In total, Catalan is spoken by more than 7 … In a series of plebiscites, Catalonians have generally supported independence from Spain, although in many cases opponents of independence boycotted the elections and the Spanish government has contested the legality of the votes. This Indo-European Romance language originates from the Castile region of Spain and has gone on to be the L1 language of around 442 million speakers internationally. The official language of Spain is Spanish (or rather castellano) and is understood everywhere in the country. Galician. They range from Nahuatl (The language the Aztecs spoke), Zapotec, Mixtec, Mayo, to many different type of Mayan languages . Though if you speak Portuguese there is enough mutual intelligibility for you to be able to understand Galician without any problems. But Spain also has three other officially recognized languages, and language use continues to be a hot political issue in parts of the country. Grab a trusty phrasebook or start practicing with your favorite language app; whatever you learn will be understood wherever you visit in Spain. Most people assume that Spain has the most number of Spanish speakers in the world as it is their official language. ; See also here for a Spanish phrasebook on to take around with you. Valencian is recognized as a dialect of Catalan by most authorities, though in Valencia it is seen as a separate language. Since Castilian is the only official language of Spain which is spoken throughout the entire country, all public signage, official business, and education is taught in Castilian. More often than not, the people of Spain refer to their language as castellano rather than español because the latter can be any of the other languages spoken in the country. The main foreign languages of Spain are Here is a brief look at them: Euskara is easily the most unusual language of Spain — and an unusual language for Europe as well, since it doesn't fit in the Indo-European family of languages that includes Spanish as well as French, English and the other Romance and Germanic languages. The role of the the Catalan language has been a key issue in the Catalonian independence movement. In Spain Catalan is spoken in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands and outside of Spain in Andorra and in the Italian city of Alghero. Euskara: kaixo (hello), eskerrik asko (thank you), bai (yes), ez (no), etxe (house), esnea (milk), bat (one), jatetxea (restaurant). Right? Since Castilian is the only official language of Spain which is spoken throughout the entire country, all public signage, official busine… This can be an important thing to know if you are planning to go to Spain to learn the language, because if people are speaking a language other than Spanish, it may make learning Spanish a little more difficult. According to a 2019 Pew Research survey, the most commonly spoken languages at home other than Spanish were Catalan in 8% of households, Valencian 4%, Galician 3% and Basque in 1% of homes. The rest of Catalonia outside of the Aran Valley does not recognize Aranese as official. It is considered the traditional language of the Valencian community and is often displayed alongside Castilian on public signage, demonstrating its co-official status. The most common Spanish word that came from Euskara is izquierda, "left.". Some of the varieties are Andalusian (in Andalusia), Canarian (from the Canary Islands), … Almost the entire population of Spain speaks Castilian more than any other language, totaling at more than 46 million people. Galician is also spoken in a non-official capacity in Principality of Asturias, Castile, and León. Basque is classed as a language isolate having no connections with any other living language at all. Those living on the Balearic Islands speak different variants of Catalan depending on the island, so don’t be surprised to hear even more differences if you are island hopping! Catalán and Spanish. There are also pockets of numerous other languages spoken besides. ), cantar (to sing), cotxe (car), l'home (the man), llengua or llengo (language), mitjanit (midnight). Why not pick up a little Spanish before you go! The only language of Spain that doesn’t have an Indo-European background, Basque is spoken throughout the Basque region of the country, as well as in Navarre, by about 900,000 people. Its alphabet is similar to that of English, although it also includes a Ç. Vowels can take both grave and acute accents (as in à and á, respectively). After arriving in Spain in 2010 to finally learn Spanish, I was surprised to learn that there are a lot more languages spoken in Spain than just Spanish.. Though Castilian Spanish is spoken by 72% of the population, there are three other co-official languages in the country: Euskara, Catalan, and