Languages of South America


The languages of South America can be divided into three broad groups:
is the most spoken language of South America by a small margin. Spanish, with slightly fewer speakers than Portuguese, is the second most spoken language on the continent.
Other official and majority languages in specific countries are:
of South America include, among several others, the Quechua languages in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador 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, 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, 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. In Ecuador, Spanish, Northern Quechua and Shuar are official for intercultural relations. In Peru, Quechua, Aymara, and 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.
In Brazil, there are around 135 indigenous languages confirmed. The regions with the most speakers are northern and southern 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.
LanguageSpeakersCountries
Quechua8,900,000Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Colombia
Guarani4,900,000Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina
Aymara2,800,000Bolivia, Peru

Linguistic Classification of South America

Source:

Other languages

is spoken by communities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru, and Venezuela.
German is used by some in Brazil, Argentina, Guyana, Suriname, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
Speakers of Arabic, are commonly found in parts of in Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile and Venezuela.
Welsh is spoken and written in the historic towns of Trelew and Rawson in the Argentine Patagonia.
There are small Croatian, Greek, Polish, Ukrainian and Russian-speaking communities in Brazil, Chile, and Argentina.
There are also many Romani-speakers, originating in Eastern Europe, throughout South America particularly in Colombia, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina.
There are Eastern European Romanian speakers, especially in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia, where Romanian populations live.
There are also small clusters of Japanese-speakers in Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay, and Ecuador. Brazil currently holds the largest Japanese community outside Japan
Hindustani and other Indian languages are commonly found in Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.
Javanese is commonly found in Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.
The Rapa Nui Language is a Polynesian origin found in Easter Island, Chile. Maori is also found in Easter Island.
Most South American countries mandate the regular study of one or more of English, French, German or Italian. These countries often have advanced cultural language institutes for those respective languages centered in their major cities.
In Brazil, Italian and German dialects, specifically Talian, East Pomeranian and Riograndenser Hunsrückisch, have co-official status alongside Portuguese in about a dozen cities, and are mandatory subjects in schools in other municipalities. Brazil's largest city São Paulo has large numbers of German, Italian, Japanese and Levantine Arabic speakers. 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.