25 Most Spoken Languages In America (Best Languages To Learn To Get Ahead)
25 Most Spoken Languages In America (Best Languages To Learn To Get Ahead)
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What Are The Most Common Languages In The United States?
Did you know that the United States is home to more than 350 languages? That’s right – over a third of the world’s languages are spoken right here in America.
With such a large portion of the population speaking a foreign language, it's no surprise that there are a number of different languages spoken in America. In fact, according to the U.S Census Bureau, it is true that there are over 350 different languages spoken in homes across the country.
Regardless of which language you choose to learn, one thing is for sure – being bilingual or multilingual can only help you in today’s increasingly globalized world. America is a melting pot of cultures, and with that comes a diversity of languages. That's why it's no surprise that the United States is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world.
There are dozens of languages spoken in the United States, but some are more common than others. This makes America a great place to learn about different cultures and languages.
RELATED: The 5 Best Road Trips In The USA For Language Learners.
If you're looking to learn a new language, learning one of the 25 most spoken languages can give you a leg up. These languages are all used by millions of people in the United States, so they offer great opportunities for communication and networking. Plus, they can be fun and challenging to learn!
With so many different languages being spoken all around you, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. But don’t worry – I’ve got you covered! So if you're ready to take your language skills to the next level, check out this list to see which language might be best for you!
Official Languages In The USA
The United States doesn't have an official language on record, which can make it difficult to conduct business or government proceedings in anything other than English. However, while English may not be the official language, it's certainly the most commonly spoken language in the country.
What Is The Most Common Foreign Language In America?
According to the U.S Census Bureau, Spanish is currently the most common foreign language spoken in America. With over 41 million speakers across the country, the Spanish language and culture are prominent in a multitude of different areas, from California to New York.
Is Spanish The Second Language Of America?
Spanish may not be the official language of America, but it's certainly the second most commonly spoken language in the country, with over 41 million speakers. This is largely due to the large number of Spanish speakers who have immigrated to America in recent years. In fact, the U.S Census Bureau reports that the number of Spanish speakers has increased by almost 210% since the 1980s.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 35 million people aged 5 or older speak Spanish at home. This is about 11% of the total population of the United States.
Spanish is not only widely spoken in the United States, but it is also one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn.
RELATED: Why Learn Spanish? The 10 Surprising Reasons To Learn Spanish.
This makes it a great choice for those who want to learn a second language. And with the growing Hispanic population in the United States, learning Spanish can only help you in your career.
RELATED: Spain Spanish vs Mexican Spanish: How To Choose The Best Dialect For You.
Spanish is also the official language of 21 countries, making it one of the most important languages to learn if you want to do business or travel internationally. While English is still the most commonly spoken language in America, learning Spanish can help you connect with the growing Latino population in the United States.
And with the rise of online language learning programs, it’s easier than ever to learn Spanish from the comfort of your own home. Get your FREE 7-Day Trial of Pimsleur Spanish.
What Percent Of The US Doesn’t Speak English?
While English is the most commonly spoken language in America, there is a significant portion of the population that does not speak English as their first language.
In fact, according to the U.S Census Bureau, nearly 20% of the population aged 5 or older does not speak English proficiently. This means that there are approximately 60 million people in the United States who cannot speak, read, or write in English fluently.
Of those 60 million people, about 25 million speak Spanish as their primary language. This is followed by Chinese (with almost 3 million speakers), Vietnamese (with over 2 million speakers), and French (with just over 1 million speakers).
What Percentage Of U.S. Is Bilingual?
While the percentage of people who are bilingual or multilingual in the United States is growing, it is still relatively small. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly one in five Americans (20%) are bilingual. This means they can speak two languages fluently.
Not only that, but 80% of Americans can only speak one language. However, this number is expected to grow in the coming years as more and more people are exposed to different languages and cultures.
Bilingualism is more common among younger Americans; one in three millennials (33%) are bilingual.
