However, estimates vary widely, with some experts suggesting:
* Around 7,000 languages are spoken worldwide.
* Others suggest as many as 14,000, though this includes dialects and languages with very small numbers of speakers.
Here are some factors that make it difficult to get an exact count:
* Defining a language: What constitutes a separate language versus a dialect is often subjective.
* Endangered languages: Many languages are on the verge of extinction, with only a few speakers remaining.
* Newly discovered languages: New languages are sometimes identified in remote areas.
It's safe to say that thousands of languages are spoken around the globe, with a significant number at risk of disappearing.