Around 99.2% of Colombians speak the Spanish language.https://web.archive.org/web/20100923081035/http://eprints.ucm.es/8936/1/DT03-06.pdf | archived using Wayback Machine Sixty-five Amerindian languages, two Creole languages, the Portuguese language and the Roma language are also spoken in the country. English has official status in the San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina Islands. Since the 1930s 23 April had been declared as an Observance Language Day, to commemorate all languages spoken in the country.Cite|web=https://www.holidayscalendar.com/event/language-day-in-colombia/|access_date=04-23-2025

The majority of Colombians speak Spanish (see also Colombian Spanish), but in total 90 languages are listed for Colombia in the Ethnologue database. The specific number of spoken languages varies slightly since some authors consider as different languages what others consider to be varieties or dialects of the same language. Best estimates recorded 71 languages that are spoken in the country today—most of which belong to the Chibchan, Tucanoan, Bora–Witoto, Guajiboan, Arawakan, Cariban, Barbacoan, and Saliban language families. There are currently about 850,000 speakers of native languages, however it is estimated to be higher.

Sixty-five indigenous languages that exist today can be regrouped into 12 language families and 10 language isolates, not yet classified.

The languages are: the great linguistic family Chibchan, of probable Central American origin; the great South American families Arawakan, Cariban, Quechuan and Tupian; seven families only present at the regional level (Chocó, Guahibo, Saliba, Nadahup, Witoto, Bora, Tucano). The ten isolated languages are: Andoque, Awa Pit, Cofán, Misak, Kamentsá, Páez, Ticuna, Tinigua, Yagua, Yaruro.

There are also two Creole languages spoken in the country. The first is San Andrés Creole, which is spoken alongside English in the San Andrés, Providencia, and Catalina insular regions of Colombia. It is related to and mutually intelligible with many other English-based Creole languages (also known as Patois/Patwa) spoken in West Indian and Caribbean islands, although San Andres Creole (which is also sometimes called Saint Andrewan or Bende) has had more Spanish influence.

The second Creole language is called Palenquero. During the days of Spanish colonization, hundreds of thousands of African slaves were brought to Colombia via the Atlantic Coast. Some of these slaves were able to escape, and many of them fled inland and created walled cities known as palenques. Some of these palenques grew very large, holding hundreds of people, and they all developed their own creole languages, developing similarly to Haitian Creole. In the early 1600s, the King of Spain began sending his armies to crush the palenques and send their inhabitants to slavery. Most of the palenques fell, and their languages went extinct, but with one exception: San Basilio de Palenque. San Basilio successfully repelled Spanish attacks for almost 100 years, until 1721, when it was declared a Free City. Any slave who ran away and successfully made it to San Basilio was considered a free man. The creole language spoken in San Basilio de Palenque is called Palenquero and it has survived to this day.

Classification

Some 80 languages of Colombia, grouped into 11 families are classified. Also appear isolated or unclassified languages. Extinct languages are indicated by the sign .

Classification of the indigenous languages of Colombia Language family Group Language Territory Arawakan languages Northern Arawak Wayuunaiki La Guajira Achagua Meta Kurripako Içana River Cabiyari Mirití-Paraná River Maipure Vichada Piapoco Guainía, Vichada, Meta Barbacoan languages Awan Awa Pit Nariño Barbacoa Nariño Pasto Nariño Sindagua Nariño Coconucan Coconucan Cauca Guambiano Cauca Totoró Cauca Bora–Witoto languages Bora Bora Amazonas Miraña Amazonas Muinane Amazonas Witoto Meneca-Murui Amazonas Nonuya Amazonas Ocaina Amazonas Cariban languages Northern Coastal Yukpa Cesar Opón-carare Santander Southern Southeast Colombia Carijona Amazonas, Guaviare Chibchan languages Magdalénico Arhuaco Ika (arhuaco) Cesar, Magdalena Kankuí Cesar Kogui Magdalena Tayrona Magdalena, La Guajira, Cesar Wiwa Cesar Cundicocúyico Duit Boyacá Muisca Cundinamarca, Boyacá Guane Santander Tunebo ARA, BOY, NSA, SAN Barí Barí Cesar, Norte de Santander Chimila Chimila Magdalena Ístmico Guna Guna Gulf of Urabá, Atrato River Choco languages Embera Embera Pacific/Chocó natural region Waunana Wounaan Chocó, Cauca, Valle del Cauca Guajiboan languages Northern Hitnü Arauca Hitanü Arauca Central Sikuani (Guahibo) Meta, Vichada, Arauca, Guainía, Guaviare Cuiba Casanare, Vichada, Arauca Southern Guayabero Meta, GuaviareIndo-European languagesRomanceWest IberianSpanishNationwidePortugueseGuainía, Vaupés, AmazonasGermanicAnglicEnglishSan Andrés and Providence IslandIndo-IranianIndicRomaniMain cities Nadahup languages Northern Kakwa-Nukak Kakwa Papuri and lower Vaupés rivers Nukak Guaviare Puninave Puinave Guainía Nadajup Jup Yujup Japurá and Tiquié rivers Jupda Papuri and Tiquié rivers Quechuan languages Peripheral Quechua Chinchay (Q II-B) Quichua norteño Cauca, Nariño, Putumayo Piaroa–Saliban languages Saliban Saliban Arauca, Casanare Piaroa Piaroa Vichada Tucanoan languages Western Northwest Koreguaje Orteguaza River Siona Putumayo River Central North Cubeo Vaupés, Cuduyarí Querarí, Pirabotón South Tanimuca Guacayá, Mirití Oikayá, Aporis Eastern North Piratapuya Papurí Tucano Papurí, Caño Paca Wanano Vaupés Central Bará Colorado, Fríjol Lobo, Tiquié Desano Vaupés Siriano Vaupés Tatuyo Vaupés Tuyuca Tiquié Yurutí Vaupés South Barasana Vaupés Carapana Vaupés Macuna Vaupés Language isolate Andoque Japurá River Ticuna Leticia, Puerto Nariño Betoi Casanare Camsá Putumayo Cofán Nariño, Putumayo Tinigua-pamigua Meta, Caquetá Unclassified language Paez Cauca, Huila, Valle del Cauca Andaquí Caquetá Colima Cundinamarca Malibú Tamalameque, Tenerife Mocana Cartagena de Indias Muzo Cundinamarca Panche Cundinamarca Pijao Tolima Yarí Caquetá Yurí Amazonas

Sign languages Colombian Sign Language

See also

Antioquian languages Colombian Spanish

References