Top 25 Most Spoken Languages In America
The most common languages spoken at home by people aged five years old or more, according to the ACS in 2017, are as follows:
1. Spanish - 41 million (13.4%)
2. Chinese (Including Mandarin and Cantonese) - 3.5 million (1.1%)
3. Tagalog - 1.7 million (0.6%)
4. Vietnamese - 1.5 million (0.5%)
5. Arabic - 1.2 million
6. French - 1.2 million
7. Korean - 1.1 million
8. Russian - 0.94 million
9. German - 0.92 million
10. Haitian Creole - 0.87 million
11. Hindi - 0.86 million
12. Portuguese - 0.79 million
13. Italian - 0.58 million
14. Polish - 0.52 million
15. Yiddish - 0.51 million
16. Japanese - 0.46 million
17. Persian (Including Farsi, Dari, and Tajik) - 0.42 million
18. Bengali - 0.32 million
19. Thai - 0.31 million
20. Urdu - 0.3 million
21. Greek - 0.27 million
22. Punjabi - 0.29 million
23. Armenian - 0.24 million
24. Serbo-Croatian (Including Bosnian, Croatia, Montenegrin, and Serbian) - 0.24 million
25. Hebrew - 0.23 million
How Many Languages Are Spoken In The United States?
According to statistics from the American Community Survey, the United States Census Bureau releases information on the most widespread languages spoken at home every year. It also reports people's English language proficiency if they speak a language other than English at home.
The U.S. Census Bureau has released information on the number of speakers of over 350 languages as determined by the ACS from 2009 to 2013, however it does not keep track of and release data for that many languages on a regular basis.
Most Common Languages In The U.S. By State
These are the most prevalent languages (besides English and Spanish) spoken across the U.S. NOTE: Lists do not include English and Spanish, which are the first and second most-spoken languages in each of these states.
Seattle - Washington
Vietnamese
Russian
Mandarin
Arabic
Somali
San Francisco - California
Cantonese
Mandarin
Vietnamese
Russian
Arabic
Los Angeles - California
Mandarin
Korean
Vietnamese
Cantonese
Armenian
Denver - Colorado
Vietnamese
Mandarin
Arabic
Russian
Nepali
Phoenix - Arizona
Mandarin
Vietnamese
Arabic
Russian
Korean
Minneapolis - Minnesota
Somali
Vietnamese
Mandarin
Hmong
Karen
Dallas - Texas
Mandarin
Vietnamese
Arabic
Portuguese
French
Madison - Wisconsin
Mandarin
Hmong
Arabic
Nepali
Vietnamese
Chicago - Illinois
Polish
Arabic
Mandarin
Russian
Korean
Nashville - Tennessee
Arabic
Burmese
Swahili
Mandarin
Vietnamese
Philadelphia - Pennsylvania
Mandarin
Portuguese
Russian
Arabic
Vietnamese
Atlanta - Georgia
Vietnamese
Mandarin
Korean
Portuguese
French
Miami - Florida
Haitian Creole
Mandarin
Portuguese
Russian
Vietnamese
Boston - Massachusetts
Portuguese
Haitian Creole
Cantonese
Mandarin
Vietnamese
New York City - New York
Mandarin
Russian
Cantonese
Bengali
Arabic
Which Foreign Language Has More Job Opportunities In USA?
When it comes to finding a job in the United States, learning a foreign language can be incredibly beneficial. While speaking more than one language is always an asset, some languages are in higher demand than others in the United States.
RELATED: The Top 13 Most In Demand Jobs For Bilinguals You Should Know!
If you’re looking for a language to learn that will give you a leg up in the job market, here are three of the most popular languages among employers, along with examples of jobs where they would be beneficial:
1. Mandarin Chinese
With China as the United States’ largest trading partner, it’s no surprise that Mandarin is one of the most in-demand languages among employers. If you know Mandarin, you could find a job in fields like import/export, business, finance, or marketing.
