While Spanish is the official language of Colombia, many of the more than 180 indigenous languages of the country’s ethnic groups are constitutionally recognized as official languages within their respective territories. Bilingual education is mandatory in these territories, however, so most Colombians speak Spanish as either their first or second language. Not all Colombians speak the same, however, as the spoken Spanish varies (sometimes dramatically) from region to region. In Bogotá, for example, people speak what is called the Rolo dialect (also referred to as cachaco, meaning educated or refined) while those from northwest Colombia speak with the “hissing S” usually recognized as the Spanish of Spain. Other dialects include Cundiboyacense, which still uses a variant of the archaic vusted; and the coastal dialect, similar to the Spanish spoken throughout the Caribbean.
If traveling to Colombia, it is recommended that you brush up on your Spanish. English is taught in schools, but it is not taught exceptionally well. Most Colombians understand much more English than one might imagine, but relatively few are fluent.