France

Languages

Alsatian gsw

Grand-Est region: south and west bank of Rhine river. Users: 900,000 in France (2013). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Alemannic, Alemannisch, Alsacien, Elsaessisch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Alemannic

Arabic, Algerian Spoken arq

Users: 1,350,000 in France (2008 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Moroccan Spoken ary

Users: 1,140,000 in France (2008 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc

Users: 46,400 in France (2008 census). Ethnic population: 300,000 (2021 A. Dusséaux). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Tunisian Spoken aeb

Users: 447,000 in France (2008 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Armenian, Western hyw

Major cities. Users: 70,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Armenian

Arpitan frp

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Ain, north and central Isere, Loire, Rhone, and Savoy departments; Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region: Doubs, Haute-Alpes, south Jura, and Saone-et-Loire departments; Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: border area. Users: 150,000 in France (2013). Total users in all countries: 227,000. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Recognized language (2013, Law No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Franco-provençal, Patois, Romand, arpetan, francoprovençal, patouès Autonym: Arpitan Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, Southeastern

Basque eus

Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Pyrenees Atlantiques province, Labourd (Lapurdi) and Basse-Navarre departments, Bayonne and Soule areas; border with Spain. Users: 72,000 in France (2013). Ethnic population: 730,000 (Johnstone 1993). Status: 7 (Shifting). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Euskara Classification: Language isolate

Breton bre

Brittany region: Finistere, western Cotes-d’Armor, and western Morbihan departments; elsewhere dispersed. Users: 206,000 (2013 R. Milin), decreasing. Status: 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Autonym: Brezhoneg Classification: Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Brythonic

Caló rmq

Occitania region. Users: 15,000 in France. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Gitano, Iberian Romani Classification: Mixed language, Iberian-Romani

Catalan cat

Occitania region: Pyrenees-Orientales department. Users: 126,000 in France (2013). Status: 5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), education. Alternate Names: Català Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, East Iberian

Cham, Western cja

Users: 1,000 in France. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Chamic, Coastal, Cham

Corsican cos

Corsica region; possibly in Marseilles, Paris, other urban centers. Users: 150,000 in France (2013), decreasing. Ethnic population: 315,000 (2017). Total users in all countries: 151,000. Status: 6b (Threatened). Statutory language of provincial identity in Corsica (2002, Act. No. 2002-92 (22 Jan) on Corsica, Article 7), mainly used in education. Alternate Names: Corse, Corsi, Corso Autonym: Corsu Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Corsican

English eng

Widespread. Users: 26,436,000 in France, all users. L1 users: 236,000 in France (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. L2 users: 26,200,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: anglais Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English

Erromintxela emx

Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Users: 500 in France (2009 J. McLaughlin). Total users in all countries: 1,000. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Basque Caló, Basque Romani, Caló Vasco, Errumantxela, Euskado-romani, Euskado-rromani Autonym: Erromintxela Classification: Mixed language, Basque-Romani

French fra

Users: 63,900,000 in France, all users. L1 users: 62,400,000 in France (2020). L2 users: 1,500,000 (2018). Total users in all countries: 274,072,940 (as L1: 79,873,670; as L2: 194,199,270). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1958, Constitution, Article 2.1). Autonym: français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French

French Sign Language fsl

Scattered. Users: 100,000 in France (2019 Fédération Nationale des Sourds de France). Approximately 0.15% of the total population. Other estimates: 80,000 (1998 D. Gillot), 119,000 deaf signers (2010 Association Française des Interprètes en Language des Signes), 169,000 deaf (2014 IMB), 300,000 (2019 EUD). Approximately 1,000 use the southern variety, called Marseille Sign Language (Sallagoity 1975). Total users in all countries: 103,405. Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2005, Code de l’éducation, Partie législative, Deuxième partie, Livre III, Titre 1er, Chapitre II, Article L312-9-1, Section 3 bis), Recognized as a complete language for use in education. Alternate Names: LSF, Langue des signes française Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language

German, Standard deu

Users: 4,000,000 in France (2020), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Allemand, Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German

Hmong Daw mww

Users: 10,000 in France. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Hmong-Mien, Hmongic, Chuanqiandian

