![]() The Spanish explorers explored areas of 42 of the future US states leaving behind a varying range of Hispanic legacy in North America. Colonizers settled in areas that would later become Florida, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California as well as in what is now the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Spanish has been spoken in what is now the United States since the 15th century, with the arrival of Spanish colonization in North America. According to the 2019 American Community Survey conducted by the US Census Bureau, Spanish is spoken at home by 41.8 million people aged five or older, more than twice as many as in 1990. In the United States there are more speakers of Spanish than speakers of French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Hawaiian, the various varieties of Chinese, the Indo-Aryan languages, and the Native American languages combined. There is an Academy of the Spanish Language located in the United States as well. Estimates range from 41 million to over 50 million native speakers, heritage language speakers, and second-language speakers. Spanish is also the most learned language other than English, with about six million students. Over 41 million people aged five or older speak Spanish at home. The country was under Spanish colonial rule beginning in the late 18th century before gaining independence in 1968.įun fact: Equatorial Guinea has 3 official languages-Spanish, French, and Portuguese.Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States. The only Spanish-speaking country in Africa is Equatorial Guinea. As well as ‘Las Islas Baleares’ (The Balearic islands) including Minorca, Majorca and Ibiza.įun fact: Castilian Spanish is the official language of Spain, but there are 4 other co-official languages used in some territories-Catalan/Valencian, Galician, Basque, and Aranese. There are several islands too that are Autonomous communities of Spain including ‘Las Islas Canarias’ (The Canary Islands) including Lanzarote, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera and La Palma. Countryĭespite Spain’s widespread influence throughout the Americas, Spanish is only the official language of one country in Europe, and that’s Spain! However, Sucre is considered the official capital, while La Paz is the seat of the legislative and executive branches of government. Spanish explorers and conquistadors brought the Spanish language with them to Central and South America during the 16th and 17th centuries, which is why the language is so prevalent in these countries today.įun fact: Bolivia has two capitals-La Paz and Sucre. There are 9 Spanish-speaking countries in South America. Spanish Speaking Countries in South America ![]() There are 10 Spanish-speaking countries in North America, which includes Central America and the Caribbean.įun fact: Puerto Rico is a US territory and has two official languages-Spanish and English. ![]() Spanish Speaking Countries in North America (Central America & the Caribbean) Spanish is the official language of 21 countries around the world, most of which you’ll find in North and South America. Now that we know how many native Spanish speakers there are around the world, let’s take a look at where most Spanish speakers live. Related post: Hispanic Heritage Biographies about Influential Latinos 21 Spanish Speaking Countries Around the World When you look at the numbers, you can certainly see why investing in your child’s Spanish language education is an excellent idea! The ultimate goal, though, is for students to enjoy the benefits of bilingualism in our increasingly globally connected world. It may reinforce your native language and culture, provide extra support for English language learners, and/or teach a new language to English-speaking students. As of 2021, there were 2,936 Spanish dual language immersion (DLI) programs in public schools across the US.Ī bilingual education can serve multiple purposes depending on a family’s unique situation and needs. ![]() With so many native Spanish speakers and bilingual families in the US, it’s no wonder that we’re seeing a rise in bilingual education and dual language schools. With over 41 million native Spanish speakers in the US, it also has the highest Spanish-speaking population in a country where Spanish is not the official language. The study also found that the US has the fifth largest native Spanish-speaking population, after Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Spain. According to the Wilson Center, this means that Spanish is the second most common native language in the world, after Mandarin Chinese. ![]()
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