In Martinique, the official language is French, however, the native language of the majority of the population is Martinique Creole - a French Creole (Antelian) language.
The Martinicans also called their island "Matinino", which means "Island of Women", and this name Christopher Columbus heard during his visit to the island in 1502.
Historian Sydney Daney believes that the Caribs (the indigenous people of the Lesser Antilles) are called Martinique Jouanacaëra or Wanakaera, which means "iguana island".
