What Are the 21 Spanish-Talking Nations?

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There are 21 Spanish-speaking international locations throughout the globe, together with a number of others the place Spanish is broadly spoken, spanning 5 continents: North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Despite the fact that these international locations share the identical language, the way in which it’s spoken differs tremendously among the many 600 million Spanish audio system worldwide.  

Linguistic variations are vital for on a regular basis communication, so earlier than you ask for assist catching an autobús (bus) or ask for a pajita (straw), you’ll need to grow to be acquainted with native phrases. For example, an autobús is known as a guagua in Cuba and Puerto Rico, and what you already know as pajita is often known as popote in Mexico. 

On this information, you’ll be taught how many individuals communicate Spanish in every nation based on 2025 knowledge from World Inhabitants Evaluate, together with vital variations in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary to arrange you for any dialog—whether or not you’re touring all through the Spanish-speaking world or working towards with a Spanish tutor.

Spanish-speaking international locations in North and Central America

Spanish is a rising international language spoken all through North and Central America. 

Mexico

Capital: Mexico Metropolis
Variety of Spanish audio system: 127 million
Distinctive vocabulary: popote (straw), chido (cool), güey (dude)

Topping the chart at 127 million Spanish audio system, Mexico is the quintessential Spanish-speaking nation. Though Spanish isn’t the official nationwide language (Mexico doesn’t have one), it’s by far the most typical. Roughly 97% of the inhabitants speaks Spanish, with the remaining talking one in every of its indigenous languages, reminiscent of Nahuatl or Zapotec. 

As you make your manner south via Central America, you’ll discover the “s” sound on the finish of phrases beginning to drop off. However in Mexico, Spanish audio system usually pronounce the “s” on the finish of phrases clearly, which makes vocabulary slightly simpler for newbies to grasp. 

In Mexico, you’ll hear many distinctive vocabulary phrases for on a regular basis meals and objects like ejote (inexperienced bean) as an alternative of judía verde and chamarra (jacket) as an alternative of chaqueta. So if you wish to be taught the best way to communicate Spanish in Mexico, the distinct vocabulary is a good place to start out so you may perceive the locals! 

Guatemala

Capital: Guatemala Metropolis
Variety of Spanish audio system: 13.8 million
Distinctive vocabulary: patojo/patoja (baby), chilero (cool/superior), chonguengue (social gathering) 

Spanish is the official language of Guatemala, spoken by round 78% of the inhabitants. Guatemalan Spanish displays its Mayan roots, with phrases that start with “x” pronounced like “sh” (e.g., “sho-ko-meel” for Xocomil) and distinct indigenous-influenced vocabulary like chumpa (jacket) and burra (bus). When touring in Guatemala, you might need to familiarize your self with voseo in Spanish, which refers to the usage of vos as an alternative of tú when chatting with family and friends members. 

Honduras 

Capital: Tegucigalpa
Variety of Spanish audio system: 9.6 million
Distinctive vocabulary: alero (bestie), pijín (social gathering), cheque (OK/alright)

Honduran Spanish, which can be influenced by the Mayans and different indigenous cultures, is spoken by 98% of the inhabitants. As a consequence of its proximity and shared indigenous historical past, Hondurans use a lot of the identical Spanish slang as Guatemalans, like pisto (cash) and boquita (snack). Like Guatemalans, Hondurans additionally steadily use vos as an alternative of tú amongst family and friends.

One key distinction, nevertheless, lies within the aspiration of the “s” and “j” sounds. This implies the “s” is steadily softened into an “h” sound in numerous positions, reminiscent of in the beginning of phrases (“hemana” as an alternative of semana) or between vowels (“prehidente” for presidente).

El Salvador

Capital: San Salvador
Variety of Spanish audio system: 6.3 million
Distinctive vocabulary: bicho (child), chivo (cool), ¡Púchica! (Wow!)

Salvadoran Spanish, spoken by over 99% of the inhabitants, is thought for its use of voseo in addition to caliche, which refers back to the distinctive Salvadoran slang. For example, amigos (buddies) are also known as cheros. Nevertheless, in Spoken Spanish, you may hear this phrase pronounced like “chero” as a result of the ultimate “s” in phrases is steadily softened, aspirated to sound like an “h,” and even dropped utterly. 

Nicaragua 

Capital: Managua
Variety of Spanish audio system: 6.8 million
Distinctive vocabulary: nica (Nicaraguan), queque (cake), lampazo (mop)

Out of all of the Spanish-speaking international locations in Central America, voseo is most prevalent in Nicaragua. You’ll hear vos used as an alternative of tú in most casual conditions. You’ll additionally hear a softened “s” sound, significantly on the finish of phrases, or dropped altogether. For instance, ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?)  could come throughout as “¿Cómo etá?” 

Costa Rica 

Capital: San José
Variety of Spanish audio system: 5.2 million
Distinctive vocabulary: mae (dude), pura vida (superior), chunche (factor)

Over 99% of Costa Ricans are native Spanish audio system, and plenty of choose to make use of vos in casual conditions. In contrast to many different Spanish-speaking international locations, Costa Ricans don’t usually roll their “r”s. Ticos additionally are likely to drop the ultimate “d” from phrases, like “usté” as an alternative of usted (you, formal). 

