Sierra Leone

Languages

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). Originated in the Atlantic slave trade of the 17th and 18th centuries when it was used to facilitate coastal trade between Europeans and Africans. Used as trade language and for social interaction among all 16 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