Section

Language Facts

Which family a language belongs to, which languages a country actually speaks, and why. Each entry gives the short answer first, then the evidence behind it.

  1. Do They Speak English in Belgium? Yes, Especially in Flanders Belgium's official languages are Dutch, French and German. English is widely used as a second language, with EF EPI scores highest in Flanders.
  2. Does Brazil Speak Spanish or Portuguese? Portuguese, by Law Brazil speaks Portuguese, not Spanish: Article 13 of its constitution makes it the official language. Spanish in schools, plus 295 Indigenous languages.
  3. Is English a Romance Language? No, and Here Is the Evidence English is a West Germanic language, not a Romance one, even though Latin and French supply a large share of its dictionary words. Here is how linguists tell.