Krio

American

[kree-oh] / ˈkri oʊ /

noun

an English-based creole of Sierra Leone, a first language of the residents of Freetown and its environs, and a lingua franca elsewhere in the country.

Krio British

/ ˈkriːəʊ /

noun

the English-based creole widely used as a lingua franca in Sierra Leone. Its principal language of admixture is Yoruba
a native speaker of Krio
(modifier) of or relating to the Krio language or Krios

Krio poetry

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Krio

alteration of _creole

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Even yesterday she was saying she wants to go to school and is going to need a motorbike,” her mother said in the local Krio language as she bounced her infant son on her lap.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 8, 2019

"Even yesterday she was saying she wants to go to school and is going to need a motorbike," her mother said in the local Krio language as she bounced her infant son on her lap.

From Fox News • Jun. 8, 2019

He watched the discussion without comment, eating the same simple dinner as his more animated customers and translating for me between bites from Sierra Leonean Krio into English.

From Slate • Feb. 5, 2018

We educated more than 10,000 people, and explained the message in their languages - Temne, Krio and Limba.

From BBC • Nov. 10, 2015

“What language do you speak?” the director asked in Krio.

From "Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina" by Michaela DePrince

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023