Spanish
* Native: Spanish is the official language of 20 countries, primarily in the Americas, but also in Europe.
* Americas: Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Spain, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Puerto Rico (US territory).
* Europe: Spain (including Canary Islands), Equatorial Guinea.
* Significant Minority: Spanish is also spoken by large communities in the United States, especially in the southwestern states and Florida. It's also spoken in many other parts of the world due to immigration and historical ties.
Italian
* Native: Italian is the official language of Italy, including its islands (Sicily, Sardinia, etc.).
* Significant Minority: Italian is also spoken in Switzerland (Ticino canton), San Marino, Vatican City, and some parts of Croatia (Istria peninsula). It's also spoken by large communities in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, and other countries due to historical ties.
Visualizing the Difference:
You can see a clear difference in where Spanish and Italian are spoken. Spanish is primarily found in the Americas and parts of Europe, while Italian is concentrated in Italy and a few smaller territories.
Important Notes:
* Regional Variations: Both languages have significant regional dialects. For example, Spanish spoken in Argentina is quite different from Spanish spoken in Spain.
* Official vs. Spoken: While a language might be official in a country, other languages may be spoken there as well.
* Immigration & Diaspora: The spread of both Spanish and Italian has been greatly influenced by migration patterns, leading to significant communities in many parts of the world.