Spanish

A language of Spain

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Castilian

Autonym

Castellano, Español

Population

46,380,000 in Spain, all users. L1 users: 42,700,000 in Spain (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 3,680,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2017). Total users in all countries: 534,335,730 (as L1: 460,093,030; as L2: 74,242,700).

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps

Andorra and France

Belize

Portugal and Spain

Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1978, Constitution, Article 3(1)), recognized statutory language in all autonomous cities and communities under various local laws.

Classification

Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian

Dialects

Andalusian (Andalusí, Andaluz, Andalú), Aragonese, Murcian, Navarrese, Castilian, Canary Islands Spanish (Isleño), American Spanish (Chicano), Silbo Gomero. Lexical similarity: 89% with Portuguese [por], 85% with Catalan [cat], 82% with Italian [ita], 76% with Sardinian [src], 75% with French [fra], 74% with Ladin [lld], 71% with Romanian [ron].

Typology

SVO; prepositions; genitives, relatives after noun heads; articles, numerals before noun heads; adjectives before or after noun heads depending on whether it is evaluative or descriptive; question word initial; gender (masculine/feminine); definite and indefinite articles; verb affixes mark number, person; passives; tense; comparatives; 20 consonants, 5 vowels, 5 diphthongs; non-tonal; stress on penultimate syllable. Silbo Gomero whistled variety of Spanish used in Canary Islands.

Language Use

Some also use English [eng] (European Commission 2006), French [fra] (European Commission 2006).

Language Development

Fully developed. Bible: 1553–2012.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Spanish

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.

Other Comments

The Aragonese dialect of Spanish is different from Aragonese language [arg]. Christian.

Also spoken in:

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Andorra

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

65,800 in Andorra, all users. L1 users: 27,600 in Andorra (2005 census). L2 users: 38,200 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Castilian

Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language.

View other languages of Andorra

Argentina

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

43,500,000 in Argentina, all users. L1 users: 42,400,000 in Argentina (2017). L2 users: 1,100,000 (2017).

Alternate Names

Español

Dialects

Portuñol, Portunhol, Rioplatense, Lunfardo, Porteño.

Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Language Use

All domains. Used by all.

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools. Agency: Academia Argentina de la Lengua Española.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Argentina

Belize

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

187,000 in Belize, all users. L1 users: 165,000 in Belize (2014 UNSD). L2 users: 22,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Location

Corozal, Orange Walk, and Cayo districts.

Alternate Names

Castellano, Español

Status

3 (Wider communication).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Plautdietsch [pdt].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Belize

Bolivia

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

9,420,000 in Bolivia, all users. L1 users: 4,470,000 in Bolivia (2016). L2 users: 4,950,000 (2016).

Dialects

Afro-Yungueño (Black Spanish).

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (2009, Constitution, Article 5(1)).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Bolivia

Caribbean Netherlands

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

1,480 in Caribbean Netherlands (2001 census). Bonaire 1,270, Sint Eustatius 130, Saba 70.

Location

Bonaire.

Status

3 (Wider communication).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Caribbean Netherlands

Chile

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

17,844,000 in Chile, all users. L1 users: 17,100,000 in Chile (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 744,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Alternate Names

Castellano, Español

Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Language Use

All domains. Used by all.

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Chile

Colombia

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

47,281,100 in Colombia, all users. L1 users: 47,200,000 in Colombia (2017). L2 users: 81,100 (2017).

Alternate Names

Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1991, Constitution, Article 10).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Colombia

Costa Rica

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

4,804,600 in Costa Rica, all users. L1 users: 4,770,000 in Costa Rica (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 34,600 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Alternate Names

Castellano, Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1949, Constitution, Article 76).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Costa Rica

Cuba

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

11,434,300 in Cuba, all users. L1 users: 11,400,000 in Cuba (2016). L2 users: 34,300 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Alternate Names

Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 2).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Cuba

Curacao

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

6,120 in Curacao (2017 World Factbook).

Location

Scattered.

Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Papiamentu [pap].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Curacao

Dominican Republic

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

10,244,000 in Dominican Republic, all users. L1 users: 10,000,000 in Dominican Republic (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 244,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Alternate Names

Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (2000, Law 44.00).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

15,934,000 in Ecuador, all users. L1 users: 15,100,000 in Ecuador (2016). L2 users: 834,000 (2015).

Alternate Names

Castellano, Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (2008, Constitution, Article 2).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

View other languages of Ecuador

El Salvador

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

6,389,000 in El Salvador, all users. L1 users: 6,370,000 in El Salvador (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 19,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Castellano, Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1983, Constitution, Article 62).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

787,000 in Equatorial Guinea, all users. L1 users: Few L1 users. L2 users: 787,000 (2016).

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (2011, Constitution, Article 4).

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 75%. Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Equatorial Guinea

France

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

6,246,000 in France, all users. L1 users: 446,000 in France (2016). L2 users: 5,800,000 (2016).

