Languages of the United Kingdom facts for kids

The United Kingdom is a country with a rich history, and this is reflected in the many different languages spoken there. While English is the most widely used language, especially British English, the UK is also home to several other native languages. These include ancient languages like Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, and Irish Gaelic, as well as other unique languages like Scots and Cornish. Many people in the UK also speak languages from around the world, making it a very diverse place!

The Main Languages of the UK

The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each of these areas has its own linguistic heritage.

English and Its Dialects

English is the official language of the UK and is spoken by almost everyone. However, just like in other countries, English in the UK has many different dialects. A dialect is a way of speaking a language that is unique to a certain area or group of people.

• British English: This is the general term for the English spoken in the UK.
• English English: This refers to the dialects of English spoken in England.
• Scottish English: This is the English spoken in Scotland. It has some differences in pronunciation and vocabulary compared to English English.
• Welsh English: This is the English spoken in Wales. It's influenced by the Welsh language.
• Irish English: This is the English spoken in Ireland, including Northern Ireland.
• Ulster English: This is a mix of Irish English and British English spoken in Northern Ireland.
• Cornish English: This is the English spoken in Cornwall, influenced by the Cornish language.
• Manx English: This is the English spoken on the Isle of Man.

Gaelic Languages

Gaelic languages are a group of Celtic languages that have been spoken in parts of the UK for a very long time.

• Scottish Gaelic: This ancient language is spoken in parts of Scotland, especially in the Scottish Highlands and islands. It's also spoken by some people in Canada.
• Irish Gaelic: This language is mainly spoken in Ireland, but also in Northern Ireland.
• Manx Gaelic: This is the traditional language of the Isle of Man. For a while, it almost disappeared, but now people are working to bring it back.

Brythonic Languages

Brythonic languages are another group of Celtic languages that were once spoken across much of Britain.

• Welsh: This is a vibrant language spoken in Wales. Many road signs and official documents in Wales are in both English and Welsh. It's also spoken by a small community in Argentina.
• Cornish: This language was traditionally spoken in Cornwall, a county in southwest England. Like Manx, it almost died out but is now being revived by dedicated speakers.

Scots Language

• Scots: This is a language closely related to English, spoken in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. It's sometimes called a dialect of English, but many people consider it a separate language.
• Ulster Scots: These are the specific dialects of Scots spoken in Northern Ireland. You might see signs in both English and Ulster Scots there.

Other Languages Spoken in the UK

Because the UK has welcomed people from all over the world for centuries, many other languages are spoken by different communities. In big cities like London, you can hear hundreds of different languages. For example, in some areas of London, you might see street signs in Bengali or Punjabi, reflecting the local communities.

Images for kids

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  Street sign in Ballywalter, Northern Ireland, in English and Ulster Scots.

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  This map shows how well people in England and Wales spoke English in 2011. The 'English' category included Welsh speakers in Wales.

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  Road markings near Cardiff Airport in Wales are written in both English and Welsh.

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  Bilingual sign (Scottish Gaelic and English) at Partick railway station in Glasgow, Scotland.

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  A welcome sign in both Irish and English in Newry, Northern Ireland.

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  In Northern Ireland, this government department uses English, Irish, and Ulster Scots on its official sign.

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  A street sign for 'Brick Lane' in London, shown in English and Bengali.

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  A sign at Southall railway station in London, written in English and Punjabi.

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  Bilingual street signs in Chinatown, Liverpool, showing English and Chinese.

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  Signs at Wallsend Metro station are in English and Latin, honoring the town's Roman history.

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  This map shows where Ulster-Scots speakers lived in Northern Ireland in 2011.

See also

In Spanish: Lenguas del Reino Unido para niños