What language is spoken in Sao Tome? Portuguese, creoles and how much English

Wondering what language is spoken in Sao Tome? The official language is Portuguese, spoken by virtually the whole population. Alongside it live three Portuguese-based creoles: Forro, Angolar and Lung'ie (Principense). English is spoken by only a small minority, mostly in hotels and tourism, so a few words of Portuguese go a long way.

Below we explain what each language is, how much English you can count on, a handful of useful phrases and how to travel comfortably if you do not speak Portuguese.

In this article

• What language is spoken in Sao Tome: Portuguese
• The three local creoles
• Do they speak English in São Tomé?
• Is São Tomé a Spanish or Portuguese-speaking country?
• Useful Portuguese phrases for your trip
• And in Forro, to win some hearts
• Can you travel without speaking Portuguese?
• Frequently asked questions
• Travel with an English-speaking guide

What language is spoken in Sao Tome: Portuguese

It is European Portuguese, not Brazilian, although with its own accent and a slower, softer rhythm. Practically everyone speaks it, and it is the language of school, government, the press and road signs. For many young São Toméans it is now their first language.

For an English speaker this means something quite specific: signs, menus and leaflets are partly guessable if you know some French or Spanish, but spoken Portuguese at normal speed is hard to follow. European Portuguese swallows its unstressed vowels, which makes it tricky to the ear even for people who read it reasonably well.

The three local creoles

Forro (or Santome)

The most widely spoken creole, used on São Tomé island. It was born in the 16th century from the mixing of Portuguese with Bantu languages and languages from the Gulf of Guinea. It is the language of family life, music and everyday expressions, although among young people it is losing ground to Portuguese.

Angolar (or Ngola)

Spoken in the south of the island, around Angolares, by the descendants of a group of Africans who, according to oral tradition, survived a shipwreck or escaped the plantations and settled independently on the southern coast. It has more Kimbundu influence than Forro.

Lung'ie (Principense)

The creole of Príncipe island. It is the most endangered of the three: it has very few active speakers left, almost all elderly, and there are projects under way to document it.

You will also hear Cape Verdean Creole in communities descended from the workers brought from Cape Verde to the roças.

Do they speak English in São Tomé?

A little. English and French are taught at school as foreign languages, but only around 5% of the population speaks English, and about 7% French, according to the census figures quoted by Wikipedia. In practice you will find English at the main hotels in the capital, at the Príncipe resorts and with some guides; at the market, in taxis or in small villages, almost none.

Interestingly, French is slightly more common than English: the country is a member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and has an Alliance Française in the capital.

Is São Tomé a Spanish or Portuguese-speaking country?

Portuguese. It was a Portuguese colony from the late 15th century until independence in 1975, and it belongs to the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). Spanish is not spoken there.

The confusion usually comes from its neighbour, Equatorial Guinea, about 300 km away, which is the only country in Africa where Spanish is an official language. The two share a sea, but not a language.

Useful Portuguese phrases for your trip

• Good morning: Bom dia
• Good afternoon / evening: Boa tarde / Boa noite
• Thank you: Obrigado (said by a man) / Obrigada (said by a woman)
• Please: Por favor
• Sorry / excuse me: Desculpe
• How much is it?: Quanto custa?
• Where is...?: Onde fica...?
• I don't understand: Não percebo
• Do you speak English?: Fala inglês?
• Water, please: Água, por favor
• The bill, please: A conta, por favor
• Very good: Muito bom

And one you will hear all the time: leve leve. Literally "light, light", it is the national philosophy: no rush, everything gets there in the end. Use it and watch people smile.

And in Forro, to win some hearts

• Hello: Seja
• Thank you: Blogado

Two words of creole open more doors here than a whole paragraph of correct Portuguese.

Can you travel without speaking Portuguese?

You can, but you miss a lot. Logistics are not the problem, as pointing and smiling solve most of that. What gets lost is the best part of the trip: the stories of the roças, the conversation at the market, what the fisherman tells you on the beach.

That is why travelling with an English-speaking local guide changes the experience completely in this particular destination, far more than in countries where tourism already runs in English. It also makes the practical side easy: we cover the rest in our São Tomé tour guide article.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main language in São Tomé and Príncipe?

Portuguese, the official language, spoken by almost everyone. Forro is the most widespread creole.

Is English widely spoken in São Tomé?

No. Only around 5% of the population speaks it, mostly in hotels and tourism in the capital and on Príncipe.

Is French spoken in São Tomé and Príncipe?

A little more than English: around 7% of people speak it, it is taught at school and the country is a member of the Francophonie.

Is the Portuguese there like Brazilian Portuguese?

No. It is European Portuguese, with its own local accent and expressions.

What is Forro?

The most widely spoken Portuguese-based creole in the country, native to São Tomé island and born in the 16th century.

How many languages are spoken in total?

Portuguese as the official language, plus three local creoles (Forro, Angolar and Lung'ie) and Cape Verdean Creole in some communities. English and French are foreign languages taught at school. More facts about the country (capital, population and nationality) in capital of São Tomé and Príncipe.

What currency is used in São Tomé?

The dobra (STN), pegged to the euro at €1 = 24.5 dobras. Bring euros in cash. Our article on how much a trip to São Tomé costs explains how much to take.

Is São Tomé and Príncipe a good holiday destination?

Yes, if you are after rainforest, empty beaches, old cocoa plantations and wildlife rather than big resorts and nightlife. It is one of the least visited countries in Africa, which is exactly its appeal. See our pick of things to do in São Tomé.

How many days do you need in São Tomé and Príncipe?

Eight days is the sensible minimum for São Tomé island, and ten or eleven if you want to add Príncipe. We compare itineraries in how many days in São Tomé.

When is the best time to visit São Tomé and Príncipe?

The gravana, from June to September, is the dry season and the most popular; December to February, the gravanito, is a good alternative with sunnier days. Month by month details in best time to visit São Tomé and Príncipe.

Is São Tomé expensive to visit?

More than most people expect, mainly because of flights and the small number of hotels. For eight days, count on roughly €1,400 to €1,800 per person travelling independently on a tight budget, and €2,200 to €2,600 on an organised tour, flights included. Full breakdown in how much does a trip to São Tomé cost.

Is it safe to travel to São Tomé and Príncipe?

Yes. It is one of the calmest countries in Africa; the real risks to take seriously are malaria, the roads and the sea. We look at the facts in is São Tomé and Príncipe safe?.

How do you get to São Tomé from the UK?

There are no direct flights from the UK: the usual route is to fly to Lisbon and take the direct flight to São Tomé from there, about six and a half hours. Routes, airlines and prices in how to get to São Tomé from the UK.

Travel with an English-speaking guide

Whatever language is spoken in Sao Tome, you will not need to worry about it with us. We run our trips with official local guides who speak English (as well as French, Portuguese and Spanish), and that is exactly what turns this destination from "beautiful" into "unforgettable": without a common language, much of what makes São Tomé and Príncipe fascinating stays on the other side of it.

Discover our 8-day São Tomé guided circuit, a private trip with an English-speaking guide for all 8 days, from €1,250 per person, flights not included. Read the complete São Tomé travel guide or get in touch.