What Language Do They Speak in Vanuatu?

Official languages of Vanuatu Bislama, English, French

Facts last checked 9 October 2026.

Vanuatu has 3 official languages: Bislama, English, French.

Learn some Bislama before you go

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The essentials for ordering food, asking directions and being polite.

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Languages of Vanuatu at a glance

Official languages	Bislama, English, French
Number of official languages	3
Countries on this site where Bislama is official	1
People (demonym)	Ni-Vanuatu
Capital	Port Vila
Internet domain	.vu

Vanuatu in context

Vanuatu covers 12,189 km², making it the 157th largest of the 196 countries on this site.
Its population density of about 26 people per km² ranks 159th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
Vanuatu has no land borders with other countries on this site.
With 321,409 people, Vanuatu holds about 2.3% of the population of Melanesia.
With 3 official languages, Vanuatu has more than most countries on this site.
Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Monday.
Vanuatu is a member state of the United Nations.

Useful phrases for visitors to Vanuatu

Everyday Bislama phrases you will hear and use in Vanuatu:

English	Bislama
Hello	Halo
Thank you	Tangkyu
Please	Plis
Goodbye	Tata
Yes	Yes
No	No

Everyday French phrases you will hear and use in Vanuatu:

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 Vanuatu — FAQ