Language

The French-based Creole widely spoken in Saint Lucia is Saint Lucian Creole French, also known as Patwa. It is the country's vernacular language and is spoken alongside English, the official language. 95% of the population speaks Saint Lucian French Creole.

Kwéyol is an Antillean Creole sub-variety that, like other Caribbean varieties, combines the syntax of African language origins with a vocabulary primarily derived from French. The English language, like its Dominican counterpart, has influenced the vocabulary of the creole. The Carib language has also had a documented syntactical influence.

It is still widely used throughout Saint Lucia. Despite the fact that it is not an official language, the government and media outlets provide information in Kwéyol in addition to English. Antillean Creole is also spoken in Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and (to a lesser extent) St. Vincent and Grenada; it is also similar to creoles spoken in French Guiana, Haiti, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. Saint Lucia is a member of La Francophonie.