The languages of South America can be divided into three broad groups:
the languages of the (in most cases, former) colonial powers, primarily Spanish and Portuguese; 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 in the Americas, but Portuguese is the most spoken language in the continent of South America, with Spanish as a close second in South America.
Other official languages with substantial number of speakers are:
Aymara in Bolivia and Peru Guaraní in Bolivia and Paraguay Quechua in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru
LanguageSpeakersCountriesSourcePortuguese 215,754,600 Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, VenezuelaSpanish 214,265,000 Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, BrazilQuechua 7,735,620 Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Chile, ColombiaEnglish 6,925,850 Falkland Islands, Guyana, Colombia (San Andres y Providencia)Guarani 6,162,790 Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, BrazilHunsrik 3,000,000 Brazil, Argentina, ParaguayAymara 1,677,100 Bolivia, Peru, Chile, German 1,285,800 Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, UruguayItalian 1,259,900 Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, VenezuelaDutch 575,000 Suriname Japanese 425,000 BrazilWayuu 416,000 Colombia, VenezuelaFrench 319,400 French Guiana, Brazil (Amapá)Sranan Tongo 307,600 Suriname, French GuianaPomeranian 300,000 BrazilMapudungun 258,410 Argentina, ChileHindustani 164,000 Guyana, Suriname, French GuianaSurinamese-Javanese 60,000Suriname, French Guiana
Indigenous languages
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.
LanguageSpeakersCountriesSourceQuechua 7,735,620 Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Chile, ColombiaGuarani 6,162,790 Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, BrazilAymara 1,677,100 Bolivia, Peru, ChileWayuu 416,000 Colombia, VenezuelaMapudungun 258,410 Argentina, Chile
Classification
Macro-Chibchan Chibchan Chibcha-Duit, Tunebo, Arhuaco, Cuna-Cueva, Guaymi-Dorasque, Talamanca, Rama-Guatuso Misumalpan, Paya, Xinca, Lenca Shiriana Paezan Choco, Cuaiquer, Andaki, Paez-Coconuco, Colorado-Cayapa, Warrau, Mura-Matanawi, Jirajira, Yunca, Atacameno, Itonama Andean-Equatorial Andean Selkʼnam, Yahgan, Alacaluf, Tehuelche, Puelche, Araucanian Quechua, Aymara Zaparoan Omurano, Cabela Cahuapana Leco, Sec, Culle, Xibito-Cholon, Catacao, Colan Simacu Jibaro-Kandoshi, Esmeralda, Cofan, Yaruro Macro-Tucanoan Tucano Auixira Catuquina, Ticuna, Muniche, Auaque, Caliana, Máku, Yuri, Canichana, Mobima Puinave Equatorial Arawak Chapacura-Uanhaman, Chamicuro, Apolista, Amuesha, Araua, Uru Tupi Ariqueme 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 Tacana-Pano, Moseten, Mataco, Lule, Vilela, Mascoy, Charrua, Guaycuru-Opaie
Source: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
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 and Rio Grande do Sul have 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 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.
German is used by some in Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Colombia.
Welsh is spoken and written in the historic towns of Trelew and Rawson in Argentine Patagonia.
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.
Caribbean Hindustani is spoken by the Indo-Guyanese and the Indo-Surinamese. In Suriname, the language is known as Sarnámi Hindustáni and is still widely spoken. However, in Guyana, where it is known as Guyanese Hindustani or Aili Gaili, the language is nearly extinct as a spoken language, with only words and phrases still remaining.
Surinamese-Javanese is spoken by the Javanese Surinamese who form about 14% of the Suriname'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, Romani, Haitian Creole, Romanian, Greek, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian.
See also Languages in censuses Indigenous languages of South America List of unclassified languages of South America List of extinct languages of South America Extinct languages of the Marañón River basin
References
External links
South American Indigenous Language Structures SAPhon – South American Phonological Inventories Sound comparisons for various South American languages Diachronic Atlas of Comparative Linguistics (DiACL)