Travelling in South Africa can be a headache, especially with communication and language barriers between you and the locals. When you’re in Johannesburg, which has nearly five million inhabitants, this problem only escalates as you’re surrounded by different races, ethnicities, and languages, including English, Afrikaans, Zulu and Xhosa. Knowing how to navigate around this melting pot of languages will not only get you through your trip more easily but also give you an inside perspective on the city and its people.
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IsiZulu Language in Johannesburg
The Zulu language is the most widely spoken language in South Africa. The Zulu people, a Bantu ethnic group living mainly in KwaZulu-Natal originally spoke it. After the British occupation of Natal Province in 1843, English became the dominant language, but the post-apartheid era has seen increasing use of IsiZulu as part of a broader cultural and linguistic revival that also includes cuisine and other aspects.
Sotho Language in Johannesburg
A common language in the city is English, which has been used as an official language since 1925. However, many people also speak Afrikaans and Zulu. Afrikaans is spoken by a large minority and was declared one of the country’s official languages alongside English and Zulu in 1994. 10% of the population speak Zulu which is the most common native African language.
English Language in Johannesburg
English is the official language of government and business, but it is not often spoken on the street. More commonly used are Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana and Setswana. English speakers will experience a lot of difficulties getting around without speaking Afrikaans or one of the other African languages.
English and Afrikaans are the official languages of South Africa, but other indigenous African tongues can be heard on the streets.
