What Language Do They Speak in Mauritania?
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
The official language of Mauritania is Arabic. 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 Mauritania at a glance
| Official language | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Number of official languages | 1 |
| Countries on this site where Arabic is official | 25 |
| People (demonym) | Mauritanian |
| Capital | Nouakchott |
| Internet domain | .mr |
Other countries where Arabic is official
Arabic is also an official language in 24 other countries covered here:
- Algeria
- Bahrain
- Chad
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Morocco
- Oman
- Palestine
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
Languages of neighbouring countries
Mauritania in context
- Mauritania covers 1,030,700 km², making it the 28th largest of the 196 countries on this site.
- Its population density of about 5 people per km² ranks 187th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
- It shares a land border with 3 countries: Algeria, Mali, Senegal.
- With 4,927,532 people, Mauritania holds about 1.1% of the population of Western Africa.
- Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Monday.
- Mauritania is a member state of the United Nations.
Useful phrases for visitors to Mauritania
Everyday Arabic phrases you will hear and use in Mauritania:
| 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) |
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 Mauritania — FAQ
What language do they speak in Mauritania?
The official language of Mauritania is Arabic.
How many official languages does Mauritania have?
Mauritania has 1 official language: Arabic.
Is Arabic spoken anywhere else?
Arabic is also an official language in 24 other countries.
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