Panama 

Capital: Panama Metropolis
Variety of Spanish audio system: 4.1 million
Distinctive vocabulary: cocobolo (bald particular person), ¡Áyala! (Oh no!), buco (rather a lot) 

Though Spanish is Panama’s majority language, with about 92% of the inhabitants talking it, Ngäbere and different indigenous languages are additionally spoken. Mola (mola shirt), tamarindo (tamarind), and raspao (shaved ice) are just a few phrases which have been adopted into Panamanian Spanish from the area’s indigenous languages. 

In some areas, Panamanians pronounce “ch” like “sh.” So, the phrase hecho (carried out/made) is pronounced like “eh-shoh.”

Spanish-speaking international locations within the Caribbean

What number of Spanish-speaking international locations are there within the Caribbean? This space is dwelling to a number of nations the place Spanish is the official language, alongside territories with vital Spanish-speaking communities. 

Cuba

Capital: Havana
Variety of Spanish audio system: 11.2 million
Distinctive vocabulary: yuma (foreigner), gao (home), ¿Qué bolá? (What’s up?)

Almost 100% of Cuba’s inhabitants are native Spanish audio system, and Taíno, the indigenous Arawakan language, has influenced a portion of their vocabulary. Some phrases adopted into Spanish from Taíno embrace hamaca (hammock), guayaba (guava), and huracán (hurricane).

Along with distinct Cuban slang like jama (meals/meal) and asere (buddy), grammatical and pronunciation points make Cuban Spanish distinctive, such because the utilization of a redundant topic pronoun. Should you’ve ever taken a Spanish class, you’ll have discovered that you just don’t want to incorporate the Spanish topic pronoun if it’s implied by the verb conjugation. Nevertheless, in Cuban Spanish, the topic pronoun is steadily used even when it’s redundant. Cubans additionally are likely to drop the “d” sound between vowels, particularly in phrases ending in “-ado,” making aficionado (fan) sound like “aficionao.”

Dominican Republic

Capital: Santo Domingo
Variety of Spanish audio system: 10.4 million
Distinctive vocabulary: pana (buddy), concho (taxi), ¿Qué lo que? (What’s up?)

With almost 98% of the inhabitants talking Spanish, you’ll shortly understand that to maintain up within the Dominican Republic, you’ll want to regulate to the pace of speaking. Dominican Spanish is notoriously quick, and never solely that, however they usually drop last vowel sounds (not simply the “s”) and steadily substitute an “l” sound for “r.”

Puerto Rico 

Capital: San Juan
Variety of Spanish audio system: 3.2 million
Distinctive vocabulary:  chavos (cash), boricua (Puerto Rican), guagua (bus)

Though Puerto Rico is included on this record of the world’s 21 official Spanish-speaking international locations, it’s vital to recollect it’s not its personal nation however a territory of the US, with over 99% of the inhabitants being native Spanish audio system.

Puerto Rican Spanish is a singular dialect that may be significantly difficult to grasp attributable to its many dropped letters and frequent use of contractions. Whereas different Spanish-speaking teams could drop a last “s” or “d,” Puerto Ricans go a step additional, even dropping letters at first of phrases along with the top! This considerably alters the sound of phrases. For instance, estás (you’re) could usually sound like “eta’.”

Spanish-speaking international locations in South America

There are 12 Spanish-speaking international locations in South America, every with distinctive dialects and traits of the language.

Colombia 

Capital: Bogotá
Variety of Spanish audio system: 51.7 million
Distinctive vocabulary: camello (work), chécheres (stuff), guaro (drink) 

Sometimes called the “best” Spanish dialect, Colombian Spanish is thought for its clear pronunciation. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re planning a visit to one in every of its world-class locations, there are some distinctive points to concentrate on when talking with the over 99% of the inhabitants who’re native Spanish audio system. For instance, the “y” sound can usually be pronounced extra like a “j” fairly than the “ll” sound.

Moreover, when it comes to tú vs.usted in Spanish, usted reigns supreme in Colombia. Tú is used occasionally, even in additional casual conditions.

Argentina

Capital: Buenos Aires
Variety of Spanish audio system: 45.8 million
Distinctive vocabulary: che (hey), bondi (bus), posta (details)

In Argentina, 98% of the inhabitants speaks Spanish, and roughly 70% communicate Rioplatense Spanish, a dialect distinct from different Latin American areas. When touring in Argentina, you’ll hear acquainted phrases like calle (road) and lluvia (rain) pronounced with a “sh” sound. For instance, calle sounds extra like “cashe.” You’ll additionally encounter Lunfardo, a singular array of slang phrases in Argentinian Spanish that mix Italian, Spanish, and different influences. 

Argentinians virtually solely use vos because the casual singular “you” pronoun. The pronoun tú is just about non-existent.