What language do people speak in Eritrea?

Posted on Sep 08, 2025 / Travel

What language do people speak in Eritrea?

Eritrea is multilingual—Tigrinya is the most common, but Arabic and English are also used officially in government and education. You’ll also bump into speakers of Tigre, Afar, Saho, Kunama, and a bunch of others depending on where you go. English shows up more in schools and universities, so you might get by if you're in bigger cities. But outside the capital, locals might not be super fluent. Knowing a few Tigrinya words is always a solid move—it goes a long way in starting friendly chats!



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