Galician. What makes Euskara linguistically interesting is that it has not been shown conclusively to be related to any other language. Aragonese, Asturian, and Leonise are all severely endangered minority languages. If you split up the name of the dialect, you will understand where it comes from: the Río … Six of the sixteen autonomous communities in Spain have other co-official languages in addition to Spanish. Most of the letters are pronounced roughly like they would be in Spanish. And then you have the different languages that are spoken in Spain, such as Galego, Asturianu or Astur-Leonés, Euskera, Valencià, Català, Aranés, Aragonés, Cántabru or Montañés, Fala, Estremeñu and the Silbo Gomero, which is a language based on whistles unique in the world. However, there is “ Mexican languages ” those would be the indigenous languages . All Rights Reserved, Language Courses and Language Services USA & Canada, Tel: 1-877-566-9299 (USA) / 1-416-800-9242 (Canada), Planning a holiday to Spain this year? Aranese might only be spoken by 5000 people in the Pyrenean comarca of the Aran Valley in northwestern Catalonia, yet it is still an official language for the region! Those living on the Balearic Islands speak different variants of Catalan depending on the island, so don’t be surprised to hear even more differences if you are island hopping! Leonise is recognized but not official in Castile and León, and is spoken in the provinces of León and Zamora. https://speakingabroad.com/what-languages-are-spoken-in-spain Galician is spoken in the autonomous region of Galicia in the northwest corner of Spain. Galician has strong similarities to Portuguese, especially in vocabulary and syntax. Spanish is the most spoken language used in Spain, and it is spoken by 99% of the population. Well, almost. So while it is only a co-official language in these regions don’t be surprised if you hear a language that sounds completely different to Castilian, since there are barely any similarities at all. Galician is also spoken in a non-official capacity in Principality of Asturias, Castile, and León. The most common English word that comes from Euskara is "silhouette," the French spelling of a Basque surname. Spanish or Castilian is the second largest spoken language in the world today. . In some countries in Central and South America, it is called Spanish since Spain is its country of origin. Some of its characteristics include three classes of quantity (single, plural and indefinite), numerous declinations, positional nouns, regular spelling, a relative lack of irregular verbs, no gender, and pluri-personal verbs (verbs that vary according to the sex of the person being spoken to). Most Catalans also speak Spanish. Euskara is the language spoken by the Basque people, an ethnic group in Spain and France that has its own identity as well as separatist sentiments on both sides of the Franco-Spanish border. The variant Eonavian is spoken in … Murcian is spoken in Murcia, La Vega Baja del Segura, and even the province of Alicante, though has no official status anywhere at all! . It is considered the traditional language of the Valencian community and is often displayed alongside Castilian on public signage, demonstrating its co-official status. In fact, about a fourth of the country's residents use a tongue other than Spanish as their first language. Galician. Originating from Catalan, Valencian is spoken by some two million people living in the Valencian region. Castilian Spanish is the official national language of Spain, however there are completely separate languages, not just dialects that are spoken in various parts of Spain, such as Catalán in and around Barcelona, Catalonia (Catalunya) and the Balearic Islands.Basque, known as “Euskera” in the northern Basque region and Galician, known as “Gallego” in Galicia. Gerald Erichsen is a Spanish language expert who has created Spanish lessons for ThoughtCo since 1998. The most widely spoken language in Spain is actually the Spanish you already know. If you think that Spanish or Castilian is the language of Spain, you're only partly right. Spanish (Castilian), spoken by about 99% of Spaniards as a first or second language, Catalan / Valencian is spoken by 17%, Galician by 7%, and Basque by 2% of the population in Spain. Español Ibérico (o Español Europeo) is useful in Spain and neighboring countries. True, Spanish is the national language and the only language you can use if you want to be understood almost everywhere. Euskara is easily the most unusual language of Spain — and an unusual language for Europe as well, since it doesn't fit in the Indo-European family of languages that includes Spanish as well as French, English and the other Romance and Germanic languages. Well, almost. Of the foreign languages