The multiracial culture of Mauritania has contributed to the growth of many
Mauritania languages. However, the language which has been recognized as the official or national language of Mauritania is Hassaniyya.
There are many other
Mauritania languages which are spoken regularly by different races of people in Mauritania. The six Mauritania languages including the Hassaniyya language have been honored as lively languages. These six are not the only languages spoken in Mauritania. There are also a many dialects in use by different castes, tribes or clans. But these have not been recognized officially.
Few foreign languages are also in use in Mauritania. Nearly 60000 people speak in the foreign languages in Mauritania like French, Bambara and Korean.
The 6 lively languages of Mauritania include:
- Hassaniyya - This language is spoken throughout the country of Mauritania. According to the 2002 estimates, the number of
- speakers of Hassaniyya was 24,75,000.
- Pulaar - The alternate name of this language is Peul. It is recorded that 1,50,000 people in Mauritania speak in this language.
- Imeraguen - It is spoken in a thin area between Nouadhibou and Cape Timiris near Nouakchott.
- Wolof - According to 1993 estimates this language was spoken by nearly 10000 people of Mauritania.
- Soninke - This language is spoken at Chamama Region in Mauritania.
- Zenaga - This language is spoken in a small area in Southern Mauritania between the Atlantic Coast and Mederdra.
