Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Events
    • Shop
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Scandinavia
      • Spain
      • United Kingdom
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Others
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • North America
      • South America
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Events
    • Shop
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Scandinavia
      • Spain
      • United Kingdom
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Others
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • North America
      • South America
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
👤

THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR EXPATS, DIGITAL NOMADS, AND DREAMERS.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Your Escape Plan

Language in Panama

  • BY EA Editors
  • January 24, 2012
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

Language in Panama

English as a Second Language

In Panama most people speak Spanish, the official language of the country. The Spanish in Panama is closer to Caribbean than Central American Spanish, and it shows some influence from English and the languages of other groups which have immigrated to the country. Defining characteristics are the shortening of words (for example, the last syllable or consonant might be omitted), and pronunciations that are somewhat more nasal.

Panama is actually home to about fourteen different languages, including those spoken by indigenous groups and immigrant communities. The country’s seven indigenous groups speak a variety of dialects, Kuna and Ngobe-Bugle being the most common. In the Bocas del Toro region, “Guari Guari” or Creole English is spoken, kind of a patois English blended with Spanish and Ngobe-Bugle words. Guari Guari may include some English derivatives, but native English speakers find it very difficult to understand!

About 14% of the Panamanian population is fluent in English, the second most common language in the country. Most professionals and business people speak English, and even rural populations have a reasonable degree of proficiency due to their interactions with tourists. There are also pockets where Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic, Yiddish and Korean can be found. Immigrants from China, many who run the corner stores and small markets called chinitos, continue to speak their native Chinese, particularly the Cantonese and Hakka dialects.

So if you don’t speak Spanish, are you going to have a hard time negotiating Panama? For the most part, no, you can usually find someone available to assist with translation. Panamanians in general are friendly and willing to help, and there are pockets of English-speakers all over the country.

But are you going to be at a disadvantage without any Spanish in your repertoire? Of course! – Spanish is the primary language here and is used for most communications. Fortunately there are numerous ways to ease this problem, some of which we’ll explore in the second part of this article.

 

4 Methods of Easing the Language Barrier

Mandarin Chinese is the language spoken by more people than any other in the world. Spanish is the second most popular language, with between 350-400 million native speakers. And English is not far behind in spot number three.

Almost 90% of the population in Panama speaks Spanish. So if you plan to be spending time in the country, you’re going to miss out on a lot if you don’t know the language! Fortunately there are enough options around so that you’re not going to be stranded if you don’t know any Spanish on day one. Panamanians are generally friendly and willing to help, and you can usually find someone available to assist with translation.

Learning Spanish today is more like picking up a new hobby rather than that old nightmare of conjugating verbs in high school. These days there are any number of ways to start building your fluency. All you have to do is find the one(s) that work best for you…….and practice! Here are a couple of options to explore.

  • Find a tutor. Personal lessons can be pricey, but a local teacher will provide you with specific variations and inflections for where you live. You’ll also get immediate feedback on your pronunciation and grammar. A tutor can either be one-on-one, or you can participate (and share costs with) a group.
  • Try an instructional audio or video. This is a great way for beginners to pick up the basics. Since the emphasis is on speaking, you’ll start improving your verbal communication skills right away. These programs are generally inexpensive and portable. The biggest downside is that there is usually little-to-no instruction in reading and writing.
  • Purchase a software program. Companies are developing programs that utilize different styles of learning, so you can try various methods until you find the one that works best for you. These programs are often interactive, utilizing games and puzzles to keep things interesting. You can proceed at your own pace and repeat lessons as needed. Many companies also have online forums where you can go to practice speaking with others.
  • Go online! New websites are taking creative approaches to facilitate Spanish instruction including mobile apps, social learning and “crowdsourcing”. These are often free or very nominally priced.

And while you’re working on your Spanish, keep in mind that things could be worse……at least you’re not having to learn Chinese!