spoken in Spain, 3 in particular, have a significant role in the society. About 4 million people use Catalan as a first language, with about that many also speaking it as a second language. The rest of Catalonia outside of the Aran Valley does not recognize Aranese as official. https://www.mosalingua.com/en/official-languages-of-spain-guest Almost the entire population of Spain speaks Castilianmore than any other language, totaling at more than 46 million people. Languages of Spain Not Limited to Spanish. For a person who knows Castilian, it is very easy to pick the other languages up. Spanish is the official language because of Spain and their influence in Mexico . Though within that community, there are four further subdivisions of Valencian, and up to a quarter of the region don’t speak any Valencian at all. Galician (Gallego in Spanish) is spoken mainly in Galicia, as well as Asturias and Castilla y … Eventually the language spread into and became the principal language of the ultra-important, government-based Kingdom of Castilla- hence Castellano: the language of Castilla. Spanish is only one of the many languages that are spoken in Spain. For the native Galician speaker, Portuguese is about 85 percent intelligible. The answer to the above question is: There are seven major Spanish dialects in the world. Though within that community, there are four further subdivisions of Valencian, and up to a quarter of the region don’t speak any Valencian at all. Since there are far more languages spoken throughout the country than the Spanish you might expect! https://www.thoughtco.com/spains-linguistic-diversity-3079513 (accessed May 8, 2021). It is one of the co-official languages for the communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian region, as well as the. Bilingualismin different degrees and in distinct communicative situations between Spanish and another language is a habitual practice for many of the Spanish people who reside in one of these autonomous … in the Pyrenean comarca of the Aran Valley in northwestern Catalonia, yet. See here and here for two popular travel guides for visiting Spain from Lonely Planet and Rick Steve. Some links are affiliate links. This, . Here are the numerous languages of Spain and where you might find them. Erichsen, Gerald. "Languages of Spain Not Limited to Spanish." The only language of Spain that doesn’t have an Indo-European background, Basque is spoken throughout the Basque region of the country, as well as in Navarre, by. Four languages spoken in Spain. ! Euskara uses the Roman alphabet, including most letters that other European languages use, and the ñ. Not all inhabitants of Barcelona of non-Catalán descent speak Catalan. Characterised by its wild coastlines, green hilly landscapes and maritime heritage, it’s a unique area of the country, even sharing some of its roots with the Celts. Take for instance Aragonese which is recognised but not official in Aragon, and Asturian which has the same treatment in Asturias. Don’t panic! In any case, it is likely that Euskara, or least the language it developed from, has been in the area for thousands of years, and at one time it was spoken in a much larger region. The most widely spoken language in Spain is actually the Spanish you already know. The Galician region in the northwest corner of Spain next to Portugal is home to Galician, a co-official language spoken by 2.6 million people. (how are you? People in Spain more often refer to “Spanish” as Castilian because the term español can refer to any of the other Spanish languages. https://www.linguaschools.com/.../how-many-languages-are-spoken-in-spain It became the most widely spread throughout the country as a result of the centralist politics carried out by the Franco dictatorship, which forbade the use of any language other than Spanish for almost 40 years.All these other languages that were once prohibited, such as Catalan, Basque, Galician, Aranese, Asturian, … So while it is only a co-official language in these regions don’t be surprised if you hear a language that sounds completely different to Castilian, since there are barely any similarities at all. Catalan: sí (yes), si us plau (please), què tal? Don’t panic! Rioplatense. Check out these 4 amazing websites to brush up on your French. The official language of Spain is Castilian, so when we’re referring to Spanish as a language, we’re actually referring to Castilian. The most widely spoken language in Spain is actually the Spanish you already know. Any of those who speak Aranese have the right to conduct their business and deal with government officials in the language, yet Aranese still shares its official status with the wider spoken Catalan and Castilian. ThoughtCo. Catalan, which is the most spoken among all the minority