When venturing into the realm of English culture, you may sometimes wonder, “What language is spoken in England?” Besides English, there are many other languages in use, creating the rich cultural diversity of England.
Let’s delve into this article to find out what language is spoken in England and the UK as a whole.
English is the most spoken language in England, used by around 98% of the country’s population. It’s the primary language for everyday communication, government, legal affairs, and education.
However, the version of English used in England has certain differences in terms of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation compared to other English variants. People often recognize British English by its distinctive accent and the more formal tone often used in conversation.
But English isn’t the only language spoken in England. Due to its multicultural population, other languages such as Welsh and Scots are also present.
Before diving deeper, it’s helpful to distinguish between England and the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom, or the UK, is a sovereign state that has London as its capital. It’s made up of 4 constituent countries: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
England is the largest of the 4, located in the south of the UK.
In the UK, English is used in almost everything. Yet, each constituent country also retains its own regional languages.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
The mix of languages contributes to the cultural and linguistic richness of the UK, even though English remains the most widely used language.
Below are the top 5 languages spoken in the UK:
English is used by approximately 98% of the population. English originated from Germanic roots and has since evolved into a global language.
Nowadays, there are many variations of the English language, especially in countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations.
British English and American English are the two most common variations. Let’s see how they are different.
Despite the dominance of English, Welsh is still a common language in Wales. As a Celtic language, Welsh holds a special place in Wales’ identity. It’s used in legal documents, education, public signage, and media.
The government is making an effort to preserve Welsh as it is connected to the long-standing history associated with the culture and heritage of the Welsh people.
Scottish Gaelic, another Celtic language, is primarily spoken in the more remote areas of Scotland, particularly in the Highlands and the Outer Hebrides.
Despite a substantial decline in the number of speakers, efforts continue to keep the language alive through cultural programs, bilingual education, and community support initiatives.
Irish (Gaeilge), also from the Celtic language family, is used widely in Northern Ireland. While English is the predominant language, Irish plays an important role in communications, politics, and education of the country.
Therefore, the government has taken measures to encourage the use of the Irish language in daily life.
Scots was derived from the Anglo-Saxon language and is mainly spoken in Scotland. Although Scots is heavily influenced by English, it is still significantly different in terms of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
And even though the number of Scots speakers has been dropping, it remains an important part of Scotland’s cultural identity, visible in traditional literature and music.
Besides “What language is spoken in England?“, below are some commonly asked questions about the languages used in England and the wider UK:
Scots is the 2nd most spoken language in the UK, used by about 1.5 million people in Scotland.
The UK does not have an official language defined in its constitution. However, English functions as the de facto official language in administration, education, and daily communication.
Also read: Learning English phonetic transcription
English is the primary language spoken in London. However, the capital’s incredible cultural diversity means many other languages are heard daily, including Cornish, Shelta, and Welsh.
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