Spanish is the second most common language spoken in the US, with over 41 million people speaking it as their first language or bilingual proficiency.
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Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, over 41 million people speak Spanish as their first language or have bilingual proficiency. This represents approximately 13% of the US population.
One interesting fact is that Spanish has been spoken in what is now the United States since long before English. According to the Library of Congress, Spanish explorers and settlers arrived in what is now the US in the 16th century, long before the English colonizers arrived in the 17th century.
Another interesting fact is that the Spanish language has different regional variations and dialects. The most commonly spoken variety in the US is Mexican Spanish, but there are also significant populations of speakers of Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central and South American Spanish.
A quote from former US president George W. Bush highlights the importance of recognizing the diversity of languages in the country: “America is a welcoming society, but we can’t welcome people if we don’t recognize the need to have an assimilation process that’s effective. Part of that is learning English. And part of that is encouraging people to participate in the great American experience. But we’ve got to recognize America is a diverse country, and we must respect other people’s cultures and languages.”
Here is a table showing the states with the highest percentage of Spanish speakers:
| State | Percentage of Spanish speakers |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | 47.7% |
| Texas | 29.4% |
| Arizona | 22.5% |
| California | 28.8% |
| Nevada | 26.8% |
| Colorado | 21.8% |
| Florida | 20.6% |
| New York | 18.8% |
| New Jersey | 14.6% |
| Illinois | 14.2% |
Overall, Spanish is an important language in the US, both culturally and economically. It is important to recognize and celebrate the diversity of languages and cultures in the country.
Video response to “How common is Spanish in the US?”
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Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States. Over 41 million people aged five or older speak Spanish at home. Spanish is also the most learned language other than English, with about six million students.
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What percentage of the US population speak Spanish? Answer: As of 2022, around 42.5 million individuals in the US speak Spanish as their native tongue, accounting for 13.4% of the total population. Additionally, there are 12.2 million bilingual Spanish speakers living in the US. There are around 54.2 million Spanish speakers in the USA overall.
Secondly, Is Spanish more common than English in the US?
Answer will be: Spanish is undoubtedly the next most dominant spoken language in the U.S. after English. With over 41 million speakers across the country, the Spanish language and culture are prominent in a multitude of different areas, from California to New York.
In this regard, Why is Spanish so common in US?
Response: As with American English, Spanish-language variation in the United States is due in part to diversity among Spanish speakers who settled during colonization. Although the Iberian Peninsula (home of Spain and Portugal) is relatively small, it has been home for centuries to rich linguistic diversity.
What Spanish is most common in the US?
Response will be: Mexican
There are currently 5 major sub-types of Spanish spoken in the United States. These are Mexican, Caribbean, Central American, Colonial, and Spanglish, with Mexican Being the most common.