The languages of South America can be divided into three broad groups: * the languages of the (in most cases, former) colonialism, colonial powers; * many Indigenous languages of South America, 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: * Aymara language, Aymara in Bolivia and Peru * Guarani language, Guaraní in Bolivia and Paraguay * Quechuan languages, Quechua in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru

Indigenous languages

Map-Most Widely Spoken Native Languages in Latin America

Indigenous languages of the Americas, 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; Guarani language, Guaraní in Paraguay and to a much lesser extent in Argentina and Bolivia; Aymara language, Aymara in Bolivia and Peru and to a lesser extent in Chile; Wayuu language, Wayuu in northern Colombia and northwest Venezuela; and Mapuche language, 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 Fundação Nacional do Índio, Funai, the agency responsible for the protection of the native people. Rapa Nui language, Rapa Nui is a Polynesian languages, Polynesian language spoken on Easter Island, Chile.

Classification

*Macro-Chibchan languages, Macro-Chibchan **Chibchan languages, Chibchan ***Chibcha-Duit, Uwa language, Tunebo, Arhuaco language, Arhuaco, Cuna-Cueva, Guaymí language, Guaymi-Dorasque, Talamanca languages, Talamanca, Rama-Guatuso ***Misumalpan languages, Misumalpan, Paya language, Paya, Xincan languages, Xinca, Lencan languages, Lenca ***Shiriana language, Shiriana **Paezan languages, Paezan ***Choco languages, Choco, Awa Pit language, Cuaiquer, Andaqui language, Andaki, Coconucan language, Paez-Coconuco, Colorado-Cayapa, Warao language, Warrau, Matanawi language, Mura-Matanawi, Jirajira, Yunca, Kunza language, Atacameno, Itonama language, Itonama *Andean-Equatorial **Andean ***Ona language, Ona, Yaghan language, Yahgan, Kawésqar language, Alacaluf, Tehuelche language, Tehuelche, Puelche language, Puelche, Araucanian languages, Araucanian ***Quechuan languages, Quechua, Aymara language, Aymara ***Zaparoan languages, Zaparoan ****Omurano language, Omurano, Cabela ***Cahuapanan languages, Cahuapana ***Leco language, Leco, Sechura language, Sec, Culle language, Culle, Hibito language, Xibito-Cholon, Catacaoan languages, Catacao, Colan language, Colan ***Urarina language, Simacu **Jivaroan languages, Jibaro-Kandoshi, Esmeralda language, Esmeralda, Cofán language, Cofan, Yaruro language, Yaruro **Tucanoan languages, Macro-Tucanoan ***Tucano language, Tucano ****Auixira ***Kanamarí language, Catuquina, Ticuna language, Ticuna, Munichi language, Muniche, Arutani language, Auaque, Sapé language, Caliana, Jukude language, 'Maku', Yuri language (Amazon), Yuri, Canichana language, Canichana, Mobima ***Puinave language, Puinave **Equatorial ***Arawakan languages, Arawak ****Chapacuran languages, Chapacura-Uanhaman, Chamicuro language, Chamicuro, Lapachu language, Apolista, Yanesha' language, Amuesha, Aroã language, Araua, Uru language, Uru ***Tupi language, Tupi ****Ariqueme ***Timote language, Timote, Kariri languages, Cariri, Ayoreo language, Zamuco, Guahibo language, Guahibo-Pamigua, Piaroa-Saliban languages, Saliban, Otomaco language, Otomaco-Taparita, Mocoa, Huachipaeri language, Tuyuneri, Yuruneri, Trumai language, Trumai, Cayuvava language, Cayuvava *Ge-Pano-Carib **Macro-Jê languages, Macro-Gê ***Ge, Kaingang language, Caingang, Kamakã languages, Camacan, Maxakalí language, Machacali, Purí language, Puri, Pataxó language, Pataxo, Malalí language, Malali, Koropó language, Coropo, Krenak languages, Botocudo, Chiquitano language, Chiquita, Guató language, Guato, Fulniô language, Fulnio, Otí language, Oti ***Bororo language, Bororo ***Karajá language, Caraja **Macro-Panoan languages, Macro-Panoan ***Pano-Tacanan languages, Tacana-Pano, Chimane language, Moseten, Matacoan languages, Mataco, Lule language, Lule, Vilela language, Vilela, Toba-Maskoy language, Mascoy, Charrúa language, Charrua, Guaicuruan languages, Guaycuru-Opaie Source:

Other non-indigenous languages

In Brazil, Italian and German dialects, specifically Talian dialect, Talian, East Pomeranian dialect, East Pomeranian, and Hunsrik, have co-official status alongside Portuguese Language, Portuguese in about a dozen cities and are mandatory subjects in schools in other municipalities. The states of Santa Catarina (state), Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul have Talian dialect, Talian officially approved as a heritage language in these states, and Espírito Santo has the East Pomeranian dialect, along with the German language as cultural heritage. English language, English is an official language in Guyana, and its Guyanese Creole, 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 language, French is the official language in French Guiana, an Overseas departments and regions of France, overseas region of France. Dutch language, Dutch is the official language in neighboring Suriname. Italian language, Italian is spoken by communities in Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Brazil. German language, German is used by some in Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Colombia. Welsh language, Welsh is spoken and written in the historic towns of Trelew and Rawson, Chubut, Rawson in Argentine Patagonia. There are also small clusters of Japanese language, Japanese speakers in Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia (including Okinawan people, Okinawans from the island of Okinawa). Brazil currently holds the largest Japanese community outside Japan. Caribbean Hindustani is spoken by the Indo-Guyanese and the Indo-Surinamese. In Suriname, the language is known as Sarnami Hindoestani and is still widely spoken. However, in Guyana, where it is known as Aili Gaili, the language is nearly extinct as a spoken language, with only words and phrases still remaining. Javanese language, Javanese is spoken by the Javanese Surinamese who form about 14% of the country's population. Sranan Tongo, an English-based creole, serves as one of the lingua francas of Suriname, alongside Dutch. Other non-indigenous languages spoken include Arabic, Chinese language, Chinese, Romani language, Romani, Haitian Creole, Romanian language, Romanian, Greek language, Greek, Polish language, Polish, Ukrainian language, Ukrainian, and Russian language, Russian.

References

External links