What percentage of Puerto Ricans speak English? Do they prefer to speak English or Spanish to visitors?
I am planning on visiting Puerto Rico this summer and spending four days there on vacation. I am looking forward to seeing beautiful places like Old San Juan, the beaches, the El Yunque rain forest, and seeing the culture. The real reason I am asking this question about language is perhaps the opposite of what you are thinking. The truth is that I have traveled and studied Spanish abroad in Mexico and Ecuador and really enjoy the Spanish language and Latin American culture. My real concern is whether or not PR will have so many english speaking people, especially in tourist areas, that I will miss out on the cultural experience and find few opportunities to practice the language. Perhaps this is not so and just sounds like a silly question–I mean, who wouldn’t appreciate your efforts to speak to them in their own language while visiting their homeland? However, I can remember as a language student in Mexico that if I went to a touristy area or on an organized tour it sometimes seemed like the guides, etc. wanted to speak to me in English even if I wanted to speak to them in Spanish. Fortunately, because I was enrolled in a language school and stayed with a host family these situations were the exception more than the rule and I normally had plenty of time to interact with locals in Spanish. However, in this trip to Puerto Rico I will be going just as a tourist, staying in a hotel, and probably taking organized tours. What do you recommend I do to get opportunities to see the “real” Puerto Rico and get to know some of the local people?
I am sorry this question is so long… :/
I would guess maybe 50 percent of Puerto Ricans can speak English. Since I just used Spanish when I lived there I never really noticed who did or did not speak English because I just assumed they all spoke Spanish so why go up to them and SHOUT IN THEIR FACE: DO YOU TALK AMERIKAN?
Most understand some, after all this island is exposed daily to western pop culture through television and advertising. There is one english class taught throughout public school, although it’s a bit of a joke. IF you stay away from the tours, and away from most of the hotels restaurants and bars you will hear more spanish. Spanish is spoken as the language of preference, you will hear it everywhere. It is unlikely however that your tours will be given in spanish. If you ask someone something in spanish, they will likely answer you unless it sounds as if your struggling then if they do speak english it would be to make you more comfortable. The spanish spoken here is unlike the spanish spoken in Mexico, but the differences could be picked up on easily with time.
I commend you on learning Spanish and wanting to speak it while in PR. If you initiate a conversation in spanish, most people will respond to you in Spanish. We have an appreciation for people who learn our language and want to use it. The people in Puerto Rico will be happy to oblige and speak spanish to you.
In turistic areas there are people who can speak you in english.
What percentage of Puerto Ricans speak English?
* Lot of people understand english and speak it at different levels. If I take my own family for example, my three daughters and I are quite billingual.
Do they prefer to speak English or Spanish to visitors?
* Most of us will switch to english if it is obvious that with spanish we can not make us understand to you.
My real concern is whether or not PR will have so many english speaking people, especially in tourist areas, that I will miss out on the cultural experience and find few opportunities to practice the language.
* If you start a conversation in spanish we will continue talking to you in spanish.
What do you recommend I do to get opportunities to see the “real” Puerto Rico and get to know some of the local people?
* Go out of the typical tourist places and see the “real” Puerto Rico.
* Take a taxi and go bowling at a local bowling facility, there is one at Carolina.
* Do you like chess? Go to Borders (bookstore) at Plaza Las Americas purchase, at the coffee shop there people gather to play chess and chat. If you know how to play just ask for a turn.
* Rent a car, grab a map, and explore.
PR primary language its spanish, therefore people will speak mainly spanish.
some people dont know english at all and some may be bilingual.
we usually speak to tourists in english but if you feel comfortable speaking spanish they would problably speak to you in both languages. If you are not completely fluent then you can tell the person to show you some good words that you can learn or correct. Otherwise its your choice to speak whatever you want and it depend how comfortable the person feels to answer you in any language they might desire.
It is actually hard to pinpoint as a percentage how many people speak English. Most people will understand, but will not speak back because we do not speak English in the Island. I would say that a small percentage is fully bilingual, maybe about 5% to 10%. About 50% will understand what and may try to speak back in broken english. Maybe about 30% will have no idea WTF you are saying. So yes, Spanish is preferred.
