What’s the language most often spoken in Mexico? Can I get by if I just speak English?
Brenda de Groot - AvensaTravel
In the big cities such as Mexico City, Monterey, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta or in the peninsula Yucatan, you can speak English since there are lots of expats who live in those places and Yucatan is very touristic. In other places in Mexico, you will need to speak Spanish.I believe that if you decide to move to another country, it is important that you learn to speak the local language since it is part of the culture of the country in which you are going to live. Even if you...
In the big cities such as Mexico City, Monterey, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta or in the peninsula Yucatan, you can speak English since there are lots of expats who live in those places and Yucatan is very touristic. In other places in Mexico, you will need to speak Spanish.I believe that if you decide to move to another country, it is important that you learn to speak the local language since it is part of the culture of the country in which you are going to live. Even if you live in the places where people speak English, it is still better if you know how to speak Spanish because you can have more meaningful conversations with people and life will be easier because you can communicate well.
In Oaxaca English is only spoken among the foreigners. It is not yet very common for local people to speak English, however this is changing. Nowadays children are having English at school and more and more people start learning English. I noticed that people are very kind here to try to understand you when trying to speak Spanish. With a half sentence people try to understand you, and because the people enjoy hearing the foreigner trying to speak their language, it makes it much easier to learn! This way you are not so afraid to try speaking and by practicing you learn faster.
In Oaxaca, next to the official language Spanish, 40 other indigenous languages are still spoken. Oaxaca´s richness of culture is a result of the many different ethnical groups that have lived and still live in this one state, for example the Zapotecs, the Mixtecs, and 14 other ethnical groups. If you visit a village outside the city or you go to the local markets, you will hear many other languages which you can not understand even if you speak Spanish!
Posted October 9, 2015
Carmella Peters Romero - Peters & Romero
Mexico is a Spanish-speaking country. In the tourist areas, everyone from waiters to shop attendants to taxi drivers will speak at least some English. However, outside of these areas, many Americans and Canadians are surprised to discover that the average ´man on the street´ doesn´t speak English. Mexico is a Spanish-speaking country. In the tourist areas, everyone from waiters to shop attendants to taxi drivers will speak at least some English. However, outside of these areas, many Americans and Canadians are surprised to discover that the average ´man on the street´ doesn´t speak English. Posted November 22, 2015
Gary Coles - Paradise For Gringos
Spanish is the dominant language in Mexico but you may be surprised to learn that it is not “the” official language. There 
are many indigenous languages such as Nahuatl and Yucatec Maya. The government recognizes all indigenous languages and must provide official documents in those languages if requested. In the southern part of the country, I met people who could speak no Spanish; only their indigenous language.
Many individuals...
Spanish is the dominant language in Mexico but you may be surprised to learn that it is not “the” official language. There are many indigenous languages such as Nahuatl and Yucatec Maya. The government recognizes all indigenous languages and must provide official documents in those languages if requested. In the southern part of the country, I met people who could speak no Spanish; only their indigenous language.
Many individuals do speak English, but unlike the indigenous languages, it has no type of protection. If you enter into a contract or need official documents, you will need to have an official translation. In one instance, I needed a copy of my birth certificate and even that very simple document needed to be translated by an official translator. If there is a dispute, any real estate contract or other contract will be determined by the Spanish language (or possibly the indigenous language).
The English language is very important in tourism and business so you will find many English speaking individuals in tourist areas or big cities. In Mexico City and Tijuana, I see signs everywhere advertising English language classes. The major companies and stores almost always have individuals who can help in the English language. I do not need it now, but in the past, I was always able to get someone at my bank, the Internet company, or the phone company who could speak English if I was patient and friendly. This was especially important on phone conversations because that is the most difficult place to communicate with no body language to give clues.
The more rural areas, it may be impossible to find anyone who can speak English. You can still get by if you want.
You can get along without speaking Spanish --- but it is much easier, if you, at least, learn the basics. The people of Mexico are friendly and try to understand even if you only speak English, but they really do appreciate someone who attempts to learn the language.
My first trips to Mexico, I could not speak any Spanish --- I “got by” with no problems. But I feel that my experiences become richer as I learn to speak more Spanish.
Posted January 28, 2016
Ivan Castillo - Secure Title Riviera Maya
Depending on the areas that you’re going to be living, you can even get your utilities turned on and talk to the cable guy in English. The service providers would be more likely to speak English in in tourist and expat areas like the Yucatan Peninsula, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, and Baja areas. So in these areas...
Depending on the areas that you’re going to be living, you can even get your utilities turned on and talk to the cable guy in English. The service providers would be more likely to speak English in in tourist and expat areas like the Yucatan Peninsula, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, and Baja areas. So in these areas where there’s an important community of foreigners, it’s easier to get around just speaking English.
When dealing with the government, however, it is done in Spanish. However, you can get by speaking with certain individuals. So if you want to go pay your utility bills, the government officials that will be receiving the application from you have dealt with foreigners in the past that they know exactly what needs to be done.
Posted February 1, 2016
Yvon Marier - Travel Info Mexico
In Mazatlán, you can get by just by speaking in English. Mexicans don’t speak perfect English, but all the major services- restaurants, stores, etc. always have somebody somewhere who speaks English. If you speak a bit of Spanish, of course it would help, but you can go almost anywhere in Mexico and find that most of the Mexicans speak English. If you just speak English, it would not be easy every day, but it would make some tasks a lot easier if you spoke some Spanish. In Mazatlán, you can get by just by speaking in English. Mexicans don’t speak perfect English, but all the major services- restaurants, stores, etc. always have somebody somewhere who speaks English. If you speak a bit of Spanish, of course it would help, but you can go almost anywhere in Mexico and find that most of the Mexicans speak English. If you just speak English, it would not be easy every day, but it would make some tasks a lot easier if you spoke some Spanish. .png)
Posted July 8, 2017