United Kingdom

Languages

Afrikaans afr

Users: 11,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian

Akan aka

Users: 18,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Central, Akan

Amharic amh

Users: 8,620 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, Ethiopian, South, Transversal, Amharic-Argobba

Angloromani rme

Scattered. Users: 90,000 in United Kingdom (Hancock 1990b). Total users in all countries: 99,200. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Anglo-Romani, English Romani, Gypsy Jib, Para-Romani, Pogadi Chib, Posh ‘N’ Posh, Romani English, Romani Mixed Dialect, Romanichal, Romano Lavo, Romany, Rummaness Autonym: Romanes, Romani Classification: Mixed language, English-Romani

Arabic, Egyptian Spoken arz

Users: 22,800 in United Kingdom (2011). Total Arabic speakers in the United Kingdom: 159,000 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Judeo-Iraqi yhd

Users: 3,080 in United Kingdom (2011). Total Arabic speakers in the United Kingdom: 159,000 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Libyan Spoken ayl

Users: 11,200 in United Kingdom (2011). Total Arabic speakers in the United Kingdom: 159,000 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken acm

Users: 19,200 in United Kingdom (2011). Total Arabic speakers in the United Kingdom: 159,000 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Moroccan Spoken ary

Users: 15,200 in United Kingdom (2011). Total Arabic speakers in the United Kingdom: 159,000 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Najdi Spoken ars

Users: 10,700 in United Kingdom (2011). Total Arabic speakers in the United Kingdom: 159,000 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc

Users: 51,700 in United Kingdom (2011). Total Arabic speakers in the United Kingdom: 159,000 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, South Levantine Spoken ajp

Users: 8,940 in United Kingdom (2011). Total Arabic speakers in the United Kingdom: 159,000 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Ta’izzi-Adeni Spoken acq

Users: 15,200 in United Kingdom (2011). Total Arabic speakers in the United Kingdom: 159,000 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic aii

Users: 5,000 in United Kingdom. Ethnic population: 14,000. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern

Bengali ben

Users: 221,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census). , including Sylheti [syl] and Chittagonian [ctg]. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese

British Sign Language bfi

Scattered. Users: 151,000 in United Kingdom, all users. L1 users: 87,000 in United Kingdom (2019 British Deaf Association). Approximately 0.13% of total population. Another estimate: 77,000 (2019 EUD). L2 users: 64,000 (2019 British Deaf Association). Total users in all countries: 151,090 (as L1: 87,090; as L2: 64,000). Status: 5 (Developing). Provincially recognized language in Scotland (2015, BSL (Scotland) Act 2015), requires the Scottish Executive and lesser authorities to develop plans for BSL, for the purpose of promoting its understanding and use. Alternate Names: BSL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language

Bulgarian bul

Users: 38,500 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern

Chinese, Mandarin cmn

Users: 22,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese

Chinese, Yue yue

Users: 44,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Ethnic population: 300,000 (2004). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese

Cornish cor

Cornwall county: scattered. Users: 600, all users. L1 users: No known L1 speakers, but emerging L2 speakers. The identity of the last speaker is hotly debated by scholars. Some sources say the last L1 speaker was Dorothy ‘Dolly’ Pentreath, who died in 1777. L2 users: 600 (2011 census). Ethnic population: 73,200 (2011 census). Status: 9 (Reawakening). Recognized language (2002, ECRML, Part II, Article 7). Alternate Names: Curnoack, Kernowek Autonym: Kernewek Classification: Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Brythonic

Czech ces

Users: 29,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak

Danish dan

Users: 10,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Danish-Riksmal, Danish

Dutch nld

Users: 26,700 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian

English eng

Users: 60,020,000 in United Kingdom, all users. L1 users: 56,600,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census). England and Wales 49,800,000, Scotland 5,118,000, Northern Ireland 1,681,000. L2 users: 3,420,000 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 1,449,798,210 (as L1: 372,788,890; as L2: 1077,009,320). Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Autonym: English Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English

Estonian, Standard ekk

Users: 3,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Ethnic population: 14,000 (2004). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Finnic

Finnish fin

Users: 6,600 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Finnic

French fra

Scattered. Users: 12,767,000 in United Kingdom, all users. L1 users: 167,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census). L2 users: 12,600,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French

Ganda lug

Users: 3,450 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, J, Nyoro-Ganda (E.15)

German, Standard deu

Users: 4,067,200 in United Kingdom, all users. L1 users: 77,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census). L2 users: 3,990,000 (2018). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German

Greek ell

Users: 50,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Ethnic population: 200,000 (2004). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic

Gujarati guj

Users: 213,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Gujarati

Hebrew heb

Users: 6,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Canaanite

Hindi hin

Users: 45,800 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani

Hungarian hun

Users: 45,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census). England and Wales 44,400, Northern Ireland 1,040. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic

Igbo ibo

Users: 7,950 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Igboid, Igbo

Irish gle

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon district: Armagh county; Belfast; Fermanagh and Omagh county. Users: 5,730 in United Kingdom (2011 census). England and Wales 1,560, Northern Ireland 4,170. Widely used as L2 in all parts of Northern Ireland. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Erse, Gaeilge, Gaelic Irish, Irish Gaelic, Ulster Classification: Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Goidelic

Irish Sign Language isg

Scattered in Northern Ireland, particularly Londonderry and other areas with stronger Catholic ties. Users: 1,500 in United Kingdom (Parks and Parks 2012). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language

