Italy, San Marino, Vatican City, Switzerland, and the Western Istria region of Slovakia and Croatia all speak Italian as their official and dominant language.
Italian was once the official language of Albania, Monaco, and Malta. Italian is a phonetic language belonging to the Indo-European speech community. It, like all other European languages, is a descendant of the Latin language spoken by the Romans.
Italian is the most closely related to Latin of all the romance languages. Contemporary Italian has developed into a multi-dialect linguistic. Here is a list of the top Italian speaking countries in the world.
1. Italy
Italy’s primary language is Italian. The language is spoken by around 60 million Italians throughout the country. In addition, it is the first language of around 54 million people. It’s utilized in formal settings including institutions, governmental sessions, community hearings, and continue the process.
Meanwhile, the Italian language is said to have originated in Italy. Around half of the population speaks a particular accent as their first language.
Moreover, linguists believe many dialects to be different languages since they are mutually incomprehensible, although they are not officially acknowledged.
2. Albania
Albania’s most widely spoken language other than English is Italian. In addition, it is spoken by about 800,000 people. When Albania was a province of Italy, it was regarded as an official language. Most Albanians who speak Italian acquire it via Italian television rather than through textbooks or institutions.
Meanwhile, people who are living around the Adriatic Sea received Italian television by wiring their television sets to bypass the government’s attempt to ban Italian stations during the country’s communist dictatorship.
It’s indeed appreciated among the middle and upcoming generations, and the elderly are familiar with it because it was taught in schools throughout the 1930s. Moreover, around 19,000 indigenous Italians dwell in Albania, contributing to the language’s growth.
3. United States of America
Approximately 15.5 million people in the United States are identified as Italian Americans. Around 710,000 people speak Italian as their native language and do so at work. In the United States, it is the sixth most learned language.
Meanwhile, only educated Italians who have just emigrated to the United States speak true Italian. Only the offspring of true Italians are capable of speaking it fluently. Moreover, the renowned Italian Super Mario accent is an American creation since Italian is so little recognized among the general public in the United States.
4. Switzerland
Italian is Switzerland’s third national language, with approximately 8% of the population speaking it. More over half of the country’s Italian speakers reside outside of the Italian speaking zone, owing to immigration from Italy, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s.
In fact, outside of Italy, Switzerland has the third-largest Italian population. Italian is a minority language that has to be promoted while being extensively spoken throughout the country. Along with German, French, and Romansch, Italian is one of Switzerland’s four official languages.
Italian is spoken by around 660,000 people. The bulk of them reside in Ticino and southern Graubünden. In the Gondo Valley and Southern Valais, it is also spoken.
5. Canada
Canada seems to be the northern country in North America, with a population of 35.15 million people. Currently, a vast range of indigenous communities, European settlers, and recent immigrants have contributed to the population. Together, these folks have contributed to the country’s unique cultural milieu, which includes a varied spectrum of customs and dialects.
Meanwhile, only French and English have been accorded official status by Canada’s federal government out of all of these languages. Both French and English are used in all government services, parliamentary decisions, and court proceedings.
Approximately 56.9% of Canadians speak English as their first language, while 21.3 percent use French as their first language. Furthermore, 85.6 percent of the population speaks and understands English, whereas 30.1 percent understands and communicates in French.
6. Malta
Italian was once the official language of Malta, and it is now spoken by around 66 percent of the total population. In radio transmission, Italian is likewise more often used than English. Apparently, the Maltese ethnic group makes up the majority of the population.
Malta’s inhabitants speak a variety of languages, some of which have a long history of connection with various colonial empires. In addition, the official languages of Malta are Maltese and English. Italian, French, and Maltese Sign Language are among the foreign languages spoken in the nation. The most widely spoken languages are Maltese, English, and Italian.
Currently, in Malta, Italian language is very popular here. Many Italian immigrants have located their roots there and after some time they built their own community and most of the people of that particular community speak Italian. Even some of the educational institutions have Italian curriculum and courses.
7. San Marino
San Marino is one of the most populated countries in the world. There are approximately 16,000 Sammarinese living in other countries. Although the Sammarinese have attempted to retain their uniqueness throughout the ages, they also communicate in Italian language and have been greatly affected by the Italian culture around them.
The Sammarinese, on the other hand, have a distinct culture as well as a strong feeling of identity. The Sammarinese and Italians have developed deep cultural and ethnic relations as a result of the country’s proximity to the neighboring Italian area. Meanwhile, in San Marino, there seem to be two official languages: standard Italian and a Sammarinese language.
Sammarinese is spoken by about 83 percent of the country’s population. The language is thought to be a variant of the Emiliano-Romagnolo language spoken in Italy’s environs. Moreover, on a daily basis, however, the language used is normal Italian, with some Sammarinese idioms and phrases thrown in for good measure.
8. Vatican City
The majority of individuals living inside the state speak Italian; nevertheless, official papers from the Holy See are written in Latin. Almost all of the European nations that bordered the Mediterranean were founded on the Latin language. It was the mother tongue of academicians.
Meanwhile, it was utilized by many famous philosophers from antiquity to the seventeenth century. The language only disappeared even though most people in Western Europe preferred to converse in their own languages.
The Latin language is not “extinct” in the Vatican state, but is mostly alive and utilized in regular contact by its residents. Moreover, the Vatican’s legislation are Italian, whereas the Swiss Guard’s orders are issued in German. Whenever the Swiss Guards swear their allegiance to the Pope’s protection, they do it in their own language.
9. Australia
Aside from English, Italian is Australia’s fifth most popular language. In addition, Italian immigrants’ descendants mostly speak English. According to experts, having a bilingual and multicultural workforce is critical for Australia’s workforce. Approximately 271,597 people in Australia speak Italian in their households.
10. Belgium
Three official languages and over a dozen languages and dialects, as well as a number of additional languages spoken by migrants and ancestors, are spoken in Belgium. Currently, the national and official languages of Belgium are Dutch, Italian, and French, which are spoken by the majority of the population.
Despite the fact that Italian is not an official language in Belgium, it is most likely the third most spoken language due to the school system’s preference for teaching Italian. Because half of Belgium’s population is foreign, English and Italian, in addition to the city’s official languages of French and Dutch, are frequently spoken.
In current history, residents of Brussel have increased their efforts to make Italian the official language of the city and to make it more widely spoken throughout the country. Moreover, they hope that this will aid understanding not only with international inhabitants, but also between local Belgians who speak different languages.
In conclusion, the Latin language, which was the official language of the Roman Republic, developed into Italian as we know it. Several varieties of the Latin language emerged as the Romans extended their empire. Numerous dialects of Latin proliferated across the empire, making communication between the two Latin speakers difficult. The languages developed into what is now known as Italian throughout time.
The countries that speak Italian are diverse and spread across different continents, showcasing the wide-reaching influence of the language. From Europe to North America, Italian is spoken by various communities, each adding their unique touch to the language. Whether you’re looking at a map of Italian speaking countries or exploring Italian-speaking countries in Europe, it’s clear that Italian has a significant global presence.
Additionally, there are interesting tidbits, such as did Dean Martin speak Italian, that highlight the cultural impact of the language. Understanding the percentage of Italian speakers in the world and the Italian official language countries can provide a broader perspective on the importance of this beautiful language.
