Why is french spoken in guadeloupe

If you make some efforts to speak a little French, it will be greatly appreciated. If you make some mistakes, don't worry. They will just make your attempts at French more charming. Of course, a smile is the easiest and most universal form of communication.

If you treat others with respect and kindness, they generally reciprocate. It was these waters — know today as the Caribbean Sea — that sustained the Arawaks, who eked out simple lives, living off the daily catch. In , Christopher Columbus became the first European to land on Guadeloupe.

His expedition left behind no settlers, but the Spanish soon started to stake their claim to the archipelago and attempted to colonise the island. The French quickly established Guadeloupe as one of the leading players in the booming sugar industry, but while the motherland enjoyed the sweet taste of success, African slaves toiled relentlessly in the plantations.

The outbreak of the French Revolution in brought tumult to Guadeloupe. The republicans and monarchists fought bitterly and by a slave rebellion had broken out. The British took advantage of the chaos and seized the island the following year, but it was back in French hands by the end of It is a popular tourist destination. The most widely spoken languages are of course French and Creole but English, Carib and other languages are also spoken in some areas but in relatively much lower numbers.

The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus in The French set foot in the island following that and by Guadeloupe was chosen as a preferable place for settlement. The island was annexed to the Kingdom of France in Over the next few centuries, the island changed many hands between the British, French and Sweden eventually ending up in French possession again. It is now a French Overseas Region and therefore French is the official and most widely spoken language in the islands.

Almost all inhabitants of Guadeloupe speak French as it is the official language. Yes, send me my free Learn French newsletters. My details are: Name Email. Natural hazards: Hurricanes, active volcano.

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