kri ISO 639

Krio Autonyms

Krio

  • Geography

    SL Western Area: Freetown peninsula communities; south of Freetown, York and Banana islands.
  • Language Cloud

A language of Sierra Leone

kri
Creole, Patois
Krio
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).
Western Area: Freetown peninsula communities; south of Freetown, York and Banana islands.
Sierra Leone
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.
Creole, English based, Atlantic, Krio
Aku. Krio and Jamaican Creole [jam], and Krio and Sea Islands Creole [gul] may have some interintelligibility. Linguistic influence from Yoruba [yor] (Hancock 1987).
Vigorous. More in provincial towns than villages, and for interethnic communication. Possibly half use Krio at work. Formal language for those who do not speak English [eng]. All domains, education. Used by all. Also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Mende [men], Northern Kissi [kqs], Susu [sus], Themne [tem], Yalunka [yal].
Literacy rate in L2: Less than 15% in English [eng]. Taught in primary schools through grade 3. Taught as subject in secondary schools in grades 7–9. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2013.
Latin script [Latn].
L1 Krio speakers mainly descendants of repatriated slaves from Jamaica. Traditional religion, Christian.
OLAC resources in and about Krio
Krio
2,530 in Australia (2016 census).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Krio
1,190 in United Kingdom (2011 census).
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
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Krio
16,200 in Gambia (2016).
Banjul region.
Aku.
Unestablished
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Gambia
Krio
7,380 in Senegal (2017).
Unestablished
Most also use Wolof [wol], as the language of commerce and interethnic communication. Many also use French [fra], as the language of education and government.
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Senegal
Krio
10,600 in United States (2015 census).
Unestablished
Most also use English [eng].
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of United States