Krio is an English-based creole language and the everyday lingua franca of Sierra Leone. It is the mother tongue of the Krio people of Freetown, descendants of freed slaves resettled there from the late eighteenth century, and it is spoken as a second language by the great majority of Sierra Leoneans, far outnumbering native speakers. Much of its vocabulary comes from English, reshaped by African languages such as Yoruba, which contributed words and patterns of expression. English remains the official language of government and schooling, but Krio dominates conversation, markets, music and radio. It is written in the Latin alphabet with a standardised spelling developed in the twentieth century.
Prism Linguistics provides Krio translation, interpreting and transcription across the UK in 300+ languages. Whether you need a certified document for the Home Office, a court interpreter, an NHS appointment or a business meeting, our vetted native-speaker linguists are ready to help.
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