The
languages of the Caribbean reflect the region's diverse history and culture. There are
six official languages spoken in the Caribbean. The six languages are:
- Spanish (official language of Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico)
- French (official language of Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, St. Barthelemy, and St. Martin)
- English (official language of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Dutch (official language of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten)
- Haitian Creole (official language of Haiti)
- Papiamento (a Portuguese and Spanish-based Creole language) (official language of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao)
However, there are also number of creoles and local patois. Dozens of the creole languages of the Caribbean are widely used informally among the general population. There are also a few additional smaller indigenous languages. Many of the indigenous languages have become extinct or are dying out.