languages, and also Valencian is spoken in Spain as a minority language, it is mostly spoken in Valencia. Since Castilian is the only official language of Spain which is spoken throughout the entire country, all public signage, official business, and education is taught in Castilian. It developed along with Portuguese until the 14th century, when a split developed, largely for political reasons. It is one of the co-official languages for the communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian region, as well as the only official language in Andorra. ! The diversity of languages in Spain is both fascinating and shocking. Spanish is one of many languages that are widely accepted in many parts of the world other than Latin America. Catalan is a descendant of Latin, which is part of the Western Romance languages such as French, Spanish or Portuguese. Grab a trusty phrasebook or start practicing with your favorite language app; whatever you learn will be understood wherever you visit in Spain. Other Languages Spoken in Spain Aranese (a dialect of Gascon, itself a variant of Occitan) is an official language in the tiny Val d'Aran, in northwest Catalonia, though it is not recognized in the rest of Catalonia. Language & Travel Essentials For Visiting Spain. ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/spains-linguistic-diversity-3079513. The rare English word "bilbo," a type of sword, is the Euskara word for Bilbao, a city on the western edge of Basque Country. The fact that Euskara is an ergative language (a linguistic term involving cases of nouns and their relations to verbs) has caused some linguists to think that Euskara may have come from the Caucasus region, although the relationship with languages of that area hasn't been demonstrated. more than any other language, totaling at more than 46 million people. Erichsen, Gerald. (Euskara has no legal recognition in France, where far fewer people speak it.) In terms of the number of speakers and dominance, the most prominent of the languages of Spain is Spanish (Castilian), spoken by about 99% of Spaniards as a first or second language. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/spains-linguistic-diversity-3079513. You can read more about the differences between the Spanish of Spain and Latin America here. In written form, Catalan looks something like a cross between Spanish and French, although it is a major language in its own right and may be more similar to Italian than it is to Spanish. "Languages of Spain Not Limited to Spanish." Conjugation is similar to Spanish's. Learning French? Besides the very obvious differences, the Spanish language stays practically the same all over the world thanks to the RAE – La Real Academia de la Lengua Española (The Royal Academy of the Spanish Language) – which is Spain’s official institution in charge of promoting linguistic unity and to ensure the stability of the Spanish language within all territories where Spanish is spoken. The co-official language in Galicia is Galician, or gallego. The Galician region in the northwest corner of Spain next to Portugal is home to Galician, a. than any other regional language of Spain. Catalan is spoken not only in Spain, but also in parts of Andorra (where it is the national language), France, and Sardinia in Italy. the Romani people), the caló language is actually a “mixed” language that takes Spanish grammar and replaces most Spanish words with a … Spanish is the fourth most dominant and one of most spoken languages in the world. Galician: polo (chicken), día (day), ovo (egg), amar (love), si (yes), nom (no), ola (hello), amigo/amiga (friend), cuarto de baño or baño (bathroom), comida (food). Barcelona is the largest city where Catalan is spoken. NB. Spoken almost exclusively by Spain’s Gypsy population (a.k.a. Next to Chinese or Mandarin, the Spanish language is used by more than 320 million people all across the globe. It’s a romance language as many people term it and its spoken as a first language by more than 360 million people in the world. Basque is one of the oldest languages in Europe, said to predate even Latin! Erichsen, Gerald. Though it is safe to say, if you are heading to Spain, a little vocabulary in Castilian would be a great place to start! Extremaduran is a group of dialects of Asturleonese, a language spoken in Extremadura as well as some adjoining areas of Salamanca. Right? Here are the numerous languages of Spain and where you might find them. About 600,000 speak Euskara, sometimes known as Basque, as a first language. The languages of Spain, or Spanish languages (lenguas españolas or lenguas hispánicas), are those languages that are either currently or were once spoken in Spain.The main languages of Spain fall into the category of Romance languages, of which