Sranan Tongo

A language of Suriname

Sranan, Surinaams, Suriname Creole English, Surinamese, “Taki-Taki” (pej.)

Sranan Tongo

291,000 in Suriname, all users. L1 users: 141,000 in Suriname (2018). L2 users: 150,000 (2016). Total users in all countries: 669,600 (as L1: 519,600; as L2: 150,000).

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps

French Guiana and Suriname

Language Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Suriname’s lingua franca since 1725. First used as communication among slaves, trade language. Now used by majority of people.

Classification

Creole, English based, Atlantic, Suriname

Dialects

None known. Reportedly similar to Ndyuka [njt], but with cultural differences. Reportedly many similarities to Krio [kri] of Sierra Leone.

Language Use

All domains. Used by all. Also use Dutch [nld]. Used as L2 by Arawak [arw], Aukan [djk], Carib [car], Dutch [nld], Hakka Chinese [hak], Kwinti [kww], Sarnami Hindustani [hns], Wayana [way], Yue Chinese [yue].