Languages of Monaco

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The official language of Monaco is French, but there are several languages spoken, including Monégasque, the national language of the Monegasque people.

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[edit] French

French is the only official language in Monaco, a result of the dominant role France has long had over the microstate (see Franco-Monegasque Treaty). French nationals make up 47% of the population, forming the principality's largest population group (larger than even Monegasque nationals).

[edit] Monégasque

A bilingual French-Monégasque street sign
A bilingual French-Monégasque street sign

Monégasque is the national language of the Monegasque people (who represent only 16% of the total population). It is a dialect of Genoese, somewhat similar to Italian. At his coronation, Albert II, Prince of Monaco, made a speech to his people in the language.

[edit] Occitan

Occitan (or Lenga d'òc) has also traditionally been spoken in Monaco (particularly when it covered a larger geographical territory), but it is rarely used today.

[edit] Italian

Standard Italian is also a major language in Monaco. Italian nationals make up some 16% of the total population.

[edit] English

There is also an English-speaking community in Monaco, and many English-speaking tourists and vacationers visit the city.

[edit] Other

Some 125 nationalities make up the population of Monaco, meaning that a very wide variety of languages are spoken by the 21% of the population which is not French, Italian, or Monegasque.

Languages