Location

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Lyon; Île-de-France region: Paris; Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Bordeaux; Occitania region: Toulouse; Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: Marseilles and Nice.

Alternate Names

Castillan, Espagnol, Español

Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Used as L2 by French [fra].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of France

Gibraltar

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

15,900 in Gibraltar (2015).

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Español

Dialects

Llanito (Yanito).

Status

3 (Wider communication).

Other Comments

Yanito is spoken by most Gibraltarians among themselves, a variety of Spanish with a strong English [eng] influence, with over 500 words coming from Genoese (Ligurian) [lig] and Hebrew [heb].

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Guatemala

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

15,120,000 in Guatemala, all users. L1 users: 11,500,000 in Guatemala (2017 World Factbook). L2 users: 3,620,000 (2017).

Alternate Names

Castellano, Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1985, Constitution, Article 143).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Guatemala

Honduras

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

8,935,000 in Honduras, all users. L1 users: 8,820,000 in Honduras (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 115,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Alternate Names

Castellano, Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1982, Constitution, Article 6).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Honduras

Mexico

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

127,140,000 in Mexico, all users. L1 users: 119,000,000 in Mexico (2016 World Factbook). L2 users: 8,140,000 (2016).

Alternate Names

Castellano, Español

Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Mexico

Morocco

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

1,536,590 in Morocco, all users. L1 users: 6,590 in Morocco (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 1,530,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Location

Scattered on north coast.

Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

French [fra] and English [eng] are now the second and third languages of education, politics, and medicine (2013). Tourism and industry. Adults only. Used as L2 by Judeo-Moroccan Arabic [aju], Moroccan Spoken Arabic [ary], Tarifit [rif].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Morocco

Nicaragua

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

6,440,000 in Nicaragua, all users. L1 users: 6,260,000 in Nicaragua (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 180,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Alternate Names

Castellano, Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1987, Constitution, Article 11).

Language Use

Also use Nicaragua Creole English [bzk]. Also use Mískito [miq], especially Mestizo speakers.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Nicaragua

Panama

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

3,982,000 in Panama, all users. L1 users: 3,650,000 in Panama (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 332,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Castellano, Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1972, Constitution, Article 7).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Panama

Paraguay

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

4,616,000 in Paraguay, all users. L1 users: 386,000 in Paraguay (2016). L2 users: 4,230,000 (2016).

Location

Asunción department: urban areas.

Alternate Names

Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 140(2)), co-official with Paraguayan Guarani.

Language Use

Education and government. Many also use Paraguayan Guaraní [gug].

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Paraguay

Peru

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

27,470,000 in Peru, all users. L1 users: 25,300,000 in Peru (2016). L2 users: 2,170,000 (2016).

Alternate Names

Castellano, Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1993, Constitution, Article 48).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Peru

Philippines

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

465,330 in Philippines, all users. L1 users: 3,330 in Philippines (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 462,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Location

Major cities.

Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Formerly the official language. Used by a few families as L1. Used as L2 by Moyadan Itneg [ity].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

View other languages of Philippines

Puerto Rico

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

3,394,100 in Puerto Rico, all users. L1 users: 3,360,000 in Puerto Rico (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 34,100 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Alternate Names

Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1993, Official Languages Act No. 1, Article 1).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Some dialects considered archaic.

View other languages of Puerto Rico

Trinidad and Tobago

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

70,400 in Trinidad and Tobago, all users. L1 users: 4,000 in Trinidad and Tobago (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 66,400 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Location

Trinidad: Siparia municipality, southern peninsula, fishing villages.

Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Frequent contact with Venezuelan fishing communities 15 km off Trinidad coast.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Trinidad and Tobago

United States

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

58,300,000 in United States, all users. L1 users: 43,200,000 in United States (2016 census). L2 users: 15,100,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Castellano, Español

Dialects

Chicano (Caló), Isleno (Isleño, Islenyo).

Status

2 (Provincial). De facto provincial language in New Mexico.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Afro-Seminole Creole [afs].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Population increased 61% or more since 1970. About 40,000 Islenos in New Orleans speak Isleno, a distinct variety of Canary Island Spanish, which may now face extinction after Hurricane Katrina.

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Uruguay

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

3,445,300 in Uruguay, all users. L1 users: 3,390,000 in Uruguay (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 55,300 (Instituto Cervantes 2017).

Alternate Names

Español

Dialects

Rioplatense, Lunfardo.

Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Language Use

All domains. Used by all.

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Uruguay

Venezuela

Language nameSpanish

Population Full

31,131,000 in Venezuela, all users. L1 users: 30,400,000 in Venezuela (2016). L2 users: 731,000 (2016).

Alternate Names

Español

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1999, Constitution, Article 9).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Venezuela

Ethnologue

Spanish

Primary tabs

A language of Spain

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