Languages of Mauritius

Where Every Word Tells a Story

A Linguistic Tapestry

One of the captivating facets of Mauritius is the myriad of languages woven into its social fabric.

Official & Administrative

The Mauritian Constitution recognizes English as the official language for parliament proceedings, though French may also be used to address the presiding authority. Due to past British colonial administration, English is used in government, public administration, healthcare, education, business, and courts.

Media & Culture

While English dominates official spheres, French is more prominent in mass media โ€” newspapers, television, radio, and magazines reflect the island’s deep Francophone roots.

Ethnic Heritage

The remnants of past colonizations have led to varied ethnic groups with their history and culture morphing the Mauritian society. It is common to hear locals interact in

Languages of the Island

Though most locals converse in Mauritian Creole or French, other languages are inculcated in the education system and cultural centers across the island.

English Official & Education
French Media & Daily Life
Kreol Morisien Most Spoken
Bhojpuri Indo-Mauritian Heritage
Hindi Cultural & Religious
Tamil South Indian Roots
Urdu Muslim Community
Mandarin Sino-Mauritian
Cantonese Hakka Community
Marathi Western India
Telugu Andhra Heritage
Malayalam Kerala Roots

Linguistic Expertise in Tourism

The tourism professionals are predominantly multilinguals with acute fluency in German, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin and so on. Being already well versed in English and French due to the island’s education system, a third language is a common skill for those in the tourism sector โ€” a way to better communicate and offer high-end services to guests from around the globe.

Learn Kreol Morisien

Mauritian Creole is the most spoken language on the island. The easiest way to connect with the locals is to learn some local wordings and enrich your experience.

01
"Allo"
Hello
Hello
02
"Bonzour"
Bonjour
Good morning
03
"Ki manier"
Comment allez-vous
How are you doing?
04
"Korek / Sa va"
ร‡a va
I'm fine
05
"Orevwar"
Au revoir
Good bye
06
"Silvouple"
S'il vous plaรฎt
Please
07
"Mersi"
Merci
Thank you
08
"Extra bon"
C'est super bon
It's really good
09
"Nou ale"
Allons-y
Let's go
10
"Manz ar li"
Ne baisse pas les bras
Don't give up

Hear It in Action

Listen to the melodic sounds of Kreol Morisien and immerse yourself in the local culture.

Basic Expressions to Get By

Essential phrases for everyday interactions during your stay in Mauritius.

๐Ÿ”

Mo p rod ene

Je cherche unโ€ฆ
I'm looking for...
๐Ÿ“

Kot nou ete la silvouple

S'il vous plaรฎt, nous sommes oรน
Where are we, please?
๐Ÿ’ฐ

Komien sa koute?

Cela coรปte combien?
How much is this?
๐Ÿค

Wi, mo kapav ed ou?

Oui, je peux vous aider?
Yes, can I help you?
๐Ÿงญ

Kotsa ou anvi ale

Oรน voulez-vous partir?
Where do you want to go?
๐ŸŒถ๏ธ

Eski ou kapav pas fr manzer-la tro fort silvouple

Est-ce que vous pouvez faire cela moins pimentรฉ s'il vous plaรฎt?
Can you make it less spicy, please?
๐Ÿ˜Š

Mo bien contan

Je suis trรจs contente
I am delighted
โœŒ๏ธ

Pena problem

Pas de soucis
No worries
๐Ÿ‘

Tou korek

ร‡a roule
All good
โฐ

Taler

Plus tard
Later