What language is spoken in Bolivia?

Spanish is the main language used throughout Bolivia, alongside 36 officially recognised indigenous languages. In rural highland zones, Quechua and Aymara are the most widely spoken native languages, while Guaraní is commonly used in the southeast.

Although English is commonly heard from tour guides, hotel staff, and operators in big tourist spots like La Paz and Uyuni, it is rarely understood beyond the tourism industry. It is a good idea to learn basic Spanish phrases for bargaining taxi prices, taking meal orders, and speaking with locals. In faraway villages across the Altiplano or the Amazon, indigenous dialects often function as the first language, but usually, people still manage to speak everyday Spanish.