There are more than eight languages commonly spoken in Belize! English is the official language, although Belizean Creole (or “Kriol”) serves as the main spoken tongue among and between groups.
There are an increasing number of Spanish speakers in Belize, as Central American immigrants continue to arrive. Spanish is the primary language of many native Belizean families, especially among descendants of Yucatecan immigrants who inhabit the Northern Cayes, Orange Walk, and Corozal Districts. As a tourist, there are only a few areas of Belize, mainly rural outposts in northern and western Belize, where knowing Spanish is essential to communicate.
The Garinagu people speak Garifuna, and the various Mennonite communities speak different dialects of Old German. Then there are Mopan, Yucateca, and Q’eqchi’ Mayan tongues. Still other immigrant groups, like Chinese and Lebanese, also often speak their own languages amongst themselves.