Almost all Ecuadorians speak Spanish as either a first or second language. Amerindian languages come a close second, primarily with many Ecuadorians speaking Quechua. English is taught from an early age in schools, but is not taught well. Most Ecuadorians understand much more English than one would imagine, but relatively few are fluent.

Ecuadorian Spanish is different in each region. On the coast, the Spanish is slurred and final syllables are dropped. In the Andes the Spanish is slower and clear - making it one of the easiest places to learn the language.

See our Spanish Schools section for more information.