Most microstates in the world don’t have their own language, usually sharing one with a larger nation, often a neighbouring country. That is sort of the case when it comes to the language in Andorra, the principality that is located in the Pyrenees, with France to the north and Spain to the south. The official language in Andorra is Catalan, which makes sense given that the part of Spain that borders Andorra is Catalonia.
This brings up one of the most interesting Andorra facts, which is that the principality is the only country in the world that has Catalan as the sole official language. Catalan is also spoken in Spain, and is one of Spain’s six official languages, along with Castilian Spanish, Galician, Basque, Valencian and Aranese, while it is also used in parts of France and Italy, but only the Andorran people can say that Catalan is their country’s sole official language.
Andorra language: Why is Catalan the official language of Andorra?
Catalan is the main Andorra language and the reason for this is a historical one, as this has traditionally been the language spoken in this part of the world. In modern times, Catalan remains the main language of Andorra and it seems this will stay the case into the future, as the Andorran government has established various initiatives to ensure Catalan continues to be taught to youngsters and used for official government business and in the media.
What language is spoken in Andorra?
Although Catalan is the official language, there are also some alternative answers when it comes to the question of ‘What language does Andorra speak?’. Most members of Andorra’s population, which is an estimated 77,500, are actually bilingual.
A 2018 report found that more than half of Andorra residents would mostly speak Catalan outside of the home, with 55% in this category. This was followed by those who primarily used Castilian Spanish outside of the home (37%), Portuguese (4%), French (2%) or other (2%).
However, the results for what language is spoken in Andorra inside the home were quite different. The study found that 44% actually spoke Castilian Spanish first and foremost in their household, with just 40% speaking in Catalan when in private. There were similar results when Andorran residents were asked what their mother tongue was, as the order was Castilian Spanish (43%), Catalan (36%), Portuguese (17%), French (9%), English (2%) and other (5%), with those surveyed able to put down more than one answer.
Is English widely spoken in Andorra?
Although just 2% put English as their mother tongue, English is also a common language in Andorra, given that the principality is a hub for tourism. The tourism industry is estimated to make up 80% of the economy, so it’s important for people to understand and speak English.
In the same 2018 report into what language is spoken in Andorra, one of the findings was that the average Andorran claimed to have an understanding of English score of 4.7 out of 10 and a speaking of English score of 4.1 out of 10. So, the level of English you’ll come across on an Andorra ski holiday should be quite high. In the Andorra capital, which is Andorra la Vella, the level of English is higher than in most of the rest of the principality.
Is Andorra more French or Spanish?
Most Andorrans will tell you that they are neither French nor Spanish. They are Andorran and proud of their unique culture.
As for whether that culture is more influenced by France or by Spain, that is subject to opinion, but it is telling that just 9% state that French is their mother tongue, compared to the 43% who replied Castilian Spanish or the 36% that replied Catalan. The report into Andorra language even showed that there are more native Portuguese speakers than French, suggesting that French language doesn’t have much of a role in Andorra and that French culture’s role is probably smaller too.