Official languages in South America
The languages of
South America can be divided into three broad groups:
the languages of the (in most cases, former)
colonial powers ;
many
indigenous languages , some of which are co-official alongside the colonial languages;
and various pockets of other languages spoken by immigrant populations.
Main languages
Spanish is the most spoken language of South America with Portuguese as a very close second.
Other official languages with substantial number of speakers are:
Language
Speakers
Countries
Source
Spanish
214,265,000
Argentina ,
Bolivia ,
Chile ,
Colombia ,
Ecuador ,
Paraguay ,
Peru ,
Uruguay ,
Venezuela ,
Brazil
[1]
Portuguese
211,754,600
Brazil ,
Argentina ,
Paraguay ,
Uruguay ,
Venezuela
[2]
Quechua
7,735,620
Bolivia ,
Ecuador ,
Peru ,
Argentina ,
Chile ,
Colombia
[3]
English
6,925,850
Falkland Islands ,
Guyana ,
Colombia (
San Andres y Providencia )
[4]
Guarani
6,162,790
Bolivia ,
Paraguay ,
Argentina ,
Brazil
[5]
Talian
4,000,000
Brazil
[6]
Hunsrik
3,000,000
Brazil ,
Argentina ,
Paraguay
[7]
Aymara
1,677,100
Bolivia ,
Peru ,
Chile
[8]
German
1,285,800
Argentina ,
Bolivia ,
Brazil ,
Chile ,
Paraguay ,
Peru ,
Uruguay
[9]
Italian
1,259,900
Argentina ,
Brazil ,
Uruguay ,
Venezuela
[10]
Dutch
575,000
Suriname
[11]
Japanese
425,000
Brazil
[12]
Wayuu
416,000
Colombia ,
Venezuela
[13]
French
319,400
French Guiana ,
Brazil (
Amapá )
[14]
Sranan Tongo
307,600
Suriname ,
French Guiana
[15]
Pomeranian
300,000
Brazil
[16]
Mapudungun
258,410
Argentina ,
Chile
[17]
Caribbean Hindustani
164,000
Guyana ,
Suriname ,
French Guiana
[18]
Indigenous languages
Main native languages in Latin America, legend: Quechua Guarani Aymara Nahuatl Mayan languages Mapudungun
Main language families of South America (other than Aimaran, Mapudungun, and Quechuan, which expanded after the Spanish conquest).
Indigenous languages of South America include, among several others, the
Quechua languages in
Bolivia ,
Ecuador , and
Peru and to a lesser extent in
Argentina ,
Chile , and
Colombia ;
Guaraní in
Paraguay and to a much lesser extent in Argentina and Bolivia;
Aymara in Bolivia and Peru and to a lesser extent in Chile;
Wayuu in northern Colombia and northwest
Venezuela ; and
Mapudungun in small pockets of southern Chile and Argentina.
In Bolivia, three languages—Quechua, Aymara, and Tupi Guarani—are co-official alongside Spanish. In Paraguay, Guarani shares joint official status with Spanish. In Colombia, the languages of the country's ethnic groups are constitutionally recognized as official languages in their territories; more than 60 such aboriginal languages exist today. Ecuador uses Spanish,
Northern Quechua , and
Shuar as official languages for intercultural relations. In Peru, Quechua and Aymara, as well as other indigenous languages, are co-official in the areas where they are predominant. There are many other languages once spoken in South America that are extinct today (such as the
extinct languages of the Marañón River basin ).
In Brazil, there are around 135 indigenous languages confirmed. The regions with the most speakers are North and Central-West Brazil, where there is a larger concentration of native people. Indigenous populations have been trying to keep their traditions of their homeland, with the help of
Funai , the agency responsible for the protection of the native people.
Rapa Nui is a
Polynesian language spoken on
Easter Island , Chile.
