Mauritius - Language

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Like many reputable holiday companies we are ABTA registered, our ABTA membership number is 65310.

We also use ATOL protected tour operators. However if you wish to use a tour operator who is not ATOL protected then we will take our supplier failure insurance on your behalf.

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As in Mauritius, the Creole language is a powerful unifying force amongst Réunionnais of every ethnic origin. French is the island’s official language and is spoken by the majority of the population in formal situations, but amongst friends and family the user-friendly Creole is favoured. It is not identical to the Creole of neighbouring Mauritius but there are similarities as both derive largely from French with some African, Malagasy and local terms thrown in. There is no grammar and the language is written phonetically, according to the writer’s whims.

Réunionnais have been battling for some time to have Creole recognised as a language and taught in schools. When I taught in Réunion it was very clear that the pupils confused Creole and French without realising it, thereby dragging their marks down when it came to examinations (which are all taken in French). Many people campaigned for Creole to be taught in schools so that children would grow up treating it as a separate language from French. Thankfully, in 2002, the first trainee teacher of Creole qualified at the University of St-Denis and Creole is now an optional subject on the school curriculum.

Although it is taught in schools, very little English is spoken in Réunion. Anglophone visitors are still a novelty, so locals patiently make every effort to help and to understand those who struggle to communicate in French.

For some handy Creole phrases see Appendix 1, Language, page 347.

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