Haitian Creole

Haitian Creole (Kreyòl ayisyen) is a creole language spoken by about 8.5 million people in Haiti. There are a further 3.5 million speakers in a number of countries, including Canada, the USA, France, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, the Bahamas and other Caribbean countries.

Haitian Creole is based largely on French, with influences from various West African languages, such as Wolof, Fon and Ewe. The are two dialects: Fablas and Plateau.

Haitian Creole has been one of Haiti's official languages, along with French, since 1961. It is used to some extent in literature, newpapers, radio and TV. Many speakers are bilingual in Haitian Creole and French.