[19]
Language
Speakers
Countries
Source
Quechua
7,735,620
Bolivia ,
Ecuador ,
Peru ,
Argentina ,
Chile ,
Colombia
[3]
Guarani
6,162,790
Bolivia ,
Paraguay ,
Argentina ,
Brazil
[5]
Aymara
1,677,100
Bolivia ,
Peru ,
Chile
[8]
Wayuu
416,000
Colombia ,
Venezuela
[13]
Mapudungun
258,410
Argentina ,
Chile
[17]
Classification
Macro-Chibchan
Chibchan
Paezan
Choco ,
Cuaiquer ,
Andaki ,
Paez-Coconuco , Colorado-Cayapa,
Warrau ,
Mura-Matanawi , Jirajira, Yunca,
Atacameno ,
Itonama
Andean-Equatorial
Andean
Ona ,
Yahgan ,
Alacaluf ,
Tehuelche ,
Puelche ,
Araucanian
Quechua ,
Aymara
Zaparoan
Cahuapana
Leco ,
Sec ,
Culle ,
Xibito-Cholon ,
Catacao ,
Colan
Simacu
Jibaro-Kandoshi ,
Esmeralda ,
Cofan ,
Yaruro
Macro-Tucanoan
Equatorial
Arawak
Tupi
Timote ,
Cariri ,
Zamuco ,
Guahibo-Pamigua ,
Saliban ,
Otomaco-Taparita , Mocoa,
Tuyuneri , Yuruneri,
Trumai ,
Cayuvava
Ge-Pano-Carib
Macro-Gê
Ge,
Caingang ,
Camacan ,
Machacali ,
Puri ,
Pataxo ,
Malali ,
Coropo ,
Botocudo ,
Chiquita ,
Guato ,
Fulnio ,
Oti
Bororo
Caraja
Macro-Panoan
Source:
[20]
Other non-indigenous languages
In Brazil, Italian and German dialects, specifically
Talian ,
East Pomeranian , and
Hunsrik , have co-official status alongside
Portuguese in about a dozen cities and are mandatory subjects in schools in other municipalities. The states of
Santa Catarina
[37]
[38]
[39] and
Rio Grande do Sul have
Talian officially approved as a heritage language in these states,
[40] and
Espírito Santo has the
East Pomeranian dialect ,
[41] along with the
German language as cultural heritage.
[41]
[42]
[43]
[44]
[45]
English is an official language in
Guyana , and its
creole form is the country's most widely spoken language. English is also the official language in the territories of the
Falkland Islands (Spanish: Islas Malvinas) and
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands .
French is the official language in
French Guiana , an
overseas region of France .
Dutch is the official language in neighboring
Suriname .
Italian is spoken by communities in Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Brazil.
[10]
[46]
German is used by some in Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Colombia.
[9]
[47]
Welsh is spoken and written in the historic towns of
Trelew and
Rawson in Argentine
Patagonia .
[48]
There are also small clusters of
Japanese speakers in Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia (including
Okinawans from the island of Okinawa). Brazil currently holds the largest Japanese community outside Japan.
[49]
[12]
Caribbean Hindustani is spoken by the
Indo-Guyanese and the
Indo-Surinamese .
[50] In Suriname, the language is known as Sarnami Hindoestani and is still widely spoken. However, in Guyana, where it is known as Aili Gaili,
[51] the language is nearly extinct as a spoken language, with only words and phrases still remaining.
[52]
Javanese is spoken by the
Javanese Surinamese who form about 14% of the country's population.
[53]
Sranan Tongo , an English-based creole, serves as one of the lingua francas of Suriname, alongside Dutch.
[15]
Other non-indigenous languages spoken include
Arabic ,
[54]
Chinese ,
[55]
Romani ,
[56]
Haitian Creole ,
[57]
Romanian ,
[58]
Greek ,
[59]
Polish ,
[60]
Ukrainian ,
[61] and
Russian .
[62]
See also
References
^
Spanish at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
Portuguese at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
a
b
Quechuan at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
English at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
a
b
Guarani at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
Venetian at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
Hunsrik at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
a
b
Central Aymara at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
,
Southern Aymara at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
a
b
German, Standard at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
a
b
Italian at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
"Nederlands in het Caribisch gebied en Suriname" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Taalunie. 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023 .
^
a
b
Japanese at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
a
b
Wayuu at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
French at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
a
b
Sranan Tongo at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
Saxon, Low at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
a
b
Mapudungun at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
Sarnami Hindustani at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
Rapa Nui at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^ Greenberg, Joseph H. "The general classification of Central and South American languages", in: Men and cultures; selected papers of the 5th international congress of anthropological and ethnologicalsciences, Philadelphia, September 1956 PP. 791-4
^
"Câmara Bento – Projeto do Executivo é aprovado e Talian se torna a língua co-oficial – Jornal Cidades da Serra" . 24 September 2016. Archived from
the original on 24 September 2016.
