March 17, 2023 by Haley Harrison Hispanic Culture 0 comments
Have you ever wondered about the languages in Spain? You may be surprised to learn that people in Spain speak more than just Spanish.
That’s right!
People in Spain speak mainly four languages, and they’re all available in various parts of the country: Castilian (commonly referred to as Spanish), Euskera, Galician, and Catalan.
Crazy, huh?
So, let’s learn about the origins of these languages, where they’re spoken, how many people speak them today, and much more.
Try out Homeschool Spanish Academy at no risk!
Sign up for your free accredited online Spanish class today. ➡️

The Main Languages of Spain
Before diving into these unique languages, let’s get one thing straight. These languages are, in fact, official languages and not dialects.
Simply put, languages are the official ways that people in a country or community talk to each other. Dialects, on the other hand, are smaller parts of a language that are spoken by a certain group of people or in a certain area. Accents are often a good way to tell a dialect apart.
We can think of language as the broader umbrella term under which various dialects of a language fall.
Here’s an example. Language: English. Dialect: British English.
Now that we got that out, let’s dive into some points of interest about the four official languages spoken in Spain.
Castilian or Spanish
No surprise here. Spain’s primary language is Castilian Spanish.
99% of Spaniards speak Spanish. It’s commonly used in schools, media, TV, entertainment, music, and government websites.
If you know Spanish, you can survive and even thrive in Spain!
Today, there are over 43.64 million Spanish speakers in Spain.
History of Castilian Spanish:
The term “Castilian Spanish” refers to the Spanish spoken on the Iberian peninsula. It is the oldest form of the Spanish language.
You may know that there are over 450 million native Spanish speakers worldwide, but did you know that Castilian Spanish actually began as a dialect in the northern part of Spain?
In the 13th century, King Alfonso X ruled the regions of Castile, Leon, and Galicia in Spain.
He held most of his political power in the region of Castile and decided to make Castilian the official language of the court and state.
Also, there was another push for Castilian Spanish during The Reconquista period.
After the Moors from Northern Africa were driven out of Spain, Castilian Spanish gained momentum through literature. For example, King Alfonso X established academic scribes in Castilian, cementing the language’s place in the region and, dare we say, the world.
The Castilian Spanish Language
Spanish speakers can interact and understand each other worldwide. But Castilian Spanish and the Spanish spoken in Latin America are not the same in a lot of important ways. The most notable distinction is the ceceo.
Let’s take a look.
The letters “c” and “z” are pronounced the same as the letter “s” in Latin American Spanish. In Spain, however, they are pronounced similarly to how English speakers pronounce the “th” sound.
This is how the Spanish “lisp,” which is not truly a lisp, came to be.
In Spain, it’s also more common to use the informal plural “vosotros” rather than the formal “ustedes.”
A Castilian Spanish speaker may say, “¿Qué quereis comer?” instead of “¿Qué quieren comer?”
Castilian Spanish also has quite a few colloquial expressions. You may have heard some of them, like “Vale” which means “Okay,” or “Guay” which people in Spain use to describe something “Cool.”
Catalan
Catalonia is another popular region in Spain. But did you know the locals have had their own language for centuries?
There are roughly 9 million Catalan speakers across regions of Spain, France, and even Italy.
In Spain, you can find over 8 million of them in Aragon, the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Murcia, and Valencia.
But let’s look at its history.
History of Catalan
Catalan is a Romance language that, like Spanish, has its roots in Vulgar Latin.
It comes from the Pyrenees Mountains, which are between France and Spain. It was first written down in the 12th century.
So, yeah, it’s even older than Castilian Spanish!
Catalan was the official language of the Catalonia region until Spain’s Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand, and Isabella, united Aragón and Castile and made Castilian the official language.
Although Catalan has existed since the dawn of Spain, native speakers haven’t always been free to use it.
Catalan was banned in schools, books, newspapers, and magazines during the Spanish Civil War, the late 1930s, and Franco’s rule. People weren’t even allowed to use it in public, with friends or family.
Can you believe it? Just imagine going out with your children and being punished for speaking in your mother tongue!
But that’s not all!
Road signs and advertisements in Catalan were all changed to Spanish, and any judicial documents in Catalan were declared invalid.
After Franco’s dictatorship ended in 1975, Catalan-speaking areas regained their right to speak Catalan and kept it alive for future generations.
The Catalan Language
A common misconception is that Catalan is a dialect of Spanish. This could not be more wrong, as Catalan is an official language that, in some ways, is more similar to French than Spanish.
Let’s look at a couple of common phrases.
- Hello – Bon dia
- How are you – Com estàs
- I’m well – Estic bé
- Thank you – Gràcies
- Goodbye – Adèu
Euskera, A Basque Language
You might be surprised to learn that the oldest living language in Europe is still spoken in the north of Spain and that it’s even older than Castilian Spanish!
