Why do so many countries in Central and South America speak Spanish?

Answer 1

Most of South America consisted of colonies of Spain, or had Spanish settlements, after the Spanish explorations and conquests that began in 1492.

Central and South America are referred to as "Latin America" because of the Romance languages introduced there (Spanish, Portuguese, and French. In most cases, Catholicism also accompanied these European conquests.

Brazil was settled by the Portuguese under the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), and the three Guianas were colonies of England, France, and the Netherlands.

Answer 2

Souther America was colonized most by Spain and Portugal. This is why most South American Nations host Spanish as their primary language, while Brazil, the largest country in South America, hosts Portugese as it's primary and official language.

Answer 3

The language that a country speaks is indicative of what nation "owned" the land years before.

Americans speak English because England owned the USA before the revolution. Spain owned and colonized much of the South American Countries.

Answer 4

The Spanish-speaking countries of Central and South America were all once colonies of Spain.

Answer 5

The majority of the countries in South America were colonized by Spain., hence the dominance of Spanish in S.A

Answer 6

During colonial time, Spanish and Portuguese colonized these area. They make settlements and the settlers thought the local Spanish or Portuguese.

Answer 7

Because that's the definition of "Latin" America. Any country that speaks a Romance language.

Answer 8

Because the Spanish invaded America

Answer 9

Because they were once colonies of Spain.