what language did christopher columbus speak

Christopher Columbus most likely spoke several languages, but his native speech was a dialect from around Genoa in Italy, and in adulthood he mainly used Spanish, alongside Latin and other learned tongues.

Quick Scoop: What language did Christopher Columbus speak?

Historians generally agree that Columbus grew up speaking a Genoese/Ligurian dialect, a Romance variety from the region of Liguria, where Genoa is located. As he moved into Iberian maritime networks, he became highly proficient in Spanish , which became the main language of his letters, navigation records, and dealings with the Spanish Crown.

He also appears to have known Latin , the scholarly and diplomatic language of his era, which he used for journals and more formal writings. Some evidence and handwriting analysis suggest he was familiar with Catalan , and certain spelling patterns in his Spanish have led a few researchers to propose Catalan might even have influenced his native speech, though this remains debated. In addition, he likely had working knowledge of other Mediterranean trade languages or pidgins used at sea, helping him operate across different ports and cultures.

In short, Columbus was not a one‑language explorer: he grew up with a Genoese/Ligurian dialect, wrote and worked primarily in Spanish, and drew on Latin, and possibly Catalan and other trade languages, in a multilingual 15th‑century world.

TL;DR:
He probably grew up speaking a Genoese/Ligurian dialect, but in practice he mostly spoke and wrote Spanish, with Latin and possibly Catalan and other Mediterranean trade languages in his toolkit.

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