2. Spanish
Spanish is the most commonly spoken language in the United States after English, so it’s no surprise that it’s also one of the most popular languages among employers. If you know Spanish, you could find a job in fields like customer service, healthcare, or education.
3. Arabic
With the United States’ involvement in the Middle East, there is a high demand for Arabic speakers in fields like intelligence, national security, and diplomacy.
Other languages that are popular among employers include French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Russian.
What Languages Will Your Customers Speak In 10 Years?
This is an important question for any business owner, but it's one that's often overlooked. The answer may seem obvious – English, of course! Looking ahead to the next decade, it’s important to consider which languages will be most important for business.
While English will still be the predominant language spoken in the world, there are a number of other languages that are gaining in popularity and are worth learning.
The following are three languages that are anticipated to see a significant increase in popularity over the next ten years:
1. Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin Chinese is currently the most spoken language in the world, with over 1.3 billion speakers. It’s also the fastest-growing language in the world, with an estimated 100 million new speakers in the next 10 years.
As the world’s most populous country, China is expected to have the largest economy in the world by 2030. With more businesses looking to tap into the Chinese market, there will be a greater demand for Mandarin speakers. If you want to do business with China, it’s essential that you learn Mandarin Chinese.
2. Spanish
Spanish is another language that is gaining in popularity, with an estimated 508 million speakers worldwide, and it’s expected to grow even more popular over the next 10 years.
In the United States, Spanish is the second most spoken language after English, with over 41 million people speaking it as their first language. As the Hispanic population in the United States continues to grow, so will the demand for Spanish speakers.
3. Arabic
Arabic is expected to see a surge in popularity due to the political and economic instability in the Middle East. With over 422 million speakers worldwide, Arabic is the fifth most spoken language in the world.
The number of Arabic speakers is expected to grow to over 500 million by 2025. As the Middle East becomes an increasingly important region, there will be a greater demand for Arabic speakers in fields like diplomacy and international business.
So, what does this all mean for you and your business? If you want to stay ahead of the curve, it’s important to learn one or more of these languages. By doing so, you’ll be able to better communicate with your customers and tap into new markets.
RELATED: The 10 Best Languages To Learn For Business That Are High In Demand.
So there you have it, three of the most common languages preferred by employers, with the potential to rise in popularity over the next decade. If you’re looking for a language to learn that will give you an edge in the job market, these three languages are a good place to start.
What Language Should An American Learn?
Surveys show that the vast majority of Americans want to learn a foreign language, but most of them never get around to it. Why is this? One reason may be that they’re not sure which language to learn. With so many languages to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you.
Another reason may be that they’re not sure how to go about learning a foreign language. There are a number of different methods, such as immersion, online courses, apps, and classes at a local college or university.
So, which language should you learn? Below is a list of five languages that will most likely be in great demand throughout the United States in the near future:
1. Spanish
Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the United States, with over 41 million speakers. And with the ever-growing Hispanic population in America, Spanish fluency will be in high demand in the years to come.
2. Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin Chinese is quickly becoming the most popular language to learn in the United States. Spoken by 3.5 million speakers in the U.S., Mandarin Chinese is predicted to be one of the most in-demand languages in America for the future.
With China’s growing economy and status as a superpower, fluency in Mandarin will undoubtedly give you an edge in today’s competitive job market.
Furthermore, if you already know another Chinese language such as Cantonese, Mandarin may not be as difficult to master as you might think.
3. Tagalog
With over 1.7 million speakers, Tagalog is the third most commonly spoken language in America. While it is not as widely spoken as Spanish or Mandarin Chinese, Tagalog fluency will be greatly valued in the coming years as the Philippines continue to grow as a global economic power.
4. Vietnamese
Vietnamese is the fourth most spoken language in America, with over 1.5 million speakers. While it has traditionally been spoken by immigrants from Vietnam, it is now becoming more popular among young people as a second or third language.
5. Arabic
Arabic is the fifth most spoken language in the United States, with over 1.2 million speakers. And with the ever-growing Arab American population in America, Arabic fluency will be in high demand in the years to come.
