Where regional languages applyArticle 1 of 6 · 4 min read
Which regions of Spain have a co-official language?
A region-by-region map of where Catalan, Valencian, Galician, Basque and Aranese are official alongside Spanish, and where no regional language is official. For anyone deciding where to live or what language they will meet in offices and schools.
Key rules
- Six communities: Six communities have a co-official language besides Spanish: Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the Valencian Community, Galicia, the Basque Country and Navarre.
- Partial areas: In Navarre and the Valencian Community, the second language is co-official only in certain zones.
- Aranese: Aranese is co-official only in the Val d'Aran, in Catalonia.
- Protected is not official: Asturian and the Aragonese and Catalan of Aragon are protected but not co-official.
The short map
Six communities have a co-official language besides Spanish. Spanish (Castilian) is official everywhere in Spain. In these six places, a second language has the same official standing in that territory.
| Community | Co-official language | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Catalonia | Catalan | Whole region |
| Catalonia | Aranese | Val d'Aran only |
| Balearic Islands | Catalan | Whole region |
| Valencian Community | Valencian | Valencian-speaking zones |
| Galicia | Galician | Whole region |
| Basque Country | Basque (Euskera) | Whole region |
| Navarre | Basque | Basque-speaking and mixed zones only |
The comparison below the text sets these side by side.
Why these six
The Constitution makes Spanish official nationwide. It also says other Spanish languages are official in their communities, as each community's statute (its founding law) sets out. So co-official status comes from the statute and applies only in the territory that statute names.
Each of the six communities has declared its language co-official in its statute.
Points to watch
- Valencian: it is co-official only in the Valencian-speaking zones, not in every part of the community.
- Navarre: Basque is co-official only in the Basque-speaking and mixed zones. The rest of Navarre has Spanish only.
- Balearic Islands: the co-official language is called Catalan, including on Mallorca and Ibiza.
- Aranese: this is a form of Occitan spoken in the Val d'Aran. It is official in Catalonia and is "the language proper of Aran". Citizens may use it with the authorities there. It is taught in schools alongside Catalan and Spanish.
Where nothing is co-official
These have no co-official language: Madrid, Andalusia, the Canary Islands, Aragon, Asturias, Cantabria, Castile and León, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, La Rioja, Murcia, and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla.
Some of them protect a regional language without making it official. Asturian (Bable) in Asturias is protected only. In Aragon, Aragonese and Catalan in the areas where they are spoken are protected only. You cannot demand to deal with the administration in these languages.
For more short answers, see the FAQ below.
Spain's co-official languages compared region by region
Six communities have a co-official language besides Spanish. Galician is the closest to Spanish and Basque is the furthest.
| Language | Co-official in | Standard-setting body | Closeness to Spanish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galician | Galicia | Real Academia Galega | Very close. Shared vocabulary, and Spanish speakers can read it easily. |
| Catalan | Catalonia and the Balearic Islands | Institut d'Estudis Catalans. In the Balearic Islands, an advisory body of the University of the Balearic Islands also takes part. | Fairly close. Much of the vocabulary is shared, but sounds and grammar differ, so it needs study. |
| Valencian | Valencian Community, in the Valencian-speaking zones only | Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua | Same closeness as Catalan: shared vocabulary, but different sounds and grammar. |
| Aranese (a form of Occitan) | Val d'Aran, in Catalonia | Institut d'Estudis Aranesi, working with the Conselh Generau d'Aran | Closer to Catalan and French than to Spanish. |
| Basque (Euskera) | Basque Country, and Navarre in its Basque-speaking and mixed zones only | Euskaltzaindia, the Royal Academy of the Basque Language | Unrelated to Spanish. It has borrowed words, but grammar and core vocabulary are completely different. |
What the table means in practice
- Co-official status is local. In Navarre, for example, Basque counts as co-official only in part of the territory.
- Some regions protect a language without making it co-official. Asturian in Asturias, and Aragonese and Catalan in parts of Aragon, have protected status only.
- Learning effort varies. The closeness column is a general guide, and how hard a language is for you depends on you.
Quick answers about Spain's regional languages
Do Madrid, Andalusia or the Canary Islands have a co-official language?
No, Madrid, Andalusia and the Canary Islands have no co-official language, so Spanish is the only official language there. The same goes for Aragon, Asturias and Murcia. Some regions still protect local languages without making them official, such as Asturian in Asturias.
Is the Catalan of Mallorca and Ibiza the same language as in Barcelona?
Yes, the Catalan of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza is the same language as in Barcelona, with its own Balearic pronunciation, vocabulary and verb forms. Local names such as mallorquí, menorquí and eivissenc describe these varieties. Official language bodies treat them all as Catalan.
Is Aranese an official language in Catalonia?
Yes, Aranese is official in Catalonia, alongside Catalan and Spanish, and it is the language proper of the Val d'Aran. You can use it with the public authorities there. Schools in the valley teach it together with Catalan, Spanish and other languages.
More in Where regional languages apply
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.