Spanish
Español
Spanish is the official language of 20 countries — more countries than any other language in the world!
Amy says:
¡Hola! I'm Amy! Spanish is the language of passion, music, and adventure! From flamenco in Spain to salsa in Colombia and the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador — Spanish takes you everywhere. Did you know Spanish is spoken in 20 countries? That's more than any other language! ¡Increíble!
Quick Facts
Speakers
~500 million
Language Family
Romance (Latin)
Official in
20 countries
Origin
Castile, Spain (13th C)
Discover Spanish
Spanish is the official language of 20 countries — more countries than any other language in the world!
Native Speakers
~500 million
Did You Know?
Spanish is the second most spoken language by native speakers in the world, and the third most used language on the internet.
Spanish only has one letter unique to it: ñ (called "eñe") — as in jalapeño and España.
More people in the USA speak Spanish as a first language than in Spain itself!
What Makes Spanish Special?
Language of Dance
Flamenco, salsa, tango, cumbia — so many fabulous dances come from Spanish-speaking countries!
Literary Heritage
Don Quixote (1605), written in Spanish by Cervantes, is often called the world's first modern novel.
Words in English
Chocolate, tomato, avocado, and tornado all came into English from Spanish (originally from indigenous American languages via Spanish).
Keep Exploring the World!
Languages are windows into the world's cultures. Discover more languages and the countries where they are spoken.