Spanish is not the official language of Mexico!

In fact, no official language is specified in Mexico, and if one were, it would doubtless be Spanish. Only 6% of Mexicans even speak a native language, and of those, most speak Spanish as well. This is a little surprising, as at the time of the conquest, Mexico had one of the largest native populations in the New World.

The Disappearance of Native Mexican Languages

For centuries after the conquest, Spanish and Mexican officials did what they could to stamp out native languages, promoting Spanish-only education, stacking the legal system with Spanish-only rules, etc. This was all done in the name of “progress:” it was believed that natives who could not speak Spanish were holding the nation back from greatness. It wasn’t until the 1917 Constitution (a product of the liberal Mexican Revolution) that natives were guaranteed the right to have their own language.

Indigenous Languages of Modern Day Mexico

Today there are dozens of indigenous languages still actively spoken in Mexico, ranging from Nahuatl, spoken by more than a million people in Central Mexico, to Kiliwa, spoken by less than one hundred people in rural parts of Baja California. In between, and all over Mexico, you’ll find ethnic groups striving to maintain their language and identity.

Mexicans of indigenous descent are beginning to take more pride in their heritage, and this has led to an increase in education in traditional languages and culture. Visitors may notice it: newspapers in Nahuatl, street signs in multiple languages, etc. A greater challenge will be to get upper-class Mexicans to believe that a multi-cultural nation is a good thing!