Languages of Colombia

Dialectical map of Colombian Spanish

Official| Spanish
Indigenous| Arawakan languages, Barbacoan languages, Bora–Witoto languages, Cariban languages, Chibchan languages, Choco languages, Guajiboan languages, Nadahup languages, Quechuan languages, Piaroa–Saliban languages, Tucanoan languages; Andoque, Ticuna, Kamëntsá, Cofán, Páez,
Vernacular| Colombian Spanish, San Andrés-Providencia Creole, Palenquero, Andean Spanish, Amazonic Spanish, Equatorial Spanish
Minority| Romanian, Portuguese
Foreign| English, French
Signed| Colombian Sign Language, Providence Island Sign Language, Equatorial Spanish
Keyboard layout|

Spanish Latinamerican QWERTY

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Around 99.2% of Colombians speak the Spanish language.[1] Sixty-five Amerindian languages, two Creole languages, the Portuguese language and the Romanian language are also spoken in the country. English has official status in the San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina Islands.[2][3][4] Since the 1930s 23 April had been declared as an Observance Language Day, to commemorate all Languages spoken in the country. [5]

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-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.[6][7]

Sixty-five indigenous languages that exist today can be regrouped into 12 language families and 10 language isolates, not yet classified.[2]

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.[2]

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

[edit]

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, Guaviare
Indo-European languages | Romance | West Iberian | Spanish | Nationwide
Portuguese | Guainía, Vaupés, Amazonas
Germanic | Anglic | English | San Andrés and Providence Island
Indo-Iranian | Indic | Romani | Main 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

[edit]

* Colombian Sign Language

## See also

[edit]

* Colombia portal
* Language portal

More than 99.5% of Colombians speak the Spanish language; also 65 Amerindian languages, 2 Creole languages, the Portuguese language and the Romani language are spoken in the country.

* Antioquian languages
* Colombian Spanish

## References

[edit]

1. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20100923081035/http://eprints.ucm.es/8936/1/DT03-06.pdf | archived using Way Back Machine
2. ^ a b c "Languages of Colombia" (in Spanish). banrepcultural.org. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
3. ^ "Jon Landaburu, Especialista de las lenguas de Colombia" (in Spanish). ambafrance-co.org. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
4. ^ "Map of the languages of Colombia" (in Spanish). lenguasdecolombia.gov.co. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
5. ^ Cite|web=https://www.holidayscalendar.com/event/language-day-in-colombia/|access_date=04-23-2025
6. ^ "The Languages of Colombia". Ethnologue.com. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
7. ^ "Native languages of Colombia" (in Spanish). lenguasdecolombia.gov.co. Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.

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Languages of Colombia

Official languages|

* Spanish

Indigenous
languages|

| Arawakan|

* Achawa
* Cabiyari
* Piapoco
* Wayuu
* Yucuna

|

Barbacoan|

* Awa Pit
* Kokonuco
* Misak
* Mwelyama
* Pasto
* Totoró

Bora–Witoto|

* Andoque
* Bora
* Minica Huitoto
* Muinane
* Murui Huitoto
* Ocaina

Chibchan|

* Arhuaco
* Barí
* Chimila
* Kogi
* Guna
* Uwa
* Wiwa

Chocoan|

* Baudo
* Catio
* Chami
* Eperara
* Northern Embera

Guajiboan|

* Guahibo
* Guayabero
* Macaguán

Tucanoan|

* Barasana-Eduria
* Carapana
* Cubeo
* Cuiba
* Desano
* Koreguaje
* Macaguaje
* Macuna
* Pisamira
* Siona
* Siriano
* Tanimuca-Retuarã
* Tatuyo
* Tuyuca
* Waimajã
* Wajiara
* Wanano
* Yauna

Other|

* Carabayo
* Carijona
* Cocama
* Cofán
* Inga Kichwa
* Kakwa
* Kichwa
* Nheengatu
* Nukak
* Páez
* Puinave
* Saliba
* Ticuna
* Yukpa

Creoles/Other|

* Llanero
* Palenquero
* San Andrés–Providencia
* Romani

Sign languages|

* Colombian Sign Language
* Providence Island Sign Language

* v
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* e

Colombia articles

History|

* Timeline
* Indigenous peoples
* Muisca Confederation
* Spanish conquest
* Kingdom of New Granada
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* Foolish Fatherland
* United Provinces of New Granada
* Military career of Simón Bolívar
* Wars of independence
* Gran Colombia (reunification)
* Republic of New Granada
* Granadine Confederation
* United States of Colombia
* Republic of Colombia
* Colombian Civil War of 1895
* Thousand Days' War
* Separation of Panama
* Colombia–Peru War (Leticia Incident)
* World War II
* La Violencia
* National Front
* Current internal armed conflict
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Geography|

* Biodiversity
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* Climate
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* Mountains
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* National parks (Protected Areas)
* Cities and towns
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Natural regions|

