What Language Do They Speak in Djibouti?
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
Djibouti has 2 official languages: Arabic, French. Arabic is also an official language in 24 other countries worldwide.
Learn some Arabic before you go
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Arabic Phrasebook & Dictionary
The essentials for ordering food, asking directions and being polite.
Languages of Djibouti at a glance
| Official languages | Arabic, French |
|---|---|
| Number of official languages | 2 |
| Countries on this site where Arabic is official | 25 |
| People (demonym) | Djibouti |
| Capital | Djibouti |
| Internet domain | .dj |
Other countries where Arabic is official
Arabic is also an official language in 24 other countries covered here:
- Algeria
- Bahrain
- Chad
- Comoros
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Oman
- Palestine
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
Languages of neighbouring countries
Djibouti in context
- Djibouti covers 23,200 km², making it the 146th largest of the 196 countries on this site.
- Its population density of about 46 people per km² ranks 139th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
- It shares a land border with 3 countries: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia.
- With 1,066,809 people, Djibouti holds about 0.2% of the population of Eastern Africa.
- With 2 official languages, Djibouti has more than most countries on this site.
- Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Monday.
- Djibouti is a member state of the United Nations.
Useful phrases for visitors to Djibouti
Everyday Arabic phrases you will hear and use in Djibouti:
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Hello | مرحبا (marhaba) |
| Thank you | شكرا (shukran) |
| Please | من فضلك (min fadlak) |
| Goodbye | مع السلامة (ma'a as-salama) |
| Yes | نعم (na'am) |
| No | لا (la) |
Everyday French phrases you will hear and use in Djibouti:
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjour |
| Thank you | Merci |
| Please | S'il vous plaît |
| Goodbye | Au revoir |
| Yes | Oui |
| No | Non |
Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.
Languages in Djibouti — FAQ
What language do they speak in Djibouti?
The official languages of Djibouti are Arabic and French.
How many official languages does Djibouti have?
Djibouti has 2 official languages: Arabic, French.
Is Arabic spoken anywhere else?
Arabic is also an official language in 24 other countries.
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