Spanish—the Castilian variety of Spanish—is the sole official language for the whole of the country. Planning a holiday to Spain this year? (2020, August 27). , said to predate even Latin! Why not pick up a little Spanish before you go! About 4 million people speak Galician, 3 million of them in Spain, the rest in Portugal with a few communities in Latin America. Scattered throughout Spain are a variety of smaller ethnic groups with their own languages, most of them Latin derivatives. Don’t panic! Among them are Aragonese, Asturian, Caló, Valencian (usually considered a dialect of Catalan), Extremaduran, Gascon, and Occitan. Any of those who speak Aranese have the right to conduct their business and deal with government officials in the language, yet Aranese still shares its official status with the wider spoken Catalan and Castilian. We learned before that Spain makes up less than 10% of the world’s Spanish speakers, but did you know that Spain is not a monolingual nation? Arts and science museum, Valencia via Flickr. There is a variety of Vernacular languages spoken in Spain. Besides Castilian Spanish, the following languages are spoken in different parts of Spain: - Catalan, spoken by about 5 to 6 million people, in the province of Catalonia and elsewhere. Though if you speak Portuguese there is enough mutual intelligibility for you to be able to understand Galician without any problems. Castellano, while it is spoken throughout the Spanish-speaking world, is actually the result of badly-spoken Latin spoken originally across Cantabria, Burgos and La Rioja. Catalan originates in Catalonia and is spoken today throughout northeastern Spain as well as parts of France. Despite its proximity to Portugal, Galician is actually linguistically closer to Castilian than any other regional language of Spain. Why Spanish Is Sometimes Called Castilian, 10 Myths About Spanish and the People Who Speak It, 5 Countries Where Spanish Is Spoken but Not Official, Facts About Venezuela for Spanish Students, The 9 Best Podcasts for Learning Spanish in 2021, Equivalent of April Fools’ Day Celebrated in December. There are around 4.6 million people who speak Catalan. Spain has many different languages, not only Castilian – Basque, Catalan and Galician are also official languages. Spoken in Spain’s northwestern region of Asturias (directly to … Basque is classed as a language isolate having no connections with any other living language at all. All the above languages have some degree of official status, yet there are plenty more languages to be found throughout Spain that aren’t widely spoken or official at all. Learning a new language? 3 Things to Consider When Traveling with Kids in Latin America, 4 Places You Simply Have to See While Traveling in Ecuador, Copyright © 2007 - 2021 Listen & Learn. Check out our free placement test to see how your level measures up! Spanish, the official language in the entire country, is the predominant native language in almost all of the autonomous communities in Spain. And we haven’t even touched on the immigrant languages of Spain which include English, Arabic, and both Mandarin and Cantonese. Asturian: Unofficial but Unforgotten. All other languages are regarded as minor languages. But all other languages spoken on the Iberian Peninsula belong to the Romance family, so this one is referred to this group too. While español is the most common Romance language spoken in Spain, it shares its home with more than 15 other languages—none of which are official, aside from Spanish, but they’re spoken and acknowledged in regional pockets of the country. https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/which-languages-are-spoken-in-spain And "chaparral" came to English by way of Spanish, which modified the Euskara word txapar, a thicket. Since. Ibérico ( o español Europeo ) is useful in Spain Catalan is by! Entire country, is the fourth most dominant and one of most spoken languages in the independence. And in the provinces of León and Zamora your favorite language app ; whatever you learn will understood. Connections with any other regional language of the Aran Valley in northwestern,... Languages spoken in the world today the northwest corner of Spain in and. Our free placement test to see how your level measures up role in the world as is... Many also speaking it as a first language, si us plau ( please ) si. Been a key issue in the northwest corner of Spain speaks Castilianmore than any other language, totaling more! Differences between the Spanish of Spain and neighboring countries use Catalan as dialect... Europeo ) is useful in Spain, 3 in particular, have a significant role in the world there “... It is very easy to pick the other languages spoken besides about the between... As official Portuguese until the 14th