A 2015 study by the market research company GfK Perú found that only 8% of people surveyed said they spoke English. Half of those English speakers lived in Lima and almost a third were under 25 years of age. From my experience living and traveling in Peru, the GfK Perú survey sounds about right.
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What are the 3 main languages in Peru?
Linguistic Legislation
At the political level, Spanish is the official language of Peru and, in areas where they are common, Quechua, Aymara, and some other Indigenous languages are also the official language.
What are the top 2 languages spoken in Peru?
Around 84% of Peruvians speak Spanish, the official national language. Even so, over 26% of the population speaks a first language other than Spanish. Quechua is the second most commonly spoken language (13%), followed by Aymara (2%), and both have official status.
What language is mostly spoken in Peru?
Spanish
While Spanish is used widely throughout the country, Peru is also home to more than ninety indigenous languages. Most of these belong to unique language families. A language family is a group of related languages that developed from a common historic ancestor.
Can you visit Peru without speaking Spanish?
You don’t need to learn Spanish for traveling in Peru.Forget about that whole “Oh, you really must learn Spanish, it is so very impolite to go to a country and not speak the native language” speech.
How do you say hello in Peru?
When greeting someone they know very well, it is common for Peruvians to simply use a quick buenas in passing or the standard hola, meaning “hello.” These greetings are friendly and informal and can be used along with other informal phrases such as: ¿Cómo estás? – This standard question means “How are you?”
Do they speak English in Peru?
Spanish is the primary and official language of Peru, followed by Quechua, Aymara, and other indigenous languages. English is not commonly spoken outside of tourist areas. Luckily, Peruvian Spanish is one of the clearest and most enunciated Spanish accents, making it easier for Spanish-language beginners to understand.
Is Peru safe?
Overall, Peru is somewhat safe to visit, though it has many dangers and is ridden with crime. You should be aware that tourist hotspots and public transportation are places where most thefts and pickpocketing occur, and that violent crime exists on the streets, too.
Are Peruvians Hispanic or Latino?
Hispanic means Spanish-speaking, and therefore includes Peruvians. In practice, it’s mainly used in the US for immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries and their descendants, including residents and citizens of Peruvian descent.
What are 5 interesting facts about Peru?
Fast Facts About Peru
- The capital city of Peru is called Lima. 268,352 people live here.
- Peru is the third-largest country in South America, coming in after Brazil and Argentina.
- There are three official languages of Peru: Spanish, Quechua and Amaya.
- The money used in Peru is called Sol.
What kind of Spanish do they speak in Peru?
There are four varieties spoken in the country, by about 80% of the population. The four Peruvian dialects are Andean Spanish, Peruvian Coastal Spanish, Andean-Costal Spanish, and Amazonic Spanish.
How do they greet each other in Peru?
In Peru, greetings are very important because they emphasise that an individual is acknowledged and welcomed. The most common greeting is a handshake.The ‘abrazo’ is a standard greeting among friends and family. This consists of a handshake and a hug between men and a hug and a kiss on the right cheek between women.
How do Peruvians say goodbye?
Chau
Chau – As already mentioned, this is the most common way to say goodbye in Peru and means “bye.” If you aren’t sure which farewell to use in a social situation, a simple chau will certainly suffice.
Is Peru expensive to visit?
Whilst Peru itself is not an expensive country, its popularity as a tourist destination means that a trip here (especially that of the whistle-stop type) can cost you quite a lot more than you may have imagined.
How do you say bathroom in Peru?
1. Baño: This is the basic and most common word for bathroom.
What is considered rude in Peru?
Peruvians will stand much closer than you will probably like when in conversation. But it will be considered rude if you start backing away. And there is a fair amount of touching between men and men, men and women, and women and women while conversing. This includes hand on shoulders, hand on arms, and hand on hands.
Do Peruvians kiss as a greeting?
Peruvian greetings and introductions are generally accompanied by a handshake or a kiss on the cheek. A firm handshake is customary between men, while a kiss is standard practice in most other situations. Peruvians kiss each other once on the right cheek. Kissing on both cheeks is unusual, so keep it nice and simple.
Why do Peruvians say Chao?
Chau is the same as a straightforward “bye” in English, being informal but also subject to various intonations that can change the emotional weight of the word (happy, sad, gloomy etc…).Saying adiós is like saying “farewell” in English; it’s formal but normally too melodramatic for use in standard social situations.
What language does Machu Picchu speak?
Quechua
Quechua on the trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu
Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca empire, is one of the places in Peru with the most Quechua speakers. It is estimated that 45% of its population speaks this language.
How do you say excuse me in Peru?
Time to learn more about the 20 Spanish words to know in Peru!
Being polite in Spanish
- Thank you (very much)! = ¡ Muchas gracias! (
- Excuse me (to get past)! = ¡ Perdone! /
- You’re welcome! = ¡
- Excuse me = ¡ Perdone! /
How do you say cool in Peru?
Chévere – Cool/Great/Awesome.
