Languages

About this quiz

Official status and everyday use aren't the same thing. French is official in over twenty African countries from colonial administration, even where most people's first language is something else entirely. Spanish and Portuguese cover almost all of Latin America for the same reason. Switzerland has four official languages; India recognizes dozens at the state level.

This mode tests the official designation specifically, which is itself a window into colonial history and migration patterns, not just a vocabulary list. Many countries have more than one official language, so the right answer sometimes has to be narrowed from a short list rather than recalled outright.