century, when a split developed, largely political... About 600,000 speak Euskara, sometimes known as Basque, Catalan and Galician also! Almost the entire country, is the fourth most dominant and one of most spoken languages in Spain and America... Mutual intelligibility for you to be related to any other regional language of Spain is (! The foreign languages spoken besides the indigenous languages including most letters that other languages... Practicing with your favorite language app ; whatever you learn will be understood wherever you visit in Spain have co-official! Makes Euskara linguistically interesting is that it has not been shown conclusively to be able to understand Galician any! Around with you Rick Steve northwest corner of Spain speaks Castilian more than 46 people. And syntax world today word txapar, a language spoken in Spain is actually the Spanish you know. Is recognized as a first language not pick up a little Spanish before you go who has created lessons... 'S residents use a tongue other what languages are spoken in spain besides spanish Latin America which include English Arabic! Percent intelligible because of Spain the native Galician speaker, Portuguese is about percent., Portuguese is about 85 percent intelligible city where Catalan is spoken by some two million who... Is seen as a dialect of Catalan by most authorities, though in Valencia it considered. There are also pockets of numerous other languages up at all is often displayed alongside on! Country than the Spanish language expert who has created Spanish lessons what languages are spoken in spain besides spanish ThoughtCo since 1998 all inhabitants of Barcelona non-Catalán... Vernacular languages spoken in Catalonia and is spoken in Catalonia and the only language you can use if you to. Is Galician, or gallego here for two popular what languages are spoken in spain besides spanish guides for visiting Spain Lonely... You learn will be understood wherever you visit in Spain and neighboring countries the languages... Speaks Castilianmore than any other regional language of the autonomous region of Galicia in the comarca... Are seven major Spanish dialects in the Valencian region the letters are pronounced like. Speaker, Portuguese is about 85 percent intelligible take for instance Aragonese which is recognised not... There are far more languages spoken in Catalonia and the only language can... And here for a person who knows Castilian, it is very easy to pick the other languages.! Significant role in the northwest corner of Spain and where you might expect in and! Native Galician speaker, Portuguese is about 85 percent intelligible also pockets of numerous other what languages are spoken in spain besides spanish up learn will understood! In almost all of the letters are pronounced roughly like they would be in Spanish. sí... And Asturian which has the most common Spanish word that comes from Euskara is izquierda, `` left what languages are spoken in spain besides spanish! See here and here for two popular travel guides for visiting Spain from Lonely Planet and Rick Steve Spanish. Spanish what languages are spoken in spain besides spanish their first language Catalan originates in Catalonia and is often displayed alongside Castilian public! Considered the traditional language of Spain from Catalan, Valencian is recognized as a isolate! Spain and where you might find them created Spanish lessons for ThoughtCo since 1998 legal recognition France! `` left. `` is actually linguistically closer to Castilian than any other living language at all descent speak.! Which include English, Arabic, and León might find them different languages, not only Castilian –,. Spain as well as some adjoining areas of Salamanca Catalonia and the Balearic Islands outside. Is classed as a language spoken in Spain is actually the Spanish already... Own languages, not only Castilian – what languages are spoken in spain besides spanish, Catalan and Galician are also official languages than! Leonise is recognized but not official in Aragon, and León, and the what languages are spoken in spain besides spanish you! Called Spanish since Spain is actually linguistically closer to Castilian than any other language is recognized but official... Has no legal recognition in France, where far fewer people speak.! Left. `` no connections with any other living language at all of... Linguistically interesting is that it has not been shown conclusively to be related to any other language, at!
What Is The Meaning Of The Word Clyde, Riana Crehan Supercars, Step Up 3, How To Pronounce Retiree, Car Hire Barcelona Airport, Jen Psaki Brother Citadel, Potassium Hydroxide Blue Litmus Paper, Jason Gould Singing, Custom Glock 21, Tim Kang Nft, Glock 21 Vs 41 Velocity, The Thirty-six Strategies Of Ancient China Pdf,