Cameroon is a fascinatingly diverse linguistic landscape with two official languages, French and English, stemming directly from its colonial history. French is the dominant language, spoken by roughly 56% of the population, while English is used by about 23%. This bilingual setup reflects the historical division of Cameroon between French and British colonial rule, which continues to impact the country's politics and regional identities.
Around 41% of Cameroon’s population lives in the anglophone regions mainly along the border with Nigeria, comprising the Northwest and Southwest regions.
Despite the official bilingualism policy, effective bilingual capability is limited; likely only around 10-12% of Cameroonians speak both French and English fluently. Even more shocking is that nearly one third of the population are not literate in either official language, which poses challenges for education and national cohesion.
Beyond the official languages, Cameroon is home to an extraordinary number of indigenous languages with over 250. These belong to multiple language families, including Niger-Congo, Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan, and Ubangian, making Cameroon one of the most linguistically diverse countries in Africa. Unfortunately, many of these indigenous languages face decline, with a few becoming extinct and others at risk due to modernisation and the dominance of French and English.
What language is spoken in Douala, the biggest city?
Duala is the main local language spoken in Douala, Cameroon. It is a Bantu language with deep cultural roots in the region and remains widely used in everyday life.
Here is a list of common phrases and words in Duala to help travellers communicate:
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Welcome: Pô la ɓwâm
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Hello (general): Mônè Idiɓà á ɓwâm ě
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How are you?: É ma alā nɛ̂? Njé yé péɲá? (What's new?)
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I'm fine: É ma ala
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My name is ...: Díná lâm nā ...
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Where are you from?: O e ndé mun'a we?
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Goodbye: Póndá nípɛ́pɛ̄
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Yes: Ee
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No: Kɛm
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Please: Son
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Thank you: Na sôm
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Excuse me: Lakisɛ mba
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Sorry: Lakise mba
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Help!: Ongwane mba
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Leave me alone!: Esele mba musango!
These phrases provide practical communication tools for simple interactions in Douala while also showing respect for local language and culture. Knowing some Duala phrases can greatly enhance your experience in the city beyond just using official languages like French or English.
The multilingual nature of Cameroon is both a vibrant cultural asset and a challenge for national unity and development efforts, highlighting the country’s unique place as “Africa in miniature”, both linguistically and culturally.
