Country Speaking French: A Comprehensive List

Are you looking for a country that speaks French? France is the most obvious answer, but there are many other countries around the world where French is an official language or widely spoken. This list will explore the diverse linguistic landscape of the French-speaking world, from the bustling streets of Paris to the serene shores of the Caribbean. Let's delve into the rich cultural tapestry of these nations, uncovering the history and significance of French in their respective identities.
1. **France:** The country that gave birth to the French language. "France" derives from the Latin "Francia," meaning "land of the Franks."
2. **Canada:** The second-largest country in the world, with French as an official language alongside English. "Canada" comes from the Iroquoian word "kanata," meaning "village" or "settlement."
3. **Belgium:** A small country in Western Europe where French is one of the three official languages, alongside Dutch and German. "Belgium" is derived from the Latin "Belgica," referring to a region inhabited by the Belgae, a Celtic tribe.
4. **Switzerland:** A mountainous country in Central Europe, where French is one of the four official languages, along with German, Italian, and Romansh. "Switzerland" is derived from the German "Schweiz," meaning "Switzerland" or "Swiss Confederacy."
5. **Luxembourg:** A small country in Western Europe where French is an official language alongside Luxembourgish and German. "Luxembourg" is derived from the Germanic "Lucilinburh," meaning "small castle."
6. **Monaco:** A tiny principality on the French Riviera, where French is the official language. "Monaco" derives from the Latin "Monoecus," meaning "single dwelling" or "solitary house."
7. **Haiti:** An island nation in the Caribbean Sea, where French is an official language. "Haiti" is derived from the Taíno word "Ayiti," meaning "land of high mountains."
8. **Senegal:** A country in West Africa, where French is an official language. "Senegal" is derived from the Wolof word "Senegaal," meaning "the place of the sené," a type of thorny acacia tree.
9. **Côte d'Ivoire:** A country in West Africa, where French is an official language. "Côte d'Ivoire" literally translates to "Ivory Coast" in French, referring to the abundance of ivory from elephants in the region.
10. **Burkina Faso:** A landlocked country in West Africa, where French is an official language. "Burkina Faso" literally translates to "land of honest people" in the Mossi language.
11. **Benin:** A country in West Africa, where French is an official language. "Benin" derives from the Portuguese word "Benim," meaning "the place where it smells good."
12. **Togo:** A country in West Africa, where French is an official language. "Togo" derives from the Ewe language, likely meaning "on the lake" or "near the lake," referring to Lake Togo.
13. **Cameroon:** A country in Central Africa, where French is one of the two official languages, alongside English. "Cameroon" is derived from the Portuguese word "Camarões," meaning "shrimp," referring to the abundant shrimp in the region.
14. **Central African Republic:** A landlocked country in Central Africa, where French is the official language. "Central African Republic" is a direct translation of the country's French name, "République centrafricaine."
15. **Chad:** A landlocked country in Central Africa, where French is an official language. "Chad" is derived from the Arabic word "Tshad," meaning "lake," referring to Lake Chad.
16. **Congo, Democratic Republic of the:** A country in Central Africa, where French is an official language. "Congo, Democratic Republic of the" is a direct translation of the country's French name, "République démocratique du Congo."
17. **Congo, Republic of the:** A country in Central Africa, where French is an official language. "Congo, Republic of the" is a direct translation of the country's French name, "République du Congo."
18. **Gabon:** A country in Central Africa, where French is an official language. "Gabon" derives from the Portuguese word "Gabão," meaning "cloak" or "cape," likely referring to the shape of the coastline.
19. **Guinea:** A country in West Africa, where French is an official language. "Guinea" derives from the Portuguese word "Guiné," meaning "place of black people" or "land of the blacks."
20. **Guinea-Bissau:** A country in West Africa, where Portuguese is the official language, but French is also widely spoken. "Guinea-Bissau" literally translates to "Guinea of the Bissau," referring to the port city of Bissau.
21. **Madagascar:** An island country in the Indian Ocean, where French is an official language alongside Malagasy. "Madagascar" derives from the name of the first European explorer to land on the island, Marco Polo, who called it "Magadaxo."
22. **Mali:** A landlocked country in West Africa, where French is an official language. "Mali" is derived from the Bambara word "mali," meaning "hippopotamus," likely referring to the abundance of hippos in the Niger River.
23. **Mauritania:** A country in Northwest Africa, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also widely spoken. "Mauritania" derives from the Berber word "Mauri," meaning "land of the Moors."
24. **Niger:** A landlocked country in West Africa, where French is an official language. "Niger" is derived from the Latin word "niger," meaning "black," likely referring to the Niger River.
25. **Rwanda:** A country in East Africa, where Kinyarwanda is the official language, but French is also widely spoken. "Rwanda" is derived from the Kinyarwanda word "Rwanda," meaning "the land of a thousand hills."
26. **Burundi:** A country in East Africa, where Kirundi is the official language, but French is also widely spoken. "Burundi" derives from the Kirundi word "Burundi," meaning "the land of the brave."
27. **Djibouti:** A country in East Africa, where Arabic and French are both official languages. "Djibouti" is derived from the Afar word "Godob," meaning "well."
28. **Comoros:** An archipelago in the Indian Ocean, where Arabic and French are both official languages. "Comoros" derives from the Arabic word "Qamar," meaning "moon."
