Getting around
Woro-woro
On va où ?
Where to?
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Abidjan
Côte d'Ivoire
Abidjan spreads across lagoons, with bridges between Plateau, Cocody, and the other communes.
How the language is used
French is official and the city’s shared language. Dioula, Baoulé, and other languages stay active in compounds and markets.
In this city
- Language
- French
- Also heard
- Dioula and Baoulé
- A local word
- Garba — A plate of garba.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
Food
Maquis
Une garba, s'il vous plaît.
A plate of garba.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The counter
Bureau
Bonjour.
Good morning.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The street
Rue
Ça va ?
How are you?
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
French is the city's shared language. Dioula and Baoulé stay in families and in parts of the market.
Around Plateau, Treichville, Cocody, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Abidjan can run on four lines: “On va où ?”, “Une garba, s'il vous plaît.”, “Bonjour.”, and “Ça va ?”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Latin alphabet.
- Shops and offices often stay with vous. Tu is for people you know.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Abidjan, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Garba. It means A plate of garba..
Places you can see
- St. Paul's Cathedral — A modern concrete cathedral in the Plateau, shaped like a standing figure.
- Banco National Park — A rainforest park inside the city, along the Banco river.
- Plateau — The business commune of towers, the cathedral, and the lagoon edge.
Food
Attiéké, fried plantain, and garba plates, with local French spellings on the boards.
Getting around
Shared taxis called woro-woro, minibuses called gbaka, and bridges over the lagoon.
Daily life
You handle offices in French. In the market the same purchase may switch to another language.
A few everyday phrases
French
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello |
| Merci | Thank you |
| Bonjour | Good morning |
| Je m'appelle… | My name is… |
