Spanish is the official language and is spoken throughout the country. Like many other European languages, such as Italian, French and Portuguese, Spanish is a Romance language directly derived from Latin.
Geographical factors and historical influences mean that the Spanish spoken in different parts of the country has its own unique features depending on the region you visit. Northern and southern accents are very different and each region has its own linguistic idiosyncrasies, which sometimes change the meaning of an expression or phrase.
Some regions also have their own official language, which is spoken in tandem with Spanish, such as Catalan in Catalonia, Galician in Galicia and Basque in the Basque Country. The latter is the only official language not derived from Latin and is believed to be one of the oldest languages in Europe.
While the Spanish are not renowned for their ability to speak and understand many other languages, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding someone who speaks enough English if you need to ask for information or assistance. And there’s no need to worry if your English is not perfect because probably theirs isn’t either, and Spanish people are mostly easy-going!
Lastly, you may notice that the noise level of conversations among the Spanish is higher than you’re used to. Don’t worry, they’re not angry. This is simply how people converse in Spain.