Kreol Morisien, everyone's language
The mother tongue of most Mauritians, Kreol has been taught in schools since 2012. Its history, its rules and 15 handy phrases.
The common language
In Mauritius, English is the language of government and Parliament and French that of much of the media, but the language you hear everywhere is Kreol Morisien (Mauritian Creole). Spoken by the great majority of people, whatever their background, it is the island's true common tongue.
Origins
Born during the era of slavery under French rule, Kreol takes most of its vocabulary from French, sometimes with new meanings: gagn (from "gagner", to win) means "to get". It has also borrowed from Malagasy, East African languages, Portuguese, English, Indian languages and Chinese: minn (noodle) is one example. The French article has often fused with the noun: lera (rat), letan (time).
A simple, logical grammar
Verbs don't conjugate; small particles mark tense: pe (in the middle of), ti (past), finn (completed), pou (future). Mo pe manze means "I am eating"; negation uses pa. Plurals are often marked with bann.
A rising status
An official spelling system, the Lortograf Kreol Morisien, was recognised in 2011, followed by a grammar in 2012. That same year Kreol was introduced as an optional subject in primary schools, and later in secondary schools. The language is overseen by the Akademi Kreol Morisien. In Parliament, the Constitution makes English the Assembly's official language, with French permitted; in 2026 a process was launched, through a select committee, to look at using Kreol in debates.
15 useful phrases
The spellings below follow common usage; you will come across variants.
| Kreol | Français | English |
|---|---|---|
| Bonzour | Bonjour | Hello / Good morning |
| Bonswar | Bonsoir | Good evening |
| Ki manyer? | Comment ça va ? | How are you? |
| Mo byen, mersi | Je vais bien, merci | I'm fine, thanks |
| Mersi | Merci | Thank you |
| Ki ou nom? | Comment vous appelez-vous ? | What's your name? |
| Mo nom li… | Je m'appelle… | My name is… |
| Komie sa? | Combien ça coûte ? | How much is it? |
| Kot twalet? | Où sont les toilettes ? | Where's the toilet? |
| Mo pa konpran | Je ne comprends pas | I don't understand |
| Mo pa kone | Je ne sais pas | I don't know |
| Wi, enn tigit | Oui, un peu | Yes, a little |
| Pa tro pike | Pas trop épicé | Not too spicy |
| Bon apeti | Bon appétit | Enjoy your meal |
| Orevwar | Au revoir | Goodbye |
A tip
Mauritians really appreciate visitors who try a few words of Kreol. A simple "Bonzour, ki manyer?" will win you plenty of smiles.
Sources
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