Spanish
Spanish has more native speakers than any language apart from Mandarin Chinese, with 483 million speakers. It is an official language in 20 countries including Mexico, Colombia, Spain and Argentina. It is also the second most widely spoken language in the United States, after English, with 43 million speakers.
A global language
Three of the 21 largest economies in the world are Spanish speaking: Spain, Mexico and Argentina. It is the third most used language on the internet after English and Chinese. Spanish is the second language by number of users in Facebook and Twitter. Spanish is one of the official languages of the United Nations and World Trade Organisation.
Impressive literary traditions
Spain and Latin America have one of the world’s great literary traditions. Spanish speaking writers have won the Nobel Prize for Literature 11 times, including Chile’s Pablo Neruda and Colombia’s Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Miguel de Cervantes’ book “Don Quixote” is widely considered one of the greatest novels in world literature.
Inspired cinema
Spanish speaking cinema is also among the world’s richest with notable directors including Spain’s Pedro Almodóvar, Icíar Bollaín and Luis Bunuel, Claudia Llosa (Perú): Alejandro González Iñárritu (Mexico), Juan José Campanella (Argentina) o Pablo Larraín (Chile). Mexican directors won the Oscar for best director in four of the five years to 2017.
Great gastronomy
The Spanish-speaking world – particularly Spain, Mexico and Argentina – boast some of the world’s most distinctive culinary traditions. Spain, Chile and Argentina are known around the world for their wines.
Check out our “Why Learn Spanish?” video playlist!
Spanish music playlist
Whatever your favourite type of music is, you are very likely to find some Spanish music to appeal to your tastes. Listening to music can help increase vocabulary and improve pronunciation, so why not add some music in Spanish to your playlists.
Visit our Spotify for some recommended playlists in Spanish and more.
Spanish reading recommendations
Reading in Spanish or any new language is a great way to learn vocabulary in context, introduce common phrases and to reinforce grammar while enjoying the benefits of a good book.
Find your next page turner in our Spanish reading list.
Study Spanish at Third Level
- Animals and Veterinary Science with Spanish
- Farming, Horticulture and Forestry with Spanish
- Food and Beverages with Spanish
- Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science with Spanish
- Computers and ICT with Spanish
- Construction Architecture and Property with Spanish
- Earth and Environment with Spanish
- Engineering, Manufacturing and Energy with Spanish
- Physics, Mathematics and Space Science with Spanish
- Leisure, Sport and Fitness with Spanish
- Medical and Healthcare with Spanish
- Psychology and Social Care with Spanish
- Art, Craft and Design with Spanish
- Media, Film and Publishing with Spanish
- Music and Performing Arts with Spanish
- Education and Teaching with Spanish
- History, Culture and Languages with Spanish
- Law and Legal with Spanish
- Accountancy and Taxation with Spanish
- Banking and Finance with Spanish
- Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations with Spanish
- Tourism and Hospitality with Spanish
