Suriname

Languages

Akurio ako

Sipaliwini district: Trio villages Tëpu, Kwamalasamutu, and Palumeu on Tapanahoni and Sipaliwini rivers. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last known speaker survived into the first decade of the 2000s; 2 semi-speakers (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 40 (Crevels 2012). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Akoerio, Akuliyo, Akuri, Akurijo, Akuriyo, Oyaricoulet, Triometesem, Triometesen, Wama, Wayaricuri Classification: Cariban, Tiriyó, Tiriyó

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc

Users: 1,200 in Suriname (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arawak arw

Commewijne and Para districts: villages from coast to 30 km inland, mainly on the savanna. Users: 500 in Suriname (Crevels 2012). Very few monolinguals. Ethnic population: 2,000 (Crevels 2012). Total users in all countries: 2,510. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Araguaco, Arahuaco, Arahuacos, Arawac, Arowak, Arrowukas, Aruak, Aruaqui, Arwuak, Lokono, Luccumi Autonym: Lokono Dian Classification: Maipurean, Northern, Maritime, Ta-Maipurean

Aukan djk

Brokopondo district: Sarakreek commune; Commewijne district: Bakkie, Meerzog, and Tamanredjo communes; Marowijne district: Moengo, Patamacca, and Wanhatti communes; Para district: Carolina commune; Sipaliwini district: Tapanahony commune; Aluku dialect: French Guiana border; Paramaccan dialect: Northeast. Users: 45,300 in Suriname (2018). 1,550 monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 67,800. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Aukaans, Businenge Tongo, Businengee Tongo, Eastern Maroon Creole, Ndjuká, Ndyuka, Ndyuka tongo, Nenge, Nenge Tongo, Nengee Tongo, Njuká, Okanisi, “Djoeka” (pej.), “Djuka” (pej.) Autonym: Okanisi tongo Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Suriname, Ndyuka

Carib car

Coronie district: Welgelegen commune; Marowijne district: Albina and Galibi communes; Para district: Bigi Poika commune; Saramacca district: Calcutta commune; Sipaliwini district: Boven Coppename commune. Users: 1,200 in Suriname (Carlin 2001). Ethnic population: 3,000 (Crevels 2012). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Caribe, Cariña, Galibí, Kali’na, Kalihna, Kalinya, Kara’ibs, Kari’na, Kari’na auran, Kari’nja, Kari’nya, Kari’ña, Karìna, Maraworno Classification: Cariban

Chinese, Hakka hak

Saramacca district: scattered. Users: 9,000 in Suriname (2018), decreasing. Ethnic population: 12,000 (1971). Includes Yue [yue]. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Kejia Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese

Chinese, Yue yue

Para, Paramaribo, and Wanica districts. Users: 6,700 in Suriname (2018). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese

Dutch nld

Users: 126,200 in Suriname, all users. L1 users: 1,200 in Suriname (2018). L2 users: 125,000 (2005). Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Alternate Names: Nederlands Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian

English eng

Scattered. Users: 202,200 in Suriname, all users. L1 users: 1,200 in Suriname (2019). L2 users: 201,000 (2019). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Engels Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English

Guyanese English Creole gyn

Nickerie district: Courantyne river mouth. Users: 68,000 in Suriname (2018). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Creolese, Gaiyniiz, Guyanese Creole Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Eastern, Southern

Hindustani, Sarnami hns

Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, and Wanica districts; north coast. Users: 153,000 in Suriname (2018). Ethnic population: 160,000 (2003). Total users in all countries: 299,400. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Caribbean Bharatiya, Caribbean Hindi, Caribbean Hindustani, Caribbean Urdu, Sarnami Hindi, Sarnami Hindoestani Autonym: Sarnaanie Hiendoestaanie Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bihari

Indonesian ind

Users: 18,900 in Suriname (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay

Javanese, Suriname jvn

Commewijne, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, and Wanica districts; north coast. Users: 75,500 in Suriname (2018). Total users in all countries: 78,440. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Caribbean Javanese, Surinaams Javaans Autonym: Jawa Suriname Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Javanese

Kwinti kww

Sipaliwini district: Coppename river area, upstream from Kaimanstan and Witagron. Users: 250 (2018), decreasing. Status: 6b (Threatened). Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Suriname, Ndyuka

Mawayana mzx

Sipaliwini district. Users: 2 in Suriname (2013 M. Michels), decreasing. Ethnic population: 40 (Crevels 2012). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Classification: Maipurean, Unclassified

Ndyuka-Trio Pidgin njt

Sipaliwini district: upper Tapanahonij river. Users: No known L1 speakers. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Status: 9 (Second language only). Classification: Pidgin

Saramaccan srm

Brokopondo district: Brownsweg, Centrum, Klasskreek, and Kwakoegron, communes, small border area; Para district: Bigi Poika commune; Paramaribo district; Sipaliwini district: Boven Saramaccan and Boven Suriname communes. Users: 31,500 in Suriname (2018). Total users in all countries: 34,500. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Saramaccaans Autonym: Saamáka Classification: Creole, English based

Sign Language of the Netherlands dse

Scattered. Users: 2,000 in Suriname (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 1,100–2,300 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of total population. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language

Sikiana sik

Sipaliwini district: Kwamalasamutu area on Sipaliwini river. Users: 12 in Suriname (Crevels 2012), decreasing. Ethnic population: 60 (Crevels 2012). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Chikena, Sikiuyana, Sikiyana, Sikïiyana, Tshikiana Classification: Cariban, Kashuyana

Spanish spa

Users: 3,300 in Suriname (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian

Sranan Tongo srn

Widespread. Users: 291,000 in Suriname, all users. L1 users: 141,000 in Suriname (2018). L2 users: 150,000 (2016). Total users in all countries: 669,600 (as L1: 519,600; as L2: 150,000). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Suriname’s lingua franca since 1725. First used as communication among slaves, trade language. Now used by majority of people. Alternate Names: Sranan, Surinaams, Suriname Creole English, Surinamese, “Taki-Taki” (pej.) Autonym: Sranan Tongo Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Suriname

Trió tri

Sipaliwini district: Kwamalasamutu on Sipaliwini river, Palumeu on Palumeu river, Tëpu on upper Tapanahoni river. Users: 1,300 in Suriname (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 1,300 (Crevels 2012). Total users in all countries: 2,460. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Tiriyó, Tirió Autonym: Tarëno ijomi Classification: Cariban, Tiriyó, Tiriyó

Waiwai waw

Sipaliwini district: Kwamalasamutu area, Sipaliwini river, among Trio [tri] language speakers. Users: 10 in Suriname (Crevels 2007), decreasing. Ethnic population: 80 (Crevels 2007). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Katuena Classification: Cariban, Waiwai

Warao wba

Nickerie district: near Guyana border. Users: 500 in Suriname (2018). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Guarao, Guarauno, Warrau Classification: Language isolate

Wayana way

Marowijne district: upper Tapanahoni river; northwest of Trio [tri] language speakers. Users: 450 in Suriname (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 450 (Crevels 2012). Total users in all countries: 1,740. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Alukuyana, Ayana, Oayana, Oiana, Oyana, Roucouyenne, Uaiana, Upurui, Wajana Autonym: Wayâna Classification: Cariban, Central, Wayana