The United States is one of the few countries in the world without an official language. That being said, no one would be surprised to hear that English is the most spoken language in the USA. Especially when we consider that English has been declared the official language of 32 out of 50 states. But even in states where it isn’t the official language, it’s still required for official documents, work training, and more, all across the country. But what is the second most spoken language in the US? And why is that?

second most spoken language in the us

The Second Most Spoken Language in the US

We already know that the first most common language in the United States is English. To be precise, about 78% of the US population speaks English. With this knowledge, we can make a pretty good guess for the second most spoken language in the US. Say it with me: Spanish! That’s right!

As the US population has grown, the number of Spanish speakers has grown even faster. The number of Spanish speakers in the US grew 233% from 1980-2020. But even with such a large increase over time, Spanish speakers make up only about 13% of the population! While that may sound like a small number, that means there are 42 million Spanish speakers in the USA. That means the United States holds the 5th largest population of Spanish speakers in the whole world.

We covered about 91% of Americans, but the United States is a “melting pot” with many different languages. Check out just a handful of those languages below with the percentage of the population that speaks that language. And keep in mind that even 1% of the US population is millions of people.

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Spanish Speakers in the United States

Spanish speakers in the United States aren’t going anywhere, and if anything their numbers appear to be growing. According to a United States Census Bureau report, more and more people are speaking languages besides English at home. From 1980-2019, people reporting that they spoke another language at home tripled while Americans reporting only speaking English at home only grew by one-fourth. And among the families that speak another language, about 62% of them speak Spanish.

That means that as the US population has grown, the number of people who know the second most spoken language in the US has gone up exponentially. But there could be several reasons for this increase. Let’s wind back the clock to learn more.

Spanish in US History

A lot of people attribute the high number of Spanish speakers in the US to immigration, but the story is more complicated than that. Back when the United States was still spreading across North America, there was a war between America and Mexico which ended in 1848. As a result, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed which ceded the states we know today as California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and most of Colorado. The treaty also removed Mexico’s claim to Texas, which the US had previously claimed.

A large part of the United States used to be Mexico, which is why there are such large populations of Spanish speakers in these states. And we can see that impact in some of the English words we use today. For example, the word breeze come from brisa. And other words we took directly from Spanish like patio or even the saying Pronto!

Since the Mexican-American war ended, the countries have gone back and forth on having opened borders. And in recent years, immigration to the United States has increased from many countries in South America. Along with that, the birth rate amongst different Spanish speaking groups, including Mexican-Americans, is higher than the average US birthrate, which has caused an increase as well.

All of this has come together to make Spanish the second most spoken language in the US.

What Role Does Spanish Play in the US?

Since Spanish is so common in the United States, a lot of Americans have become interested in learning Spanish, whether at school or on their own. It’s also why Spanish is taught in most middle schools and offered as a second language in all high schools. Even if most Americans can’t speak Spanish, they often refer back to some words they learned when they were younger when it comes up.

As we said before, English is used for most official documents in the United States. But because there are so many people who speak Spanish, official forms are often available in Spanish even when they aren’t provided for other languages. And in areas where the are more Spanish speakers, you can even find public signs marked in Spanish and English.

But since there are so many languages in the United States, translations aren’t only offered for the second most spoken language in the US. Translations or translation services are often available for many different languages. Especially when it comes to medical care, interpreters are required. But the interpreters in highest demand are for Spanish.

Conclusion

In the USA, English is still a major part of daily life, work, and interactions. But with the second most spoken language in the US is on the rise and  services can almost always be found.

Being able to speak both English and Spanish in America can help you find jobs easier than people who only speak one language. So if you’re looking to improve your Spanish skills, check out the MosaLingua Spanish app to become fluent in the second most spoken language in the US.

For More Information

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