Bonjour, Seattle
French speakers in Seattle
Seattle has a lively French-speaking community, and the mission has missionaries who teach in French so people can learn the gospel in the language of their heart.
396M
French speakers worldwide
4th most spoken language on earth
19,245
speak French at home
in the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metro
1980
Seattle & Nantes, France
sister cities ever since
~140 mi
to Vancouver, Canada
a bilingual country, just up I-5
Who speaks French at home
People age 5 and older who speak French at home, from the city out to the whole state, with the share of all residents.
- City of Seattle4,1260.55%
- King County12,6710.57%
- Seattle metro area19,2450.49%
- Washington State28,2430.37%
Many French-speaking families from Central Africa are counted under another language. About 14,000 people in the Seattle metro speak Swahili or another Central, East or Southern African language at home, and plenty of them speak French as well.
Where the French-speaking world lives
Most French speakers today aren't in France. They're in Africa, and Seattle's community reflects that.
Many journeys, one language
Seattle's French speakers come from all over the world. Many have settled in South King County: Kent, Tukwila, SeaTac and Federal Way.
Central & East Africa
Families from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda, many of whom also speak Swahili, Lingala or Kinyarwanda.
West Africa
Students, workers and families from Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea and neighbors.
Haiti
Haitian families who speak French alongside Haitian Creole.
Canada & Europe
Québécois, French, Belgian and Swiss professionals and students drawn by the universities and tech companies.
Why her French matters
Elementary school
Starts in a French Immersion program.
10+ years
Of French classes all the way through school.
November 18, 2026
Leaves Virginia for the Washington Seattle Mission, assigned to French speakers.
18 months
Ready to talk, teach and laugh in French from day one.
Phrases you'll hear from Sœur Paukstys
Bonjour !
Hello!
Je m'appelle Sœur Paukstys.
My name is Sister Paukstys.
Enchantée !
Nice to meet you!
Que Dieu vous bénisse.
God bless you.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates (table B16001, via Census Reporter); Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, La langue française dans le monde (2026); City of Seattle Sister Cities program.