Languages of Mozambique
43 languages listed by SIL International as languages of Mozambique, since they are spoken by peoples of Mozambique as their mother tongue. Some Bantu languages are indigenous ( " local " ) languages. Portuguese, the language of the former colonial masters, has shaped the country as a lingua franca and language of European or Europeanized elite for over 500 years and is the official language. Mozambique is therefore a full member of the Community of Portuguese -speaking countries and Portuguese loanwords are used in the native languages.
Although Portuguese is used as the main language only of a small group, it is, according to the Mozambican National Institute of Statistics, the most widely used language of Mozambique: 39.6 % of the total population and 72.4 % of urban population speak it fluently. Other common languages are Swahili, Makua, Chichewa, Shona dialect Ndau and Xitsonga. Other languages are Lomwe, ChiMakonde, Chichopi, Chuwabu, Ronga, Kimwani ( a Swahili dialect), Zulu and Tswa.
Smaller communities of Arabs, overseas Chinese and Indians speak their own respective languages. Mozambican Indians, who come from the former Portuguese India, Portuguese -based creole often talk about the places formerly Portuguese India besides Portuguese as a second language. Most educated Mozambicans also speak English that is taught in schools and is widely used as a business language.
How widespread in Africa, most Mozambicans speak more than one language.