What Language Is Spoken in Monaco? French, Monégasque, Italian and English
A quick fact guide to the languages of Monaco, covering French, Monégasque, Munegascu, Ligurian links, school teaching, bilingual signage, TVMonaco, the national anthem and Eurovision.
How to use this guide
Browse the facts in order or use the search box to find a specific topic such as French, Monégasque, Munegascu, Ligurian, signage, schools, TVMonaco or Eurovision.
What this guide includes
This page keeps the original question-and-answer structure, but presents it in a cleaner, searchable and mobile-friendly layout.
Search by fact, language, place or topic.
What is the official language in Monaco?
The official language is French.
What is the national language of Monaco?
The Monégasque language is the national and traditional language of Monaco.
How do you say Monégasque in Monégasque?
Its endonym is Munegascu.
What type of language is Monégasque?
Munegascu is an Italo-Gallo Romance variety within the Ligurian language, also spoken to Monaco’s east in Italy’s Liguria.
How do you say Monaco in French and Monégasque?
The official state name is the Principality of Monaco. In French: “La Principauté de Monaco.” In Monégasque: “U Prinçipatu de Mùnegu.”
In what language is Monaco’s official motto?
The motto is in Latin: “Deo Juvante” (“with God’s help”).
Is Monégasque taught in Monaco’s schools?
Yes. Monégasque is taught in Monegasque schools.
Are street signs in Monégasque in Monaco?
In Monaco-Ville (Mùnegu Autu), street signs are in both French and Monégasque.
Who is an important author who wrote in Monégasque?
Paulette Cherici-Porello is a key Monégasque-language author and often cited as the only female author writing in Monégasque.
What is the language of Monaco’s national anthem?
The anthem, “Inu Munegascu,” is in Monégasque.
What other languages are used in Monaco apart from French and Monégasque?
Alongside French and Monégasque, Italian and English are widely used by Monaco’s international community.
Is Monaco a linguistic island?
Monaco is bordered by French areas where varieties of Occitan (Niçard) are or have been spoken.
Are there organisations that protect the Monégasque language?
Yes — among them the “Commission pour la Langue Monégasque” (Académie de Langues Dialectales, Monaco) and the “Comité National des Traditions Monégasques.”
How do you say hello and goodbye in Monégasque?
Hello is “bungiurnu” and goodbye is “a se revede.”
Does Monaco have a public broadcaster, and what language does it use?
TVMonaco, launched on 1 September 2023, broadcasts in French.
What languages has Monaco used in the Eurovision Song Contest?
Monaco has never competed with a song in Monégasque. All entries were in French; the 2006 entry also featured Tahitian. Monaco won once, in 1971, with “Un banc, un arbre, une rue.”
Quick facts
Languages in Monaco FAQ
What is the official language in Monaco?
The official language is French.
What is the national language of Monaco?
The Monégasque language is the national and traditional language of Monaco.
What is Monégasque called in Monégasque?
Its endonym is Munegascu.
Is Monégasque taught in Monaco’s schools?
Yes. Monégasque is taught in Monegasque schools.
What other languages are used in Monaco?
Alongside French and Monégasque, Italian and English are widely used by Monaco’s international community.
Has Monaco used Monégasque at Eurovision?
No. Monaco has never competed with a song in Monégasque. All entries were in French, with the 2006 entry also featuring Tahitian.