 

If you’re interested in buying a home abroad and want to weigh up your options, visit ECI Developments, who specialize in creating exceptional residence and resort communities across the world.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Previous Article
  • United Kingdom

Running Towards or Running From

  • BY staffwriter
  • January 24, 2011
View Post
Next Article
  • Your Escape Plan

Medellin is a winner !

  • BY David Steckenreiter
  • April 22, 2012
View Post
You May Also Like
Buying a Property abroad
View Post
  • Your Escape Plan
Why More Investors Are Buying Homes Offshore
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • October 8, 2025
Best Places to Live in Spain: A City-by-City Guide for 2025
View Post
  • Spain
Best Places to Live in Spain: A City-by-City Guide for 2025
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • October 8, 2025
Hungarian Citizenship by Descent Journey from Amercia
View Post
  • Second Citizenship
Our Journey from America to Hungarian Citizenship
  • BY Ethan Cohen & Learn Hungarian Anywhere
  • October 1, 2025
The Tale of the Tael - A timeless store of value across centuries
View Post
  • Finance
The Tale of the Tael’s: A Hard Lesson about Hard Money
  • BY Michael Checkan
  • September 24, 2025
Craggy cliffs and quiet harbors frame life in the Isle of Man
View Post
  • Your Escape Plan
Life and Opportunity on the Isle of Man
  • BY Aneesa Marufu
  • September 19, 2025
Central America’s strategic position is reshaping the global offshore banking map
View Post
  • Plan B
The Future of Global Finance Runs Through Central America
  • BY Luigi Wewege
  • September 17, 2025
Tokyo's infamous cherry blossoms.
View Post
  • Japan
How I Built a Life in Tokyo in 3 Months
  • BY Annie Nagel
  • September 8, 2025
Global Diversification Tips from Experts
View Post
  • Plan B
Staying in One Country Could Be Your Biggest Financial Risk
  • BY Isha Sesay
  • September 3, 2025
Trending Posts
  • 1
    • Mexico
    Top 10 Things to Know if You’re Moving to Mexico
    • September 26, 2025
  • The Tale of the Tael - A timeless store of value across centuries 2
    • Finance
    The Tale of the Tael’s: A Hard Lesson about Hard Money
    • September 24, 2025
  • Hungarian Citizenship by Descent Journey from Amercia 3
    • Second Citizenship
    Our Journey from America to Hungarian Citizenship
    • October 1, 2025
  • Abkhazia jewel of Soviet summer escapes 4
    • Field Notes
    Secrets of the Soviet Riviera
    • October 3, 2025
  • Summer in Lapland: Lapland’s wild landscapes glow under the endless Arctic sun 5
    • Field Notes
    Before the Snow Falls in Lapland
    • September 29, 2025
Advertise
Know Before You Go
  • Best Places to Live in Spain: A City-by-City Guide for 2025 1
    • Spain
    Best Places to Live in Spain: A City-by-City Guide for 2025
    • October 8, 2025
  • Expat Child Syndrome 2
    • Wellness
    The Untold Story of Expat Kids
    • October 6, 2025
  • Abkhazia jewel of Soviet summer escapes 3
    • Field Notes
    Secrets of the Soviet Riviera
    • October 3, 2025
  • Hungarian Citizenship by Descent Journey from Amercia 4
    • Second Citizenship
    Our Journey from America to Hungarian Citizenship
    • October 1, 2025
  • Summer in Lapland: Lapland’s wild landscapes glow under the endless Arctic sun 5
    • Field Notes
    Before the Snow Falls in Lapland
    • September 29, 2025
Learn More
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
Why Subscribe

The newly imagined Escape Artist brings you fresh content with a global focus, and sharp, up-to-the-minute coverage of the joys, challenges, and opportunities of life abroad.

For a limited time, we’re offering a special discount on all subscription deals, so be sure to lock-in these incredible savings and start receiving top-notch travel and expat content today!

Sign up for the EA Newsletter

Get important news delivered directly to your inbox and stay connected!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Escape Artist
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimer

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Newsletter Subscription
Our Spring Sale Has Started

You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/