Italian ita

Users: 92,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian

Japanese jpn

Users: 27,800 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Japonic

Korean kor

Kingston Upon Thames county. Users: 15,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic

Krio kri

Users: 1,190 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Krio

Kurdish, Northern kmr

Users: 48,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish

Latvian, Standard lvs

Users: 32,700 in United Kingdom (2011 census). England and Wales 31,500, Northern Ireland 1,210. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern

Lingala lin

Users: 4,910 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, C, Bangi-Ntomba (C.30)

Lithuanian lit

Users: 91,700 in United Kingdom (2011 census). England and Wales 85,500, Northern Ireland 6,250. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern

Malay zlm

Users: 12,600 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay

Malayalam mal

Users: 37,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census). England and Wales 36,200, Northern Ireland 1,210. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Malayalam

Maltese mlt

Users: 3,110 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Marathi mar

Users: 6,410 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Southern

Morisyen mfe

Users: 1,000 in United Kingdom (2005). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, French based

Nepali npi

Users: 52,800 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Eastern, Eastern Pahari

Pahari-Potwari phr

Users: 21,900 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi, Western Panjabi

Pashto, Southern pbt

Users: 40,300 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto

Persian, Iranian pes

Users: 76,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian

Polari pld

Scattered. Users: No known L1 speakers. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Status: 9 (Second language only). Alternate Names: Palari, Palarie, Parlare, Parlaree, Parlary, Parlyaree Classification: Unclassified

Polish pol

Users: 618,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census). England and Wales 546,000, Scotland 54,000, Northern Ireland 18,000. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic

Portuguese por

Users: 135,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census). England and Wales 133,000, Northern Ireland 2,260. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician

Punjabi, Eastern pan

Users: 224,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census). All Punjabi speakers: 273,000 (2011 census). Ethnic population: 471,000 (2004). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi

Punjabi, Western pnb

Users: 48,900 in United Kingdom (2011 census). All Punjabi speakers: 273,000 (2011 census). Ethnic population: 103,000 (2004). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi, Western Panjabi

Romani, Welsh rmw

England and Wales, scattered. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last speaker, Manfri Wood, died in 1968. Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Kååle, Roma, Romani, Voshanange Kalá, Walsenenge Kale Autonym: Romnimus Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern

Romanian ron

Users: 67,600 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern

Russian rus

Users: 300,000 in United Kingdom (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 69,000 (2011 census). England and Wales 67,400, Northern Ireland 1,210. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East

Scots sco

Widespread in Scotland. Users: 1,589,200 in United Kingdom, all users. L1 users: 89,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census). 55,800 in Scotland, 33,400 in Northern Ireland. L2 users: 1,500,000 (2001 census). Total users in all countries: 1,599,200 (as L1: 99,200; as L2: 1,500,000). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Braid Scots, Lallans, Scotch Autonym: Scots Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English

Scottish Gaelic gla

Highland county: northwest Scotland, Western Isles, islands of Colonsay, Lismore, Raasay, Skye, and Tiree; Edinburgh and Glasgow cities. Users: 57,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Over 87,000 people with any Gaelic language skills (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 60,130. Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Scotland (2005, Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act). Alternate Names: Gaelic, Gàidhlig Albannach, Gàidhlig na h-Alba, Scots Gaelic Autonym: Gàidhlig Classification: Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Goidelic

Shelta sth

Scattered in Northern Ireland; major cities of England and Scotland. Users: 16,700 in United Kingdom (2008 A. Redmond). 15,000 in England and Scotland, 1,710 in Northern Ireland (2008 A. Redmond). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: De Gammon, The Cant Classification: Mixed language, Irish-undocumented

Shona sna

Users: 21,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.10)

Sinhala sin

Users: 14,700 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Southern, Sinhalese-Maldivian

Slovak slk

Users: 52,700 in United Kingdom (2011 census). England and Wales 50,500, Northern Ireland 2,260. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak

Slovene slv

Users: 1,240 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western

Somali som

Users: 85,900 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali

Spanish spa

Users: 4,294,000 in United Kingdom, all users. L1 users: 134,000 in United Kingdom (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 4,160,000 (2018). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian

Swahili swh

Users: 15,100 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.42)

Swedish swe

Users: 19,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Swedish

Sylheti syl

Users: 500,000 in United Kingdom (2020 J. Lloyd-Williams). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese

Tagalog tgl

Users: 72,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census). England and Wales 70,300, Northern Ireland 1,910. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog

Tamil tam

Users: 101,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil

Telugu tel

Users: 14,700 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, South-Central, Telugu

Thai tha

Users: 27,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Kra-Dai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern

Tigrigna tir

Users: 12,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, Ethiopian, North

Traveller Scottish trl

Major cities. Users: 460 (2011 census). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Scottish Cant, Scottish Traveller Cant Classification: Unclassified

Turkish tur

Users: 99,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish

Ukrainian ukr

Users: 6,580 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East

Urdu urd

Users: 269,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani

Vietnamese vie

Users: 15,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong, Vietnamese

Welsh cym

Widespread in Wales. Users: 562,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census), decreasing. 32,700 monolinguals (1971 census). Total users in all countries: 573,050. Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Wales (1993, Welsh Language Act, C 38). Autonym: Cymraeg Classification: Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Brythonic

Yoruba yor

Users: 14,900 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri