Chinese is the most widely used language after English and Spanish in multiple U.S. states, while German and French also hold significant importance.

Foreign Media: Languages Most Widely Spoken in U.S. States Beyond English and Spanish

Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, Chinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) is the top language after English and Spanish in 13 states, with the broadest geographic coverage of any language, primarily concentrated in coastal states and Sun Belt states with active technology and economies.

In California, over 1.2 million people speak Chinese; in New York State, more than 600,000. The states involved include New York, California, New Jersey, North Carolina, Georgia, Oregon, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Delaware, and others.

German still bears historical imprints. In regions such as Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, and North Dakota—located in the Great Plains and western Rocky Mountains—German remains the third most spoken language, reflecting the legacy of large-scale German immigration at the end of the 19th century.

Other regional language clusters: French ranks first in Maine, Vermont, Louisiana, and Washington D.C.; Vietnamese dominates in southern and plains states such as Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska; Portuguese ranks first in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut; Navajo is the leading language in Arizona and New Mexico, highlighting the ongoing presence of Native American communities in the Southwest; Indigenous languages also hold significant status in Alaska and South Dakota; Arabic dominates in Michigan, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1865444965508170/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.