French Guiana

Summary

Official Name
Sovereignty Status: Overseas department and integral part of France
Population: 306,000
Principal Languages: French
General References: Butt 1966, Crevels 2007
Deaf Population: 220–1,800
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for French Guiana is 13. All are living languages. Of these, 7 are indigenous and 6 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 1 is institutional, 4 are developing, 5 are vigorous, 1 is in trouble, and 2 are dying. Also listed are 7 unestablished languages.

Languages

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc: Users: 1,470 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arawak arw: Northeast and Cayenne area, Balaté, Larivot, Saint-Sabat, and Sainte-Rose de Lima communities. Users: 380 in French Guiana (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 1,500 (Crevels 2012). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Lokono, Lokono Dian Classification: Maipurean, Northern, Maritime, Ta-Maipurean
Aukan djk: Cayenne islands, Iracoubo, Kourou, Macuria, Mana, St. Laurent Sinnemarie. Suriname border. Users: 22,500 in French Guiana (2019), increasing, based on ethnicity. 6,000 monolinguals. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Businenge Tongo, Businengee Tongo, Eastern Maroon Creole, Ndyuka, Nenge, Nenge Tongo, Nengee, Nengee Tongo, Okanisi tongo, “Taki-Taki” (pej.) Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Suriname, Ndyuka
Carib car: Northwest coast, along lower Mana and Maroni rivers east of Maroni river mouth, Iracoubo and Organabo areas between Kourou and Mana. Users: 2,400 in French Guiana (Crevels 2012). No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 4,000 (Crevels 2012). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Caribe, Cariña, Galibi, Kalihna, Kalin’a, Kalinya, Kari’na, Kari’na auran, Kari’ña Classification: Cariban
Chinese, Hakka hak: Cayenne, Kourou, Macouria, Matoury, and Remire-Montjoly communes, especially in urban concentrations. Central coast. Users: 14,700 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
French fra: Widespread. Users: 219,000 in French Guiana, all users. L1 users: 24,000 in French Guiana (2020 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 195,000 (Marcoux et al 2022). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1958, French Constitution, Article 2). Alternate Names: Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
French Sign Language fsl: Scattered. Users: 300 in French Guiana (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated, assuming 0.1% of total population. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: LSF, Langue des signes française Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Guianese French Creole gcr: Widespread. Users: 134,000 (2019), based on ethnicity. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: French Guianese French Creole, Guyanais, Guyane, Guyane Creole, Patois, Patwa Classification: Creole, French based
Guyanese English Creole gyn: Users: 4,200 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Eastern, Southern
Haitian Creole hat: Users: 23,500 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, French based
Hindustani, Sarnami hns: Users: 11,800 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bihari
Hmong Njua hnj: Users: 4,300 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Hmong-Mien, Hmongic, Chuanqiandian
Javanese, Suriname jvn: Awala-Yalimapo commune. Coastal area. Users: 2,940 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Caribbean Javanese, Jawa Suriname Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Javanese
Palikúr plu: Central coast and lower Oyapock river. Users: 250 in French Guiana (Queixalos 2000). No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 1,500 (Crevels 2012). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Pa’ikwaki, Palicur, Palikour Classification: Maipurean, Northern, Eastern, Palikur
Portuguese por: Users: 14,200 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
Saramaccan srm: Widespread. Users: 3,000 in French Guiana (2019), decreasing, based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Creole, English based
Sranan Tongo srn: Users: 17,600 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Suriname
Tekó eme: Brazil border area, at the confluence of Camopi and Oiapock rivers; Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni district: Maroni river area, on Suriname border. Users: 400 (Crevels 2012), increasing. Ethnic population: 400 (Crevels 2012). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Emereñon, Emerillon, Emerilon, Melejo, Mereo, Mereyo, Teco Classification: Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Wayampí, Wayampí
Wayampi oym: Upper Oyapock river in 2 settlements, one near Camopi, the other south along Oyapock headwaters. Users: 750 in French Guiana (Crevels 2012), increasing. Ethnic population: 750 (Crevels 2012). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Oiampí, Oiumpian, Oyampí, Oyapí, Wajãpi, Wayapi, Wayãpi Classification: Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Wayampí, Wayampí
Wayana way: Southwestern border area, along upper Maroni river. Users: 1,000 in French Guiana (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 1,000 (Crevels 2012). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Alukuyana, Guayana, Oayana, Uaiana, Upurui, Wayâna Classification: Cariban, Central, Wayana

Languages by Status

1 (National)

French

[fra] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1958, French Constitution, Article 2). 219,000 in French Guiana, all users. L1 users: 24,000 in French Guiana (2020 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 195,000 (Marcoux et al 2022).

5 (Dispersed)

Chinese, Hakka

[hak] 5* (Dispersed). 14,700 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity.

5 (Developing)

Aukan

[djk] 5 (Developing). 22,500 in French Guiana (2019), increasing, based on ethnicity. 6,000 monolinguals.

Javanese, Suriname

[jvn] 5* (Developing). 2,940 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity.

Saramaccan

[srm] 5* (Developing). 3,000 in French Guiana (2019), decreasing, based on ethnicity.

6a (Vigorous)

French Sign Language

[fsl] 6a* (Vigorous). 300 in French Guiana (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated, assuming 0.1% of total population.

Guianese French Creole

[gcr] 6a* (Vigorous). 134,000 (2019), based on ethnicity.

Tekó

[eme] 6a (Vigorous). 400 (Crevels 2012), increasing. Ethnic population: 400 (Crevels 2012).

Wayampi

[oym] 6a (Vigorous). 750 in French Guiana (Crevels 2012), increasing. Ethnic population: 750 (Crevels 2012).

Wayana

[way] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,000 in French Guiana (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 1,000 (Crevels 2012).

6b (Threatened)

Carib

[car] 6b (Threatened). 2,400 in French Guiana (Crevels 2012). No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 4,000 (Crevels 2012).

8a (Moribund)

Arawak

[arw] 8a (Moribund). 380 in French Guiana (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 1,500 (Crevels 2012).

Palikúr

[plu] 8a (Moribund). 250 in French Guiana (Queixalos 2000). No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 1,500 (Crevels 2012).

Unestablished

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken

[apc] Unestablished. 1,470 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity.

Guyanese English Creole

[gyn] Unestablished. 4,200 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity.

Haitian Creole

[hat] Unestablished. 23,500 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity.

Hindustani, Sarnami

[hns] Unestablished. 11,800 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity.

Hmong Njua

[hnj] Unestablished. 4,300 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity.

Portuguese

[por] Unestablished. 14,200 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity.

Sranan Tongo

[srn] Unestablished. 17,600 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity.

Maps

French Guiana and Suriname

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in French Guiana with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for French Guiana is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in French Guiana with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for French Guiana is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for French Guiana in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

View Terms
Each Ethnologue country digest is a licensed product with restricted terms of use. Before downloading the product, you must agree to the following terms:
- This is a license for individual use. Just as with a conventionally published book, it is a violation of copyright to make a copy and give it to others.
- You may not redistribute this work in any form, including ingesting the contents into a database that is shared with others or posting it on a web site (whether public or private).
To inquire about permission for reuse or redistribution, please use the Contact Us form in the footer.
I agree to the digest terms of use.
Digest of the languages of French Guiana ($149.95, 24 page PDF)

French Guiana

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

French Guiana and Suriname

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action