What Language Do They Speak in El Salvador?

Official language of El Salvador Spanish

Facts last checked 9 October 2026.

The official language of El Salvador is Spanish. Spanish is also an official language in 20 other countries worldwide.

Learn some Spanish before you go

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We are also a member of the CJ Affiliate and AWIN affiliate networks. Links below are affiliate links.

AMAZON

Spanish Phrasebook & Dictionary
The essentials for ordering food, asking directions and being polite.

Check Price →

AMAZON

Learn Spanish for Beginners
A structured course book to go beyond the basics.

Check Price →

Languages of El Salvador at a glance

Official language	Spanish
Number of official languages	1
Countries on this site where Spanish is official	21
People (demonym)	Salvadoran
Capital	San Salvador
Internet domain	.sv

Other countries where Spanish is official

Spanish is also an official language in 20 other countries covered here:

Languages of neighbouring countries

Guatemala	Spanish
Honduras	Spanish

El Salvador in context

El Salvador covers 21,041 km², making it the 149th largest of the 196 countries on this site.
Its population density of about 287 people per km² ranks 32nd of 196 (1st = most crowded).
It shares a land border with 2 countries: Guatemala, Honduras.
With 6,029,976 people, El Salvador holds about 11.9% of the population of Central America.
Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Monday.
El Salvador is a member state of the United Nations.

Compare El Salvador

Honduras vs El Salvador

Useful phrases for visitors to El Salvador

Everyday Spanish phrases you will hear and use in El Salvador:

English	Spanish
Hello	Hola
Thank you	Gracias
Please	Por favor
Goodbye	Adiós
Yes	Sí
No	No

Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.

Languages in El Salvador — FAQ