29. **Seychelles:** An archipelago in the Indian Ocean, where English, French, and Seychellois Creole are all official languages. "Seychelles" derives from the name of the French explorer Jean Moreau de Séchelles, who discovered the islands in 1768.
30. **Réunion:** An island in the Indian Ocean, which is an overseas department of France. "Réunion" literally translates to "reunion" in French, referring to the fact that the island was once a place of exile for French convicts.
31. **French Guiana:** An overseas department of France located in South America. "French Guiana" is a direct translation of the French name "Guyane française."
32. **Martinique:** An island in the Caribbean Sea, which is an overseas department of France. "Martinique" is derived from the name of the indigenous Arawak people, "Matinino," meaning "island of flowers."
33. **Guadeloupe:** An archipelago in the Caribbean Sea, which is an overseas department of France. "Guadeloupe" is derived from the name of the indigenous Arawak people, "Karukera," meaning "beautiful island."
34. **Saint Barthélemy:** An island in the Caribbean Sea, which is an overseas collectivity of France. "Saint Barthélemy" is derived from the name of the patron saint of the island, Bartholomew.
35. **Saint Martin:** An island in the Caribbean Sea, which is a shared overseas collectivity of France and the Netherlands. "Saint Martin" is derived from the name of the patron saint of the island, Martin of Tours.
36. **Saint Pierre and Miquelon:** An archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, which is an overseas collectivity of France. "Saint Pierre and Miquelon" derives from the names of the two main islands in the archipelago.
37. **New Caledonia:** An archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, which is a special collectivity of France. "New Caledonia" literally translates to "new Caledonia" in French, referring to the island's location in the Pacific.
38. **Wallis and Futuna:** An archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, which is an overseas collectivity of France. "Wallis and Futuna" derives from the names of the two main islands in the archipelago.
39. **French Polynesia:** A collection of islands in the Pacific Ocean, which is an overseas collectivity of France. "French Polynesia" literally translates to "French Polynesia" in French, referring to the islands' location in the Pacific.
40. **Vanuatu:** An archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, where Bislama, English, and French are all official languages. "Vanuatu" derives from the local languages "Vanua" (meaning "land") and "Tu" (meaning "we").
41. **Lebanon:** A country in the Middle East, where Arabic is the official language, but French is widely spoken as a second language. "Lebanon" derives from the Phoenician word "Libnan," meaning "white" or "mountain of white."
42. **Algeria:** A country in North Africa, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also widely spoken. "Algeria" derives from the Arabic word "al-Jaza'ir," meaning "the islands" or "the coasts."
43. **Morocco:** A country in North Africa, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also widely spoken. "Morocco" derives from the Berber word "Mur" or "Muru," meaning "land of the Moors."
44. **Tunisia:** A country in North Africa, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also widely spoken. "Tunisia" derives from the Latin word "Tunisia," meaning "land of the Tunisians."
45. **Egypt:** A country in North Africa, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "Egypt" derives from the Greek word "Aigyptos," meaning "land of the black earth," referring to the fertile Nile River valley.
46. **Libya:** A country in North Africa, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "Libya" derives from the Greek word "Libye," meaning "land of the Libyans."
47. **Western Sahara:** A disputed territory in North Africa, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also spoken. "Western Sahara" is a direct translation of the territory's French name, "Sahara occidental."
48. **Democratic Republic of the Congo:** A country in Central Africa, where Swahili is the official language, but French is also widely spoken. "Democratic Republic of the Congo" is a direct translation of the country's French name, "République démocratique du Congo."
49. **East Timor:** A country in Southeast Asia, where Portuguese is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "East Timor" is a direct translation of the country's English name, "Timor-Leste."
50. **Vietnam:** A country in Southeast Asia, where Vietnamese is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "Vietnam" derives from the Vietnamese word "Việt Nam," meaning "land of the Việt people."
51. **Cambodia:** A country in Southeast Asia, where Khmer is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "Cambodia" derives from the Khmer word "Kampuchea," meaning "land of the Khmer people."
52. **Laos:** A country in Southeast Asia, where Lao is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "Laos" derives from the Lao word "Lao," meaning "land of the Lao people."
53. **Syria:** A country in the Middle East, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "Syria" derives from the Greek word "Syrië," meaning "land of the Syrians."
54. **Iraq:** A country in the Middle East, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "Iraq" derives from the Arabic word "ʿIrāq," meaning "low-lying land" or "marshland."
55. **Jordan:** A country in the Middle East, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "Jordan" derives from the Arabic word "al-Urdunn," meaning "the valley of the Jordan River."
56. **Kuwait:** A country in the Middle East, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "Kuwait" derives from the Arabic word "kūt," meaning "fort" or "castle."
57. **Bahrain:** A country in the Middle East, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "Bahrain" derives from the Arabic word "al-Baḥrayn," meaning "the two seas," referring to the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Gulf.
58. **Oman:** A country in the Middle East, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "Oman" derives from the Arabic word "ʿUmān," meaning "the land of the people."
59. **Qatar:** A country in the Middle East, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "Qatar" derives from the Arabic word "qatar," meaning "drop" or "drop of water," referring to the abundance of rain in the region.
60. **United Arab Emirates:** A country in the Middle East, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "United Arab Emirates" is a direct translation of the country's English name, "United Arab Emirates."
61. **Saudi Arabia:** A country in the Middle East, where Arabic is the official language, but French is also spoken in some circles. "Saudi Arabia" is a direct translation of the country's English name, "Saudi Arabia."