by Laura Jones
Published on May 27, 2024
The Monegasque language: Exploring Monaco’s languages
Covering just two square kilometers and with a population of about 40,000, Monaco is a tiny principality with an outsized reputation. It’s best known for its Monte-Carlo district, home of the famous Monte Carlo Casino, and for hosting Formula One competitions and mega yachts.
Monaco is entirely surrounded by France, and the official language in the country is French. However, the unique Monegasque language (Munegascu) is one of Monaco’s traditional languages. In this article, we’ll discuss who speaks the language and where it comes from. We’ll also teach you a few phrases in Monegasque.
Monaco lies on the Côte d’Azur, about 14 kilometers east of the French city of Nice. The country is also very close to the Italian border, which is just eight kilometers east of Monaco. Both of these countries have had a strong influence on Monaco, culturally and linguistically, and have contributed a large proportion of the population.
The Monegasques (people from Monaco) make up around a quarter of Monaco’s residents, and people of French nationality account for about another quarter. Just behind that come Italians, and then people of other nationalities, including British, Swiss and Belgian. With so many foreign residents and large numbers of tourists, Monaco is a truly cosmopolitan country.
Before we talk about Monegasque, let’s discuss the other languages spoken in Monaco.
The majority of the population speaks French, making Monaco one of the world’s many French-speaking countries. French is the mother tongue of around 50% of Monaco’s residents (many Monegasques speak French as a first language). French is widely used in business in Monaco; in 2021, around 62% of the workers in Monaco were French. If you’re planning to visit Monaco, try to pick up some French before you go.
English is also widely spoken in Monaco, as it serves as a common language among the country’s diverse residents. In contrast, the Monegasque language is spoken by only about 5,000 people in Monaco — that’s around 13% of the country’s residents or a little more than half of the total Monegasque population.
In Monaco, Monegasque is called a lenga d’i nostri avi (the language of our ancestors). It was originally based on the Genoese language but absorbed many of the neighboring dialects over the centuries. With the opening of the first casino in Monte-Carlo in the 1860s, Monaco attracted workers from the surrounding area — particularly Nice and the Piedmont and Liguria regions of Italy. These workers brought their own dialects into the mix of languages from which Monegasque ultimately evolved.
The Monegasque language was solely spoken until a committee was formed in 1924 to create a complementary written language. Despite their best efforts, Monegasque almost died out in the 1970s. It has since been brought back from the brink and is now taught in schools (and displayed proudly on Monaco’s bilingual road signs).
Here are a few words and phrases in Monegasque. If you speak Italian, you’re sure to find some words familiar.
| Monegasque | English |
| Bon giurnu/Bungiurnu | Hello |
| Bona sera | Good evening |
| Üncantau | Nice to meet you |
| Per pieijè | Please |
| Merçì | Thank you |
| A se revede/Ciau | Goodbye |
| Sci | Yes |
| Nun | No |
Whether you go to try your luck at the casino, watch international motorsports or practice your French, Monaco is a wonderful destination for a short visit. If you’re planning a trip to the country, be prepared to see Monegasque on the street signs and perhaps even hear it spoken. And if you go further and learn a few greetings in the language, you’ll show your interest in and respect for the country’s ancestral language.
