Aside From English, Spanish Tops U.S. Home Languages

February 21 marks International Mother Language Day, a date proclaimed by UNESCO and adopted by the UN to promote linguistic diversity around the world and underscore the role of languages in promoting inclusion. In the United States, recent data on languages spoken in the home from the U.S. Census Bureau paints a vivid picture of cultural diversity. While 247.7 million Americans reported speaking only English at home in 2024, millions more maintain other languages within their households.

Spanish stands out as the most widely spoken non-English language, with nearly 45 million speakers,a testament to the deep Hispanic roots woven into American society. Chinese languages, including Mandarin and Cantonese, are spoken by 3.7 million people, followed by Tagalog (1.9 million), Vietnamese (1.6 million), and Arabic (1.5 million). French, Korean, and Portuguese round out the list, each with over one million speakers.

Language is more than just a communication tool - it is a bridge to cultural identity, family history, and community belonging. Celebrating linguistic diversity means recognizing that the ability to speak multiple languages enriches not only individuals and families, but society as a whole.