What language is spoken in Cuba?
Spanish is the official language in Cuba, spoken by over 90% of the population as a native language. Cubans use a specific dialect with a distinct accent different from Spanish spoken in Spain.
Cuban Spanish, the dominant language
Spanish is the official language of Cuba and the mother tongue of more than 90% of the inhabitants. The Cuban dialect has pronunciation and vocabulary particularities that distinguish it clearly from Peninsular Spanish.
Other languages present on the island
Cuba, a land of historical immigration, also hosts communities speaking other languages:
- Chinese: spoken by the Sino-Cuban community
- Creole: heritage of Caribbean migrations
- Portuguese: present in certain communities
These languages remain however minority and Spanish remains the language of general communication throughout the country.
To remember for your trip
Mastering some basics of Spanish greatly facilitates exchanges with Cubans, particularly outside tourist areas where English is less widespread.