^
"Lei confirma o Talian como segunda língua oficial de Caxias do Sul" . 30 March 2019. Archived from
the original on 30 March 2019.
^
"Leouve - Talian é língua cooficial de Flores da Cunha" . 15 June 2016. Archived from
the original on 15 June 2016.
^
Lei Nº 1310 de 16 de outubro de 2015 - Dispõe sobre a cooficialização da língua do "talian", à língua portuguesa, no município de Nova Roma do Sul"
^
O Talian agora é a língua co-oficial de Nova Roma do Sul , município de Nova Roma do Sul
^
"Município de Serafina Corrêa Vereadores aprovam o talian como língua co-oficial do município" . 30 March 2019. Archived from
the original on 30 March 2019.
^
a
b
c
d
e
Espírito Santo investe na preservação da língua pomerana , in "Registros Escritos" , fifth paragraph.
^
"A escolarização entre descendentes pomeranos em Domingos Martins" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Archived from
the original (PDF) on 21 December 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011 .
^
a
b
"A co-oficialização da língua pomerana (third paragraph)" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Archived from
the original (PDF) on 21 December 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011 .
^
Município de Itarana participa de ações do Inventário da Língua Pomerana , Prefeitura Municipal de Itarana
^
«Lei Municipal nº 1.195/2016 de Itarana/ES» . itarana.es.gov.br
^
"Pomerano!?" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 24 August 2011 .
^
"No Brasil, pomeranos buscam uma cultura que se perde" (in Portuguese). Archived from
the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011 .
^
"Lei dispõe sobre a cooficialização da língua pomerana no município de Santa maria de Jetibá, Estado do Espírito Santo" (in Portuguese). Archived from
the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011 .
^
a
b
Cooficialização de línguas no Brasil: características, desdobramentos e desafios , third page.
^
"Vila Pavão, Uma Pomerânia no norte do Espirito Santo" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 24 August 2011 .
^
"LEI Nº 14.951" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 August 2011 .
^
"Rotary apresenta ações na Câmara. FEIBEMO divulga cultura italiana" (in Portuguese). 11 August 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011 .
^
"Fóruns sobre o Talian - Eventos comemoram os 134 anos da imigração italiana" (in Portuguese). Archived from
the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2011 .
^
"Aprovado projeto que declara o Talian como patrimônio do RS" (in Portuguese). Archived from
the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2011 .
^
a
b
"O povo pomerano no ES" (in Portuguese). Archived from
the original on 21 December 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011 .
^
"Plenário aprova em segundo turno a PEC do patrimônio" (in Portuguese). Archived from
the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2011 .
^
"Emenda Constitucional na Íntegra" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 August 2011 .
^
"ALEES - PEC que trata do patrimônio cultural retorna ao Plenário" (in Portuguese). Archived from
the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2011 .
^
"Pommern in Brasilien - LernCafe – Online-Journal zur allgemeinen Weiterbildung" . www.lerncafe.de .
^ Bernasconi, Giulia (30 January 2012).
"L'ITALIANO IN VENEZUELA" .
^
"German, Colonia Tovar" . Ethnologue . Retrieved 2022-02-06 .
^
Welsh at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
"Japan, Brazil mark a century of settlement, family ties | The Japan Times Online" . 2008-01-15.
^ Frawley, William (2003).
International Encyclopedia of Linguistics: 4-Volume Set . Oxford University Press, USA. pp. 481–482.
ISBN
978-0-19-513977-8 .
^
"Language" . Caribbean Hindustani . Retrieved 2021-01-04 .
^
"The Linguistic Legacy of Indian-Guyanese" . Stabroek News . 2014-04-21. Retrieved 2021-01-04 .
^
"Suriname - The World Factbook" . www.cia.gov . Retrieved 2021-01-04 .
^
Arabic at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
Chinese at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
Romani at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
Haitian at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
Romanian at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
Greek at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
Polish at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
Ukrainian at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
^
Russian at
Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020)
External links
Language families and isolates
Proposed groupings
Linguistic areas Countries Lists