Cape Verdean Creole (Kriol)

Cape Verdean Creole is a creole based on Portuguese and African languages which
is spoken by about 920,000 people mainly in Cape Verde. It is the first language
of most Cape Verdeans, and is spoken by their descendents in quite a number of
other countries such as Angola, Brazil, Guinea-Bissau, Portugal and Senegal.

Cape Verdean Creole is known as Creole or Kriol by its speakers. Different
dialects are spoken on the different Cape Verde islands, but they
are all considered one language by the Cape Verdean authorities.

The official spelling system for Cape Verdean Creole known as ALUPEC
(Alfabeto Unificado para a Escrita do Caboverdiano – Unified Alphabet
for Cape Verdean Writing). Not everyone uses this system, however.

Cape Verdean Creole alphabet

Cape Verdean Creole pronunciation

Information about the Cape Verdean Creole alphabet and pronunciation compiled by Wolfram Siegel

Sample text

Túdu alguêm tâ nacê lívri í iguál
nâ dignidádi cú nâ dirêtus. Ês ê
dotádu cú razõ í cú «consciência»,
í ês devê agí pâ cumpanhêru cú
sprítu dí fraternidádi.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They
are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another
in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)