What Languages Are Spoken In Colombia? (Revealed!)

More than 99.5% of people speak Spanish in Colombia. Since 1886, Spanish has been the official language, and indigenous languages were co-official until 1991. Whilst most Colombians speak Spanish, English has official status in parts of the country and various other Amerindian languages.

Colombia is a country with vibrant Spanish, African and indigenous influences.

The mix of cultures comes together and forms Colombia’s vivid personality.

The Colombian music scene is a perfect mashup of cultures, and with stars like Shakira, who could disagree?

Often voted the happiest country on earth, Colombia shows it has a rich history and lively culture in many different ways.

This article looks at the languages Colombian citizens speak.

In This Article

What is the official language of Colombia?

The official language of Colombia is Spanish.

Spanish has been the national language since 1886, when the Spanish Empire declared the country’s primary language.

Up until 1991, indigenous languages were co-official with Spanish.

Before the Spanish brought their language to Colombia, the majority of Colombians spoke one of 65 indigenous languages.

Interestingly, colonization brought the Spanish language to Colombia in 1499.

Whilst some people speak the indigenous languages, Spanish is the primary language of Colombia.

Is there a difference between Spanish in Colombia and Spain?

The answer, in short, is yes.

Although Spain brought the language to Colombia, the two types of Spanish are different.

The pronunciation of words is different in Colombian Spanish.

For example, in Spain, ‘z’ would be pronounced as a ‘th’ sound.

In Colombia, you would pronounce a ‘z’ the same way as an ‘s’ would be in English.

There is also a difference in grammar.

For example, it is common for people in Spain to use the present tense when talking about the past.

In Colombia, they use the simple past when talking about history.

The main difference between Spanish from Spain and Colombia is the vocabulary.

Some words are entirely different in Colombian Spanish.

For example, the word for a ‘computer’ is ‘computador’ in Colombian Spanish and ‘ordenador’ in Spain.

If you are wondering whether Spanish people will be able to talk to a Columbian then the answer is yes.

The main differences between the two types of Spanish are the words and accents.

They are not two different languages but they definitely both have unique quirks.

Are there any more languages in Colombia?

Yes, in 2005, the Colombian census revealed 65 significant languages spoken in the country.

The 65 languages belong to the indigenous people of Colombia.

To make it easy for us, academics put the languages into 12 different groups or ‘families’.

There is no complete number of indigenous languages in Colombia, as many people have differing views on what a language is and what a dialect of a language is.

The indigenous language families of Colombia are as follows:

The Central American Chibchan family, the South American families (Arawakan, Cariban, Quechuan, Tupian) and the seven regional families.

Even despite all of these languages, English is still the second most spoken dialect in Colombia.

Over 2 million people speak English, making up 3.1% of the population!

French is also spoken in Colombia, speakers make up 0.5% of the population.

Guajiro is another language in Colombia. There are roughly the same amount of Guajiro and French speakers.

These three languages make up the highest percentage of languages other than Spanish.

Impressively, 99.7% of the Colombian population can speak Spanish. So, it is no surprise that no other language is close to Spanish dominance.

What dialects are there in Colombia?

In the Caribbean region of Colombia, the population may speak the Caribbean dialect; Some people compare to Andalusian Spanish

The most notable Atlantic Colombian dialects are Samario, Barranquillero, Cartegna and Monteria.

Additionally, there is an intriguing Island dialect.

Spoken in Colombia’s Caribbean region, the Island dialect is a mix between Caribbean Spanish and English.

However, Islanders consider Creole to be the language with the biggest influence on their daily lives.

Creole is a language created to help people endure colonization, cotton traffickers and the horrors of slavery.

Creole survived some of the worst atrocities known to man, and it is still the chosen language of the Colombian Islanders.

The Islanders switch between languages to fit what they need—Spanish in public life or formal matters, English at church and Creole during intimate times with friends or family.

Creole is much more than just a language- it is a part of an enduring culture.

Do you need to know Spanish to travel to Colombia?

You may need to speak Spanish to travel through Colombia.

It generally depends on where you are in Colombia.

For example, Bogota would be ideal if your Spanish was sub-par.

Bogota is one of the most educated cities in South America and has a population of over 8 million.

There are a large number of Colombians who speak English in Bogota. Outside of the capital city, however, the number of English speakers drops.

If you visit a smaller city, like Ibague, you are not likely to come across anyone who can speak English.

Despite having a population of over 500,000, there are only few English speakers.

If you are a tourist looking to discover Colombia, try sticking to one of the major cities initially.

Having a safety net of English speakers may make you feel more comfortable.

You should stick to Bogota, Medellin or Cali if you do not know how to speak Spanish!

Colombia is a country filled to the brim with history and magic.

From an alluring Colombian version of Spanish to passion-personified Creole speakers.

Colombia stands as one of the most vibrant places to visit.

Do not worry if Spanish is not your strong point; you will likely find English speakers in major cities.

With such a high Spanish-speaking population and various indigenous languages, Colombia continues to be a bright part of the world.

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Founder - @PollyWebster

Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.

Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.

Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.

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