Jun 13, 2025 - News
Portland's top languages beyond English and Spanish
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Vietnamese, Russian and Chinese are the three most commonly spoken languages in Oregon other than English and Spanish, per new census data.
Why it matters: The myriad languages spoken here reflect both the settlement and colonization of centuries long past, as well as more modern immigration patterns.
By the numbers: While Spanish is far and away the predominant non-English language in Oregon, with roughly 350,000 speakers, putting it aside offers insight into other groups and population centers around the country.
- More than 27,000 Oregonians speak Vietnamese, 22,000 speak Russian and 18,000 speak Chinese.
Between the lines: Many multilingual people speak one language at home with family, but use English at work, school and elsewhere.
- Nationwide, just over 60% of people who speak a language other than English at home also say they speak English "very well," per the census data.