These are just a few of the most popular languages among employers. As the world becomes increasingly globalized, there will be a greater demand for speakers of these and other languages. If you’re looking to get ahead in the job market, learning one of these languages is a great place to start.
Learn A Foreign Language With Pimsleur
Are you looking for an easy and convenient way to learn a foreign language? Then Pimsleur may be the perfect solution for you. If you’re interested in learning one of the languages mentioned above, or any other language for that matter, Pimsleur can help.
The Pimsleur Method is a unique approach to foreign language learning that focuses on teaching through conversation. This allows learners to acquire the language in a natural way, as they would if they were learning it in real-life situations.
And with their unique approach, which focuses on speaking and listening over reading and writing, you'll be conversational in your new language in no time.
You can learn a new language with Pimsleur in as little as 30 minutes each day. And because the program is audio-based, you can learn at your own pace, anywhere – at home, in the car, at the gym, or anywhere else you have a few minutes to spare.
The audio-based format makes it easy to learn on the go, and their interactive lessons keep you engaged and motivated. Pimsleur courses are also designed to help you learn conversationally, so you can start using your new language right away.
When it comes to learning a foreign language, Pimsleur is one of the most popular methods. But what is Pimsleur, and how does it work? Pimsleur is an audio-based foreign language learning program that was created by Dr. Paul Pimsleur in 1967.
Pimsleur is an effective way to learn a foreign language, as it utilizes a number of different methods to help learners remember what they’ve learned. The program works by having the learner listen to and repeat audio lessons, gradually building up their vocabulary and understanding of the language.
RELATED: Pimsleur Review: How To Learn Any Language With This Super Easy Method.
One of the methods includes spaced repetition. Pimsleur uses a spaced repetition system, which means that learners are exposed to new vocabulary and concepts at gradually increasing intervals. This allows learners to gradually build up their understanding of the language over time.
Plus, with their portable audio lessons, you can learn on the go – perfect for busy professionals or students. With Pimsleur, you'll be able to:
Learn a new language quickly and easily
Speak confidently in your new language
Understand native speakers
Travel the world with confidence
If you're looking to learn a foreign language, Pimsleur is a great option. With more than 50 languages to learn, Pimsleur is one of the most comprehensive language learning programs available.
Plus, Pimsleur offers a money-back satisfaction guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
So what are you waiting for? Start learning a new language today with Pimsleur and get your FREE 7-Day Trial!
Conclusion
While English is the predominant language spoken in America, it’s important to remember that there are dozens of other languages being spoken across the country as well.
America is a melting pot of cultures, and with that comes a diversity of languages. Language is an important part of culture, and the United States has a diverse mix of cultures.
Learning a new language can help you connect with other cultures and understand them better. As the world becomes increasingly globalized, there is a greater demand for speakers of different languages.
And while Spanish may be the most commonly spoken second language in America, it’s worth noting that this list changes depending on which part of the country you’re looking at.
If you’re looking to get ahead in the job market, expanding your business into new markets, wanting to do business with Americans, or if you simply want to communicate with your neighbours and friends, it’s a good idea to learn at least one of these languages to understand which languages are being spoken in your area and how you can reach people and those customers.
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Question:
So, here’s the question: Is there any language on this list that you want to learn? If so, which one? Or do you already speak one of these languages? Was there any language on this list that surprised you? Let us know in the comments section down below!
P.S. I want to hear from you today. No for real, get out from behind that keyboard and tell us more about yourself! Use the comment section down below and introduce yourself.
Hey, I’m Mara.
I am the founder and blogger of Sololingual helping anyone at any age, from any place, who wants to learn a new language. You can learn how to reach fluency in your chosen language fast, fun and easily studying a short amount each day and spending very little money using different language learning techniques, programs and resources at your disposal. Fluency isn't difficult to achieve. In fact, it’s easy when you find a solid method that walks you through every step of the way, and believing in yourself so that you can achieve your goal at becoming fluent in any language.