Approximately 37% of the Basque people still speak Euskera, which rounds up to one million speakers. They live on both sides of the Pyrenees, and most Euskera speakers live on the Spanish side.
Despite estimates that claim that 60% of Basque citizens will speak Euskera in 2036, in 2010, UNESCO gave the language official “vulnerable” status.
History of Euskera
Euskera is distinct from other Spanish-speaking languages in that it has no linguistic relatives. It is a language on its own, with no known Indo-European roots or ties to any other language groups. Cool, huh?
There are, however, theories regarding the origins of the language.
Some linguists believe Euskera and Iberian (now a dead language) were once the same or evolved from the same language. Others point to cave drawings discovered in the Basque Country around 14,000 years ago as proof that the language has existed since then.
Much like Catalan, and other minority languages in Spain, Euskera was heavily persecuted during the Spanish Civil War and the Franco dictatorship.
Euskera speakers today have memories of attending secret church services in the Basque language.
Others recall when family members were arrested for speaking Euskera during the war.
Even though people tried to kill off the Basque language, it kept going on as it had for thousands of years.
The Euskera Language
If you travel north of the Basque Country, you’ll come across cities like San Sebastian and Bilbao, where you might hear a strange language that sounds nothing like anything you’ve ever heard before.
Such is Euskera.
The Basque language has a quirky pronunciation. For example, the letters “tx” make the “ch” sound, while “tt” is similar to the “c” sound in Spanish, and “x” sounds like “sh.”
Here are some common phrases you’ll hear up north:
- Hello – Kaixo
- Goodbye – Agur
- Thank you – Eskerrik asko
- How are you? – Zer moduz?
Galician
Finally, we bring our attention to Portuguese’s sister language: Galician.
In the northwestern region of Spain, you can find beautiful fishing towns, lots of octopus, and nearly four million locals chatting in Galician.
If you know any Portuguese, you’ll likely have a relatively easy time understanding Galician, as there is a lot of overlap in its sounds and word structures.
History of Galician
Galician, like Spanish, Portuguese, and Catalan, belongs to the Western Ibero-Romance language family. It originated in the Roman province of Gallaecia and was the official language of the Kingdom of Galicia until the 15th century when Castilian Spanish replaced it.
Galician stayed in the back seat until around the 19th century, when there was a revival, and Galician speakers tried to spread the language once more. During this period, intellectuals published literature, research papers, and journalistic articles in Galician.
This resurgence lasted until the 20th century when the language was also outlawed during the Spanish Civil War and the Franco dictatorship. Yes, yet another banned language.
However, unlike many languages, Galician prevailed through its years of persecution.
There are a lot of things going on today to help younger people appreciate Galician.
The Galician Language
Galician writers like lvaro Cunqueiro, whose gravestone reads, “Here lies someone who, with his work, made Galicia last a thousand more springs,” would be pleased to know that Galician is now taught at home and in schools.
Here are some Galician phrases people might want to know:
- Welcome – Benvido/Benvida
- How are you? – Que tal estás?
- I’m well, thank you – Moi ben, grazas
- What’s your name? – Como te chamas?
- I’m from … – Eu son de …
Learn Spanish Today
Remember what we said earlier? If you know Spanish, you can survive and even thrive in Spain! Do you want to go to the La Tomatina Festival? Perhaps you’re a soccer fan and want to go see El Clásico. Well, in that case, you might need some Spanish lessons.
But again, there are over 450 million Spanish speakers worldwide. So, if you know Spanish, you can also travel across Latin America!
So, please consider signing up for a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy.
Our native-speaking instructors will help you speak Spanish from your very first class, and they’re experts in providing student-tailored Spanish programs for learner-specific language goals. We’ll be waiting for you!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these…

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”
– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”
– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”
– Erica P. Parent of 1
Want to learn more about Spanish and Hispanic culture? Check out these latest posts!
- Discover the Best Place to Learn Spanish
- Unveiling Latino Student Success in Education
- Unlocking the Vibe: Colombian Slang Decoded
- Mestizo Identity: The Roots of Mixed-Race Culture in Latin America
- Spanish Dialects: Which One is the Easiest to Master?
- What Is Acculturation and 5 Tips for Successful Acculturation
- Raising Multilingual Kids: Spanish Nannies Promoting Bilingualism
- Origins of Machismo: Identifying Its Presence in Latino Family Dynamics
- Author
- Recent Posts
Haley Harrison
Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy
Haley is freelance writer who calls Cincinnati, Ohio and Spain home. She helps brands boost their online engagement and attract new clients through authentic storytelling and effective SEO strategies. If she’s not writing or researching for her next piece, you can find her preparing for an upcoming travel adventure or watching a National Geographic documentary. Find her at haleyharrisonwriter.com or on Instagram @haleyharrison_travels.
