last edited Dec 11, 2019
Culture and Customs of Mexico
Location Map of Mexico
Mexico
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Arts, Crafts, and Architecture
Arts
Crafts
Architecture
Museums
Customs and Traditions
Local Traditions
Etiquette
Dress and Behavior
Sensitive or Taboo Topics
Languages
Under Mexican law, Spanish is the country's official language (and the most widely spoken), alongside around sixty other local languages. However, 7 to 8% of the population, primarily in rural areas, does not speak it, instead using one of the many indigenous languages found in the country. In general, English is widely spoken in tourist areas and beyond, unlike French, which is limited to a few coastal resorts in Riviera Maya that attract a francophone audience, among others.
Glossary
A few local words and expressions useful to know while traveling:
- Cenotes: These are vast natural sinkholes that can reach several dozen meters in depth. The Yucatán has thousands of them.
- Gringo: A somewhat pejorative term for Americans and, more broadly, all white foreigners.