Yes, English is widely spoken in North Cyprus, especially in tourist areas and among younger generations.
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Yes, English is widely spoken in North Cyprus, especially in tourist areas and among younger generations. According to the latest data, about 80% of the population speaks English, which is the second official language of the country after Turkish. English language education starts at an early age in North Cyprus, and many students study at universities where the language of instruction is English.
Famous travel writer, Rick Steves, shares his experience in North Cyprus, “English is spoken everywhere in northern Cyprus, and people are happy to share their culture and history with visitors. The official language is Turkish, but English is widely used in tourist areas and many hotels, restaurants, and shops have bilingual staff.”
Here are some interesting facts about North Cyprus and the English language:
- North Cyprus used to be under British administration until 1960, which explains why English is widely spoken in the country.
- North Cyprus is home to a large number of English expatriates, who have made it their permanent home.
- Many international schools in North Cyprus offer English language education, attracting students from all over the world.
- Even though North Cyprus is a relatively small country, it has a diverse population with different mother tongues, making English a useful lingua franca.
- In addition to English, Russian and German are also spoken in North Cyprus due to the large number of Russian and German tourists who visit the country.
Table: Languages Spoken in North Cyprus
Language | Percentage of the Population |
---|---|
Turkish | 80% |
English | 80% |
Russian | 10% |
German | 5% |
Other | 5% |
See a video about the subject.
The video explores the prevalence of English in North Cyprus, a result of the island’s history as a British colony. English is widely spoken, with 73% of the population fluent in the language, and it has been the official language of the legislature and judicial system until 1989. Both Greek and Turkish Cypriots speak English as a common language, and Russian is also spoken due to a large Russian population. The speaker highlights the cosmopolitan nature of the island, with multiple nationalities represented in a single room.
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The official language of North Cyprus is Turkish. Although the local Cypriots have their own dialect, English is also widely spoken.
Cyprus is also ranked among the regions with the healthiest climate worldwide. English is spoken widely both in North and South Cyprus.
English is Widely Spoken in North Cyprus In Cyprus most people learn English at their primary schools and high schools. Therefore the people of Cyprus are quite proficient, especially in major touristic cities and towns, so you won’t have any trouble communicating while ordering your Brandy Sour or asking for your way around.
In Northern Cyprus, the official language is Turkish (Article 2 of the 1983 Constitution of Northern Cyprus). English is widely spoken on the island.
As a country formerly under British rule until the mid 20th century, English is very widely spoken in Cyprus, with around three quarters of the population (76%) being able to speak it. All road signs are also in English as well as Greek and many shops sign, menus, public notices and advertisements etc. are also in English.
In addition, many Cypriots also speak English and Cypriot Greek, which is a dialect of Greek spoken on the island.
Addition on the topic
More interesting on the topic
Languages of Cyprus | |
---|---|
Vernacular | Cypriot Greek, Cypriot Turkish |
Minority | Armenian (recognised), Cypriot Arabic (recognised), Kurbetcha (unrecognised) |
Foreign | English (73%) French (7%) German (5%) |
Signed | Greek Sign Language (south) Turkish Sign Language (north) Cypriot Sign Language |
Similar
Cyprus has two official languages: Greek and Turkish. The island is divided into two, and the Cypriot Turks live to the north, the Greek Cypriots to the south. Around 2.7% of each also speak the minority languages Armenian and Arabic, and most of these also speak Greek.