* Amazon
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* Orinoquía
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Subdivisions|

* Departments
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Politics|

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Economy|

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Society|

* Abortion
* Colombians
* list
* Demographics
* Education
* Languages
* Religion
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* Women

Culture|

* Archaeological sites
* Architecture
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* Cinema
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* Literature
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* Music
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* Miss Colombia
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Issues|

* Human rights
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* Poverty
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* Right-wing paramilitarism
* Colombia in popular culture

* Outline
* Index

* Category
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Languages of South America

Sovereign states|

* Argentina
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Chile
* Colombia
* Ecuador
* Guyana
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Suriname
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Dependencies and
other territories

* Falkland Islands
* French Guiana
* South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

* v
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Indigenous language families and isolates of South America

Based on Campbell 2012 classification

Language families
and isolates|

* Arawakan

| Je–Tupi–Carib|

* Cariban
* Tupian

| Macro-Jê|

* Jê
* Jabutian
* Kamakã
* Karajá
* Krenakan
* Maxakalian
* Jaikó
* Ofayé
* Rikbaktsá
* Chiquitano
* ? Guató

|

Eastern Brazil|

* Karirian
* Purían
* Taruma
* Gamela
* Baenan
* Katembri
* Natú
* Pankararú
* Tarairiú
* Tuxá
* Wamoé
* Xokó
* Xukurú
* Yaté
* Otí

Orinoco (Venezuela)|

* Yanomaman
* ? Arutani–Sape
* Arutani
* Sapé
* Máku
* Warao
* Guamo
* Otomacoan
* Yaruro

| ? Duho|

* Sáliban
* Betoi
* Hodï
* Ticuna–Yuri

|

Andes (Colombia and Venezuela)|

* Cofán
* Camsá
* Andaquí
* Paezan
* Tiniguan
* Timotean
* Jirajaran

Amazon (Colombia, Japurá–Vaupés area)|

* Tucanoan
* ? Bora–Witoto
* Boran
* Witotoan
* Andoque–Urequena
* Guajiboan
* Nadahup
* Puinave

Pacific coast (Colombia and Ecuador)|

* Chibchan
* Chocoan
* Barbacoan
* Yurumanguí
* Esmeralda

Pacific coast (Peru)|

* Sechura–Catacao
* ? Chimuan
* Cañari–Puruhá
* Mochica

Amazon (Peru)|

* Pano–Tacanan
* Hibito–Cholon
* Cahuapanan
* Jivaroan
* Candoshi
* Omurano
* Munichi
* Waorani
* Taushiro
* Urarina
* Tequiraca
* ? Saparo–Yawan
* Peba–Yagua
* Zaparoan

Amazon (west-central Brazil)|

* Harákmbut–Katukinan
* ? Arawan
* Harákmbut
* Katukinan
* ? Mura–Matanawí
* Muran
* Matanawí
* Trumai

Mamoré–Guaporé|

* Chapacuran
* Mure
* Nambikwaran
* Bororoan
* Cayubaba
* Itonama
* Movima
* Canichana
* Mosetenan
* Yuracaré
* Leco
* Aikanã
* Kanoê
* Kwazá
* Irantxe
* Arara

Andes (Peru, Bolivia, and Chile)|

* Culle
* ? Quechumaran
* Quechuan
* Aymaran
* Puquina
* Uru–Chipaya
* Kunza
* Mapudungun

Chaco–Pampas|

* ? Mataco–Guaicuru
* Matacoan
* Guaicuruan
* Guachí
* Payaguá
* Mascoyan
* Zamucoan
* Charruan
* Sanavirón
* Huarpean
* Allentiac
* Millcayac
* Comechingón ?
* Lule–Vilelan
* Chonan

Far South (Chile)|

* Qawasqaran
* Yaghan
* Chono

Proposed groupings|

* Duho
* Macro-Andean
* Macro-Arawakan
* Macro-Chibchan
* Macro-Jibaro
* Macro-Otomákoan
* Macro-Paesan
* Macro-Panoan
* Macro-Puinavean
* Macro-Warpean
* Arutani–Sape
* Bora–Witoto
* Esmeralda–Yaruroan
* Hibito–Cholon
* Je–Tupi–Carib
* Katembri–Taruma
* Mataco–Guaicuru
* Maya–Yunga–Chipayan
* Moseten–Chonan
* Quechumaran
* Saparo–Yawan
* Tequiraca–Canichana
* Wamo–Chapakura
* Amerind

Linguistic areas|

* Chaco
* Mamoré–Guaporé
* Amazonian

Countries|

* Argentina
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Colombia
* Chile
* Ecuador
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Venezuela
* Guyana
* Suriname
* French Guiana

Lists|

* Languages
* Extinct languages
* Marañón River basin
* Unclassified languages
* Classification
* Linguistic areas

Authority control databases: National |

* United States
* Israel

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