The Languages of Spain

Map of the languages of Spain.
Map of the languages of Spain by region where they are spoken.

Name the eight major languages of Spain portrayed in the map above.

Colors are:

  1. Bright red
  2. Pink
  3. Light green
  4. Purple
  5. Aquamarine
  6. Green
  7. Dark green
  8. Brown
  9. Yellow
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8 thoughts on “The Languages of Spain”

  1. I’ve been to Spain…..should be easy for me

    Bright red – La Castellano, also known as “Standard” Spanish, “Madrid” Spanish, “posh” Spanish, or “correct” Spanish 🙂

    Pink – Catalan of course. Although in Barcelona which is the capital of Catalonia, you’re more likely to hear La Castellano compared to Catalan.

    The locals tends to speak broken English or standard Spanish with you if you’re a non-Spaniard, and even among each other.

    They will speak standard Spanish with you if you’re from Mexico or just about anywhere in Latin America.

    If you’re from Madrid or anywhere in interior Spain, they will quickly switch over to Catalan. 🙂

    Light green – Some unimportant language with maybe 5000 speakers. I’ll be better off with Spanish over there.

    Purple – Haven’t got a clue

    Aquamarine – Basque. They’re all terrorists. I haven’t been there though but I understand they all are fluent in standard Spanish.

    Green – Galician.

    Dark green – No idea

    Brown – Tourist speak! Again, no idea.

    1. The light green language has ~550,000 speakers. Green is not Galician. Galician is in yellow over by Portugal in the northwest. Actually it is quite close to the light green language. Some consider them to be the same language, but I am certain that they are different languages.

      1. I’m Galician and light green is Astur-Leonés, but it’s not an official language.
        Galician, Spanish, Eutzkera and Catalán are the official languages.

        There’s not a “proper Spanish”.
        In Galicia some of us talk Galician or Spanish.
        For example, we learn Maths and Science in Galician; and History in Spanish.
        In País Vasco most people speak Eutskera, and in Catalonia most people speak Catalán.
        However, in Galicia, speaking Galician instead of Spanish was punished by the law. Nowadays, it’s sometimes a bit socially akward for some people.
        Few people speak Catalán, Galician or Eutzkera in other places of Spain.
        Spanish is not “Standard” Spanish. None of the three other languages come from Spanish. Galician is the result of a language named Gallego-Portugués(that’s the reason that Galician is similar to Portuguese, I can have a conversation with a Portuguese person), Catalán is probably a mix of French and Italian; though I’m not sure; Eutzkera is not even a romantic language.
        So, Galician is not a “wrong Spanish” talking it in Galicia is as “correct” as speaking Spanish, the difference is that Galician is only official in Galicia and Spanish is official in the entire country.

        1. @ Nisckel

          Thank you for clearing it up. Spain is a wonderful country, I spent only 5 days there! So pardon my ignorance.

          Lots of blondes in Northern Spain… in places like Bilbao which I passed on my bus journey? Whats up with that, most Spaniards have dark, brooding features like Javier Bardem or Antorio Banderas.

  2. Despite being included here as part of Catalan, Valencian is also an official language in Spain, with more speakers than some of the ones in the map.

    Cheers!

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