Monrovia - Post Report Question and Answers
How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
Everyone in Monrovia and the major towns speak English or Liberian English (which is just a thick dialect of English). In the countryside, they speak an entirely different indigenous language, so you'll usually need an interpreter. - Oct 2021
Just English but understanding the locals can be interesting. - Aug 2019
None. - Aug 2019
English is the official language. - Aug 2019
None, English is spoken by almost everyone in Monrovia, usually as a first language. The accent and dialect do take some getting used to. - Nov 2017
Liberia is an English-speaking country, but Liberian English can be very difficult to understand sometimes! - Aug 2015
English is spoken, but be prepared to not understand it. If you ask people to repeat slowly, they will try, but some will get aggravated. I am always understood, but I have trouble understanding the "pigeon" English spoken here, particularly on the phone. - Dec 2013
The local language is "English". I use the quotes because it's really a pidgin version. Some locals can be extremely hard or even impossible to understand. Most speak standard English, though, so once you get some of the nuances of the dialect down, you'll be right as rain. - Dec 2012
Liberian English can be difficult to comprehend. But most everyone will understand you, and most will speak American English to the expats and switch to Liberian English amongst themselves. - Aug 2010
None. The local language is English. Local Liberians speak Liberian-English, which almost sounds like a different language! - Jul 2009
