal (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use French [fra]. Most also use Wolof [wol].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Senegal

Spain

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

3,100 in Spain (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use Spanish [spa].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Spain

Switzerland

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

2,100 in Switzerland (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use French [fra]. Many also use Swiss German [gsw].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Switzerland

United States

Language NameKabuverdianu

User Population

425,000 in United States (2010 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante).

Location

Massachusetts, Rhode Island.

Dialects

Kabuverdianu Sotavento.

Language Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Vigorous. All home, all community; some religion, some work, some education. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Primary language of identity for the Cape Verdean community.

Language Development

Taught in some primary schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island where there are large populations of Cape Verdean children in the schools. Kabuverdianu is also used as a bridge to teach English.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Descendants of Cape Verdeans taken to New England in the 1800s to work in the whaling industry, plus subsequent chain migration of family members.

View other languages of United States

Kabuverdianu

Primary tabs

A language of Cape Verde Islands

Also spoken in:

Browse by

25th Edition

Products

Related Sites