However, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, after Mandarin Chinese.
Here's why Spanish is so widely spoken:
* Historical Expansion: Spanish was spread by the Spanish Empire, which colonized vast areas of the Americas, parts of Africa, and Asia.
* Large Number of Native Speakers: Spanish is the official language of 20 countries, mostly in Latin America, with a large population of native speakers.
* Immigration and Cultural Influence: Spanish is spoken by large communities in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world due to immigration and cultural influence.
* Globalization: Spanish is an official language of the United Nations, and its use is growing in the globalized world.
Even though Mandarin Chinese has more native speakers, Spanish has a higher number of total speakers due to its prevalence in the United States and other countries.