What Language Is Spoken In the US?

How Many People Speak English in the U.S.?

Category	Number of Speakers
Total U.S. population	~335 million
English speakers	~280 million (82% of the population)
Non-English speakers at home	~66 million (18% of the population)

✅ English is the most spoken language in the U.S.
✅ American English differs in vocabulary and accent from British and Australian English.
✅ English is the official language in the U.S.

📌 Fun Fact: Some states, like Hawaii, have two official languages (English and Hawaiian)!

What Are the Most Spoken Languages in the U.S.?

Aside from English, millions of people in the U.S. speak other languages at home.

Top 10 Most Spoken Languages in the U.S.

Language	Number of Speakers	Main Regions
Spanish	~42 million	California, Texas, Florida, New York
Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese)	~3.5 million	California, New York, Texas
Tagalog (Filipino)	~1.7 million	California, Nevada, Hawaii
Vietnamese	~1.5 million	Texas, California, Washington
French	~1.2 million	Louisiana, New York, Florida
Arabic	~1.2 million	Michigan, California, New York
Korean	~1.1 million	California, Texas, New Jersey
Russian	~900,000	New York, California, Washington
German	~900,000	Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin
Haitian Creole	~850,000	Florida, New York, Massachusetts

✅ Spanish is by far the second most spoken language in the U.S., especially in states with large Hispanic populations.
✅ Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese are spoken by Asian-American communities.
✅ French and Haitian Creole are widely spoken in Louisiana and Florida.

📌 Did you know? Los Angeles has one of the largest Korean-speaking communities outside of Korea!

Illustration of What Language Is Spoken In the US?

Indigenous Languages in the U.S.

Before English arrived, the U.S. was home to hundreds of Native American languages. While many have disappeared, some are still spoken today.

Indigenous Language	Number of Speakers	Main Regions
Navajo	~170,000	Arizona, New Mexico, Utah
Dakota/Lakota	~20,000	North Dakota, South Dakota
Cherokee	~12,000	Oklahoma, North Carolina
Apache	~13,000	Arizona, New Mexico
Yupik (Alaskan Native)	~10,000	Alaska

✅ Navajo is the most spoken indigenous language in the U.S.
✅ Some Native American communities are working to revitalize their languages through schools and cultural programs.

📌 Did you know? The U.S. military used Navajo speakers as "code talkers" during World War II to send secret messages!

Why Does the U.S. Have So Many Languages?

1️⃣ Colonial History – The U.S. was influenced by English, Spanish, French, and Dutch settlers.
2️⃣ Immigration – The U.S. has welcomed millions of immigrants from all over the world.
3️⃣ Border & Trade Influence – Close ties with Mexico, Canada, and Asia bring linguistic diversity.
4️⃣ Indigenous Heritage – Native American languages existed long before English.

📢 The U.S. is often called a "nation of immigrants", and its language diversity reflects that history!

Common Misconceptions About Language in the U.S.

❌ "Everyone in the U.S. speaks only English."
✅ Over 66 million people speak a language other than English at home.

❌ "Only Spanish is widely spoken besides English."
✅ Many other languages, including Chinese, Tagalog, and French, have millions of speakers.

FAQs – Common Questions About Languages in the U.S.

What is the official language of the U.S.?

On March 1, 2025 President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States.

What is the second most spoken language in the U.S.?

Spanish, with over 42 million speakers.

Are Native American languages still spoken in the U.S.?

Yes! The most spoken indigenous language is Navajo, with around 170,000 speakers.

Which U.S. states have two official languages?

Hawaii (English & Hawaiian)
Alaska recognizes 20 indigenous languages along with English.

Do most Americans speak a second language?

Only about 20% of Americans speak a language other than English, compared to 56% of Europeans.