Language

Anyone visiting Honduras [1] after Mexico or Guatemala will be immediately struck by the faster, softer cadences of Honduran Spanish, more similar to the Spanish spoken in Nicaragua and the Caribbean. Words are not as strongly enunciated and are often cut off at the end, with one word running into another. It takes a little getting used to, and you may find yourself saying “más despacio, por favor” (slower, please) or “repita, por favor” (repeat, please).

Generally, Honduran Spanish is similar to that spoken elsewhere in Latin America, with a few exceptions, particularly the use of vos instead of tú (see the Spanish Phrasebook for more on this usage). Because of British and North American influence, broadly accented Caribbean English is the dominant language on the Bay Islands [2], particularly in Utila [3], although Spanish is increasing with the influx of Latinos from the mainland. Some English is also spoken along the north coast and in parts of the Mosquitia.

Garífunas and Miskitos mainly use their own languages amongst themselves, but almost all are bilingual and many are trilingual, speaking Spanish and/or English as well. Other indigenous languages are fading, but some communities still speak Pech, Tolupán, Mayan, and Tawahka. Lenca has fallen out of use entirely.