Italian ita

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions: Nice, Provence, and Savoy. Users: 829,000 in France (2008 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Italiano, Italien Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian

Kabuverdianu kea

Users: 26,000 in France (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, Portuguese based

Kabyle kab

Users: 537,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Kabyle

Khmer khm

Users: 50,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Khmer

Khmu kjg

Users: 1,500 in France (2010). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Khmuic, Mal-Khmu’, Khmu’

Lesser Antillean French Creole acf

Users: 150,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, French based

Ligurian lij

Corsica region: Bonifacio town; Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: between Italy and Monaco borders. Users: 300–400 in Corsica (Salminen 2007). Status: 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Ligure Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian

Lorraine Franconian pfl

Grand-Est region: Lorraine, north and east. Users: 400,000 in France (2013). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Francique, Lottrìnger Plàtt, Plàtt Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, West Middle German

Luxembourgish ltz

Grand-Est region: Moselle river area, Germany border to Luxembourg, Thionville. Users: 40,000 in France (2001 J. Nousse). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Frankish, Luxembourgeois, Lëtzebuergesch, Platt Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, West Middle German, Moselle Franconian

Morisyen mfe

Users: 1,000 in France (2005). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, French based

Norman French nrf

Normandy: Manche department (Cotentinais dialect); Calvados and Orne departments (Augeron dialect); Seine-Maritime department (Cauchois dialect). Users: 17,000 in France (2015 M. Jones). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Normand, Normaund Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French

Occitan oci

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Ardeche, Cantal, Drome, Haute-Loire, Isere, Loire, and Puy-de-Dome departments; Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Charentes, Correze, and Haute-Vienne departments; Occitania region: all except Pyrenees-Orientales department; Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Users: 110,000 in France (Bernissan 2012). Total users in all countries: 218,310. Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Patois Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, Oc

Persian, Iranian pes

Users: 40,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian

Picard pcd

Hauts-de-France region: Abbeville, Amiens, Arras, Beauvais, Boulogne sur Mer, Calais (except Dunkerque district), Cambrai, Douai, Lille, Saint Quentin, and Valenciennes; Normandy region: near Dieppe, Picardie border. Users: 500,000 in France (Auger 2011). Total users in all countries: 700,000. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Chti, Chtimi, Patois, Patois de Nord, Roubaignot, Rouchi Autonym: Picard Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French

Portuguese por

Scattered. Corsica region; Hauts-de-France region: Roubaix, near Belgian border; Île-de-France region: Paris; Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Bordeaux; Occitania region: Toulouse. Users: 959,000 in France (2008 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Portugais, Português Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician

Romani, Balkan rmn

Users: 10,500 in France. 10,000 Arlija, 500 Dzambazi. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Balkan

Romani, Sinte rmo

Scattered. Users: 28,400 in France (2000). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Romanes, Sinte, Sinti, Tsigane Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern

Romani, Vlax rmy

Users: 10,000 in France. 8,000 Kalderash, 2,000 Lovari. Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Rom, Romanes, Tsigane, Vlax Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Vlax

Shuadit sdt

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: Avignon area. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last known speaker, Armand Lunel, died in 1977. Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Judeo-Comtadine, Judeo-Provençal, Shuadi Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, Oc

Spanish spa

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Lyon; Île-de-France region: Paris; Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Bordeaux; Occitania region: Toulouse; Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: Marseilles and Nice. Users: 6,451,000 in France, all users. L1 users: 461,000 in France (2020). L2 users: 5,990,000 (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Castillan, Espagnol, Español Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian

Tamazight, Central Atlas tzm

Users: 150,000 in France (1995). All Berber speakers 1,500,000 in France. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Atlas

Turkish tur

Users: 444,000 in France (2008 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish

Vietnamese vie

Users: 10,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Ethnic population: 592,000 (2000). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong, Vietnamese

West Flemish vls

Hauts-de-France region: Dunkerque area and southeast to Belgium border. Users: 30,000 in France (2013). Status: 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Flamand, Frans Vlaams, Vlaams, Vlaemsch, Vlamingen, flamand occidental Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian

Wolof wol

Users: 35,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Wolof