Ladino's countries

Ladino, also known as Judeo-Spanish, is a Romance language historically spoken by Sephardic Jews who were expelled from Spain in 1492. After their exile, Ladino spread across parts of the Ottoman Empire and beyond.

Today, it survives in pockets of communities in Israel, Turkey, Greece, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Morocco, though its use has significantly declined over the years

Israel is now home to the largest population of Ladino speakers, where efforts are underway to preserve the language through education and cultural initiatives.

In many of these countries, Ladino is cherished as a link to Sephardic heritage, blending archaic Spanish with Hebrew, Turkish, Arabic, and other regional influences.

Despite its endangered status, Ladino remains a powerful symbol of resilience and identity for the Sephardic diaspora.