Seychelles Languages

The official languages of Seychelles are French, English, and Seychellois Creole.The French language was introduced to the country prior to the British taking control of it in 1794 and due to the similarities with Seychellois Creole, French remains a prevalent means of communication. English was brought to Seychelles with the colonisation of the islands by the United Kingdom who ruled the area for almost two centuries. Seychellois Creole is a language that derived from French Creole and now incorporates several English words and phrases.

In 2016, the population of Seychelles was estimated at 94, 677 and of these citizens, approximately 87% speak Seychellois Creole as a native language. 51% of the country speaks French as a first or second language and 38% speak English which is usually a second or third language of many in the country. The majority of government dealings and business in Seychelles are conducted in English and 98% of children are literate in Seychellois Creole, French, and/or English.

As mentioned earlier, English has been a common method of communication in Seychelles since the late 1700s. Many English phrases will come in handy, but locals appreciate any effort in speaking Seychellois Creole. This Creole language sounds very similar to French and tourists have found that this language helps them understand the local dialect a lot better. French phrases such as "bonjour" (hello) and "merci" (thank-you) are very useful and every local will understand basic French and English.

Aside from European and African languages, Seychelles is home to small communities of South Indians and Asians who speak their native tongues. Dravidian languages such as Kannada, Malayalam, and Telugu are common among immigrants from India living in the country. There is a small number of Tamil immigrants (from India and Sri Lanka) living in Seychelles who speak the Tamil language. Seychelles is also home to a small population of Chinese citizens.