Congo Languages

Congo Languages

Congo languages you may hear on your OverlandingAfrica.com trip include the official language of French, as well as other tribal languages.

French is spoken and used in all government and official documents, and is spoken by many Congolese – especially in major cities and tourist-focused areas.

English is hardly ever spoken, but may be understood by some locals in the capital or tourist regions.

There are two national languages which are used for trade, these include Lingala and Kituba. Both are linguae francae among most people, especially common people in cities and main areas.

The largest number of Congo people is concentrated along the railroad between Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville in the south where Kituba is spoken widely.

Kikongo is widely spoken in many areas including the Pool Region, around Boko, and west and northwest of Brazzaville. Kikongo is also the base of the Kituba language which is a pidgin variation of the language mostly used for trade purposes.

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