I do not suggest you go to see the “real” Puerto Rico. The “real” PR is very dangerous and your life may be in danger. Stick to the tourist areas and you’ll have no problems.
Every where you go here in Puerto Rico you will see and interact with puertoricans. Now in the touristic areas there are guides, all taxi drivers, public transportation drivers, all hotel personal and police and fire oficials do speak English. Here we use the American dollar which you will not to have to worry about changing currency. All bank employees speak English, at the malls the security personal and store employees speak also English. Now, many who are not related to tourism do speak English and if you ask something you will get an answer but some may speak broken English. Now here we have Chinese,Japanese,Irish, German and peoples from other countries who speak their native languages,English and Spanish. As for tour guides, all hotels have guides that can take you to visit popular areas. Now if you realy want to interact with the locals in speaking Spanish, you can from San Juan, take for 50 cents the Metro Express but to Sagrado Corazon train station and there at the train station buy a metro card. The train trips are 75 cents one way. So you can get a card for any amount you desire to put in because this card can be used for the AMA buses, all Metro buses and train. Get on the train and go to the city of Bayamon and from there walk across over to the Canton Mall to shop. It is a small mall with many stores and you can walk around Bayamon. You can from the train station ask the small public buses which one goes to Plaza del Sol another mall and this bus goes right in and leave people in front, but they take cash because they do not have metro card meters, they charge only $1.00. Now you can stop at Deportivo train stop and go to the Santa Rosa mall there walk around all that area or have a rental car and drive to near by towns. If you rent a car take my advise and do not let them charge you for the gasoline because they over charge, opt to put in the gas yourself because you can find gas stations cheaper around, but gas here is sold by liters and runs from 87 cents to 97 cents a liter or the total per gallon is from $2.50 to $3.25 depending. Now, we also have in San Juan the bus terminal where the Metro express bus is, there you can take the T5 that goes to Isla Verde and walk around there, the T9 goes on a nice long trip from San Juan to Rio Piedras which is a nice local city with all kinds of stores, little eateries with typical foods or even take the train to Rio Piedras stop and walk starting from the old plaza where the old church is and walk all around. Old San Juan, Rio Piedras,Bayamon and Guaynabo has trollies that are free to ride and the drivers speak both languages but spanish if you prefer. Other place are out of San Juan area such as Guavate where you can buy and enjoy traditions foods such a roast pig on a spit, and other traditional goodies, enjoy the small shop and souvenirs and interact with the locals. Caguas is only a 45 minute drive from San Juan with shops and stores surrounding the central plaza where the old church is. Each town has a central plaza where their old church is. Some of the churches are way over 100 years old. Other towns to see that are good to interact with locals in Spanish are Aguas Buenas, Cidra this is a very good town, quiet peaceful and with local eateries to enjoy typical foods and shops. So all you have to do is rent a car I suggest not Hurtz because they are $$$$ so there are other such as Cars,Thrifty that have good offers. We have also national brand stores but to enjoy the local atmosphere and to interact with the locals and not go too far if you wish to stay close to San Juan, then check the towns I mentioned and enjoy typical foods and deserts. If you need more info then let me know. I have been living here for the past 31 years. Bienvenida a Puerto Rico.
Most puertoricans speak english if they paid any attention in school.lol. Both English and Spanish are the official languages so we HAVE to learn english in school. Most will understand you because movies are watched in english most of the time. However, they might have a hard time talking back to you. I was raised in PR and besides school, I would mimic ppl in the movies so when I came to the US not too long ago, ppl were very surprised that I had no accent. Trust me, you will survive if the only langage you speak is english.It’s not like your going to Cambodia or smthn:)
In “Area Metro”, about 95% of people speak english so you won’t have a problem. Most of us do prefer spanish but that’s just because it’s our first language.
Most of people are speak English in “Area Metro”, for that you have no problem. but Spanish is first language so that its required for you to learn Spanish. You can join any Spanish Institute or tutorial for your better education.