* Degrees of fluency: People speak English with varying levels of proficiency, from native speakers to those who are only conversational.
* Regional dialects: English changes significantly across the world, making it difficult to classify "English" as one singular language.
* Official vs. everyday language: Many countries have English as an official language, but it might not be the most common language spoken on the street.
However, we can talk about where English is common or important:
Countries where English is an official language:
* North America: United States, Canada (along with French)
* Europe: United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta
* Africa: Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa (along with Afrikaans)
* Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
* Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Singapore
* Caribbean: Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago
Countries where English is widely spoken:
* Many European countries: Especially in the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and Germany, English is often used for business and tourism.
* East Asia: Hong Kong, China, Japan, South Korea
* South America: While Spanish is dominant, English is often used in tourism and business in many areas.
Beyond countries, English is used in:
* International organizations: The United Nations, the European Union, and many others use English as a working language.
* International business: English is the dominant language for global trade and commerce.
* Science and technology: English is the language of much scientific research and publication.
* The internet: A large majority of websites are in English, making it the lingua franca of the internet.
Remember, the spread of English is a complex and ever-changing process. It's helpful to consider the context (official language, common language, specific situation) when thinking about where people speak English.