Spanish speaking countries
Spanish is one of the world's largest languages, with over 100 million speakers in many countries. Spanish is also an official language within the EU and the UN.
Facts about the spanish language:
Here are some quick facts about this amazing language
- Spanish, or español, is the second most widely spoken language in the world in terms of native speakers, after Mandarin Chinese.
- It is the official language of 21 countries, including Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and many others in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Spanish is a Romance language, which means it evolved from Latin, the language of the Roman Empire.
- It has approximately 460 million native speakers worldwide, and it is estimated that there are over 570 million people who speak Spanish as either a first or second language.
- The Spanish alphabet consists of 27 letters, including the ñ (eñe), which is unique to the language.
- Spanish is phonetic, meaning that words are pronounced as they are spelled, making it relatively easy to learn the pronunciation.
- It has been influenced by various languages and cultures, including Arabic, due to the 700-year presence of the Moors in Spain.
- Spanish is known for its extensive vocabulary, with over 100,000 words in the dictionary, making it rich in expressions and nuances.
- Spanish is the third most widely used language on the internet, after English and Chinese.
- The Cervantes Institute, named after renowned Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes, is the official organization responsible for promoting the Spanish language and culture worldwide.
- Spanish is a popular language to learn as a second language, with many people worldwide studying it for business, travel, cultural, or personal reasons.
- The Real Academia Española (Royal Spanish Academy) is the institution that oversees the Spanish language and its grammar rules.
- Spanish dialects vary across regions, with notable differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and even grammar.
- Many English words have their origins in Spanish, including tomato, chocolate, avocado, and guitar.
- Spanish literature is celebrated globally, with renowned authors such as Miguel de Cervantes, Gabriel García Márquez, and Pablo Neruda.
Countries that speak spanish:
Spanish speaking countries in Africa:
Although many people know how to speak spanish in Africa, Equatorial Guinea is the only country in Africa that speaks spanish.