An array of cultures and populations stretch across the 44 countries of Europe, making this complex continent a living representation of the tides of history. The English-speaking countries in Europe are the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Malta, plus the British territories and dependencies of Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey.
Depending on the country you’re visiting, you may encounter many English speakers, or you may find English harder to come by. Discover the English-speaking countries in Europe for your next vacation destination, or a place to practice your English skills if you’re new to speaking the language.
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What countries speak English in Europe?
There are three official English-speaking countries in Europe: the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Malta. While citizens of other European countries may have learned English and can speak it proficiently, these are the only countries that speak English as a de jure (official) language, or a de facto (common) language.
In addition, several British territories and dependencies, including Guernsey, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, and Jersey also use English as de jure or de facto languages. English dialects in these areas often reflect loan words from languages like French, Guernésiais, and Jèrriais.
| Country or Territory | Official Language(s) | Number of Speakers* | Percentage of Total Population |
| United Kingdom | Welsh (Wales) | 67,357,00 | 97.4% |
| Ireland | English, Irish | 5,309,000 | 98.4% |
| Jersey | English, French | 98,000 | 94.5% |
| Isle of Man | English, Manx | 83,000 | 98% |
| Guernsey | English | 65,000 | 98% |
| Gibraltar | English | 35,000 | 88.9 % |
| Malta | English, Maltese | 34,000 | 6% |
*data from worlddata.info
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is probably the least surprising entry on this list, considering that’s where the English language began! While English is the de facto language of the UK, it’s not the official language of England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. Of these British constituent countries, only Wales has an official language: Welsh.
English originated in the UK with the earliest Celtic languages of the region. As politics and populations changed, it gained words and grammar patterns from local Germanic languages, Latin, French, Spanish, and many other surrounding languages. English then spread around the world as the British Empire colonized more territories.
Today, even though most former British colonies have declared their independence, English remains a common language in these areas. In particular, the United States and Australia have large populations of English speakers—although British English still has many words and phrases distinctive to the UK.
| British English Phrase | American English |
| chuffed | proud |
| knackered | exhausted |
| on holiday | on vacation |
Ireland
The majority of people living in Ireland (over 98%) speak English as a first language, so travelers in Ireland can easily find English speakers to help them. However, in certain parts of Ireland, Irish is still the main spoken language.
If you were to visit Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) regions of the country, such as Galway or county Kerry, you may hear more people speaking in Irish than in English. And in most areas of Ireland, street signs are written in both English and Irish. That’s a great way to learn Irish while you’re in Ireland!
You’ll also want to learn common Irish English words and phrases specific to Ireland, such as:
| Irish English Phrase | American English |
| that’s grand | that’s good |
| what’s the craic? | what’s up? |
| it’s banjaxed | it’s broken |
Malta
While 90% of the people living in Malta speak Maltese, a relative language to Arabic, English is still listed as one of the country’s official languages. Residents of this Mediterranean country usually speak Maltese as a first language, and then learn English and other surrounding languages (such as Greek and Italian) as second languages.
Malta’s history with the English language dates back to British rule prior to the 20th century. Most Maltese English phrases reflect British dialects and pronunciation, although a dialect known as Maltenglish often includes common phrases in Malta.
| Maltese English Phrase | American English |
| orrajt | all right |
| even I | me too |
| possibbli | possibly |
English-speaking territories and dependencies in Europe
The United Kingdom, Ireland, and Malta aren’t the only places where English is a de jure or de facto language.
Several British territories and dependencies in Europe have high percentages of English speakers, with some being fully English speaking and others having an English dialect that reflects other languages of the region.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory on the Iberian Peninsula in southwest Europe. Around 89% of people living in Gibraltar speak English as a native language, with another 7.5% speaking Arabic.
Due to Gibraltar’s proximity to Spain, most citizens are also fluent in Spanish, while locals may speak Llanito (a blend of English, Spanish, and other regional languages).
Guernsey
The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a self-governing British Crown Dependency located in the Channel Islands off the coast of Normandy, France. The vast majority of the people living in Guernsey speak English or Channel Island English, a British dialect influenced by French.
The remainder of the population speaks either French or Guernésiais (also called Guernsey French), though these speakers are mainly older residents of Guernsey.
Isle of Man
The official language in the Isle of Man is English, with 98% of the population of this self-governing British Crown Dependency fluent in the language.
Located in the Irish Sea near the British Isles, the Isle of Man population originally spoke the Celtic language Manx. After being declared an extinct language in the late 20th century, Manx has made a comeback in the Isle of Man, with around 2% of the population having some understanding of the language.
Jersey
Located in the British Channel Islands with Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey is a self-governed British Crown Dependency where nearly 95% of the Jersey population speaks English.
French is another official language of the area, and most people in Jersey speak both English and French, or the minority language Jèrriais (a Romance Language closely related to French). An additional 4.5% of the people living in Jersey speak Portuguese, Polish, or other languages from neighboring regions.
European countries with the highest English proficiency
If your next European travel destination doesn’t list English as its official language, don’t worry! Citizens in European countries speak both their native language and English as a second language.
Linguists measure a country’s proficiency in English (known as the English Proficiency Index—EPI) out of 800, indicating how many people speak English in that country with some degree of fluency.
These countries have EPIs over 600, which puts them in the “Very High” proficiency band. While they may not have English as their de jure or de facto languages, it won’t be difficult to find an English speaker or two, even outside big cities or tourist areas.
| Country | English Proficiency Index |
| Netherlands | 636 |
| Norway | 610 |
| Sweden | 608 |
| Croatia | 607 |
| Denmark | 603 |
| Greece | 602 |
| Austria | 600 |
The European countries with lower EPIs, including Spain (538), Italy (528), and France (524), rank in the moderate proficiency band. It may be harder (but certainly not impossible) to find English speakers in these regions unless you were visiting a larger city or area popular with tourists.
Take an international language lesson
Whether you’re traveling to Europe on vacation or eager to find fellow English learners in your region, these three official English-speaking countries in Europe are safe bets. However, you’re unlikely to find yourself in a part of Europe where absolutely no one speaks English—and that goes for other parts of the world, too!
Take your study to the next step with a guide to all of the English-speaking countries in the world. And if you’re intrigued enough by the prevalence of English, consider learning more about how Rosetta Stone works to discover another language common in your desired region.
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