Honduras Languages

In the Republic of Honduras, Honduran Spanish is the official and most widely spoken in the country. It is the official language of government, used for instruction in schools, and of commerce. For many people in Honduras, it is a second language with their native tongue being their first language. Other languages spoken in the country are primarily from the Amerindian and Afro-Honduran communities. Many of the languages spoken in Honduras are endangered.

The different languages in Honduras are spoken by the different communities which include. This includes those who identify as Indigenous, who make up 7% of the population. The Indigenous languages spoke in Honduras include Lenca, Miskito, Ch'orti, Tolupan, Pech, Tol, Sumo, and Mayan. Garifuna and English Creole are other minority languages that are also spoken. Spanish is the most popular spoken language. As at 2010, the country had a literacy rate of 85%.

Honduran Spanish has had a lot of influences from the local languages regarding borrowed words and even pronunciations. The following are a few unique phrases in this language; “yo ando a pincel” ("I don’t have a car, I am walking”), “ando con filo” (I am hungry), "yo ando hule” (“I am broke”), "alero" (friend), and "bolulo" (bread Roll).

Honduras is home to many minority languages. Unfortunately, some languages such as Matagalpa and Ch’orti’ are now almost extinct. Others like Lencan are in danger of extinction as well. Arabic, Yue Chinese, Armenian, and English are also languages spoken by a minority of the population.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Tegucigalpa
Languages	Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects
Ethnic Groups	Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Religion	Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%
Government	Presidential republic
Independance	15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Area	112,090.00 km²
Water Area	200.00 km²
Land Area	111,890.00 km²
Population	8,893,259.00 Most residents live in the mountainous western half of the country; unlike other Central American nations, Honduras is the only one with an urban population that is distributed between two large centers - the capital of Tegucigalpa and the city of San Pedro Sula; the Rio Ulua valley in the north is the only densely populated lowland area
Location	Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua
No. Bordering Countries	3
Bordering Countries	Guatemala 244 km, El Salvador 391 km, Nicaragua 940 km
GDP(PPP)	$43,190,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$5,300.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are the United States, Germany, and El Salvador.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are coffee, apparel, and shrimp.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are the United States, China, and Guatemala.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include communications equipment, machinery and transport, industrial raw materials, and chemical products.
Climate	Subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain	Mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Learn More	Honduras

Honduras Languages

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