Socotra is a part of Yemen, so Arabic is the official language of Socotra. However, the native island locals of Socotra also speak Soqotri.
What is Soqotri?
Soqotri is the main language spoken by the Soqotri people, who are the native inhabitants of the island of Socotra. It is often confused with Arabic, and does have some similarities, but it is its own language. There are different dialects of Soqotri, and different parts of the island (and surrounding islands) will speak slightly different variations. It is one of six languages in the MSAL (Modern South Arabia Languages) group. Because Soqotri has been passed down orally for generations, there is actually no traditional writing system for it. Only in the last 15 years have researchers attempted to develop a script and system for writing Soqotri.
Is Arabic spoken on Socotra?
Arabic is widely spoken on Socotra and is actually putting Soqotri in danger of becoming a lost language. Arabic is the main language used in schools, and the younger generations tend to use it more than Soqotri, or mix Arabic words and phrases into Soqotri. Adding to this is that Soqotri can be difficult to learn without an official writing system. Those seeking work in Socotra typically must speak Arabic, so even native Soqotri speakers are typically bilingual.
Is English spoken on Socotra?
English is not widely spoken on Socotra, however because it does have a fairly large tourism scene, there are many people who are fluent in English. Your guides will likely have good English skills, and those in tourist-facing jobs (like those in hotel receptions) will likely have some basic English skills. It is a good idea to have a language translation app with Arabic downloaded on your phone just in case, though you are required to have a guide in Socotra anyway, and they should of course be able to help you translate anything you need.
