kri ISO 639
Krio Autonyms
Krio
Visualizations
A language of Sierra Leone
- ISO 639
- kri
- Alternate Names
- Creole, Patois
- Autonym
- Krio
- Population
- 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).
- Location
- Western Area: Freetown peninsula communities; south of Freetown, York and Banana islands.
- Language Maps
- Sierra Leone
- Language 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.
- Classification
- Creole, English based, Atlantic, Krio
- Dialects
- Aku. Krio and Jamaican Creole [jam], and Krio and Sea Islands Creole [gul] may have some interintelligibility. Linguistic influence from Yoruba [yor] (Hancock 1987).
- Language Use
- 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].
- Language Development
- 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.
- Writing
- Latin script [Latn].
- Other Comments
- L1 Krio speakers mainly descendants of repatriated slaves from Jamaica. Traditional religion, Christian.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Krio
Also Spoken in
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Australia
Language Name
Krio
User Population
2,530 in Australia (2016 census).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of United Kingdom
Language Name
Krio
User Population
1,190 in United Kingdom (2011 census).
- Location
- Banjul region.
- Dialects
- Aku.
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Gambia
Language Name
Krio
User Population
16,200 in Gambia (2016).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Language Use
- 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.
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Senegal
Language Name
Krio
User Population
7,380 in Senegal (2017).
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Language Use
- Most also use English [eng].
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of United States
Language Name
Krio
User Population
10,600 in United States (2015 census).
