What language is spoken in Colombia?
The official language of Colombia is Spanish, spoken with three main dialects. The country also recognizes several indigenous languages as co-official, including Quechua, Chibcha, and Arawak.
Spanish, official language
Spanish is the main language of Colombia, spoken by the vast majority of the population. Three dialects stand out:
- The Bogotá dialect: considered the purest Spanish in Latin America
- The mountain dialect: spoken in the Andean regions
- The lowlands dialect: used on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts
Indigenous co-official languages
Colombia officially recognizes several indigenous languages alongside Spanish:
- Quechua: heritage of the Inca empire
- Chibcha: language of the ancient inhabitants of the Bogotá region
- Arawak: spoken by several Amazonian communities
These languages enjoy a symbolic status as co-official languages and are protected by the Colombian Constitution.
Other languages present
Several Creole languages are also found, mainly on the coasts, resulting from linguistic mixing between Spanish, African and indigenous languages.