The most widely spoken family of languages in southern Europe are the Romance languages, the heirs of Latin, which have spread from the Italian peninsula, and are emblematic of Southwestern Europe. (See the Latin Arch.) By far the most common romance languages in Southern Europe are: Italian, which is spoken by over 50 million people in Italy, San Marino, and the Vatican; and Spanish, which is spoken by over 40 million people in Spain and Gibraltar. Other common romance languages include: Romanian, which is spoken in Romania and Moldova; Portuguese, which is spoken in Portugal; Catalan, which is spoken in eastern Spain; and Galician, which is spoken in northwestern Spain. COUNT 5
QSN1 What is the most common group of languages spoken in Mediterranean Europe? ANS1 Romance languages QSN2 What are the three main areas of southern Europe where Italian speakers can be found? ANS2 Italy, San Marino, and the Vatican QSN3 Where can people who speak Catalan be found? ANS3 eastern Spain QSN4 What language is spoken in northwest Spain? ANS4 Galician QSN5 How many people in Spain and Gibraltar are Spanish speakers? ANS5 over 40 million