Latest posts by Haley Harrison (see all)
- Languages in Spain: How Many Languages Are Spoken in Spain? - March 17, 2023
- 6 Unique Festivals in Spain You Won’t Find Anywhere Else - March 5, 2023
- Which Family Language Strategy Works for You? - March 2, 2023
spanish culture Spanish linguistics
FAQs
How many languages are spoken in Spain what are they? ›
Official languages of Spain. There are five official languages in Spain: Castilian, Catalan, Galician, Basque and Aranese (which has only 2,800 native speakers).
How many official languages does Spain have 1 2 3 4? ›One of them, español or castellano (Spanish), is official throughout all the territory of the country. The other four, Catalan, Aranese, Galician, and Basque, are only official in certain regions.
What languages are spoken in Spain in Spanish? ›The official language in Spain is Spanish or Castilian Spanish, which is spoken by all citizens. However, certain Autonomous Communities have their own official language in addition to Spanish. Catalan is spoken in Catalonia, Galician in Galicia, and Basque in the Basque Country and part of Navarre.
How much Spanish is spoken in Spain? ›Today, there are over 43.64 million Spanish speakers in Spain.
What language is mostly spoken in Spain? ›In terms of the number of speakers and dominance, the most prominent of the languages of Spain is Spanish, spoken by about 99% of Spaniards as a first or second language.
Is Spanish the #1 language? ›It is the world's second-most spoken native language after Mandarin Chinese; the world's fourth-most spoken language overall after English, Mandarin Chinese, and Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu); and the world's most widely spoken Romance language. The country with the largest population of native Spanish speakers is Mexico.
Is Spanish 2 enough? ›Yes. However, most colleges require a minimum of two years of a foreign language to be considered for admission. Many colleges recommend at least three years of the same world language in high school for a student to be competitive in the admissions pool. Four years makes a student more attractive.
Is there Spanish 8? ›The Spanish dollar, also known as the piece of eight (Spanish: real de a ocho, dólar, peso duro, peso fuerte or peso), is a silver coin of approximately 38 mm (1.5 in) diameter worth eight Spanish reales.
Are there 24 Spanish speaking countries? ›There are many Spanish speaking countries in the world, as Spanish is the official language of the following 20 countries, as well as Puerto Rico: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, ...
Does Spain have two official languages? ›Did you know that there are four official languages spoken in Spain? While most people are familiar with Castilian Spanish, it may surprise you to learn that there are three other official languages spoken throughout the country - Catalan, Basque (Euskera), and Galician.
Why does Spain have so many languages? ›
Each of the varying languages of Spain are roughly associated with the different kingdoms that existed in Spain before the country was united when Isabella the 1st of Castille married Ferdinand the 2nd of Aragon in 1469.
How many languages are there? ›Well, more than 7,100 languages are spoken in the world today. Each and every one of them make the world a diverse and beautiful place. Sadly, some of these languages are less widely spoken than others.
What 3 countries speak the most Spanish? ›Characteristic | Number of speakers in millions |
---|---|
Mexico | 124.85 |
Colombia | 50.64 |
Argentina | 44.94 |
Spain | 43.64 |
Let's face it: English is not the most spoken language throughout Spain. Research suggests that about 27% of the current population of this country are able to express themselves in English, but few can do it fluently and correctly.
How much of Spain can speak English? ›Spain is a country with a population of over 47 million people. Around 70% of the population speak Spanish, and 27% speak English. Meanwhile, about 3% of the country's population speaks both Spanish and English. The majority of Spaniards are native speakers of Spanish.
Is Spain Spanish and Mexican Spanish the same? ›The answer is yes and no. The Spanish spoken across Mexico, Mexican Spanish, and the Spanish spoken in Spain, Peninsular Spanish, are two dialects of the same language. Mexican Spanish and Peninsular Spanish are not exactly the same, but are mutually intelligible.
What are 9 Spanish speaking countries? ›Formally, Spanish is the official language of 20 countries and one dependent territory: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.
Do they speak English in Spain? ›Do you need to learn Spanish before moving to Spain? or can people speak a good level of English in Spain? The short answer is yes, people do speak English in Spain. However, the English proficiency level, the number of people speaking in English, or the areas where you'll hear English on the streets are limited.
What are the top 3 languages spoken other than Spanish? ›- English (1,452 million speakers) ...
- Mandarin (1,118 million speakers) ...
- Hindi (602+ million speakers) ...
- Spanish (548+ million speakers) ...
- French (280 million speakers) ...
- Modern Standard Arabic (274 million speakers) ...
- Bengali (272+ million speakers) ...
- Russian (258+ million speakers)