English and Filipino (formerly spelled Pilipino), which is based on Tagalog, are the country’s official languages. About 55 percent of the population speaks Filipino. English is commonly used for educational, governmental, and commercial purposes. Spanish, formerly an official language, is spoken by a dwindling minority of the population. About 80 languages and dialects are spoken in the islands, of which about 10, belonging to the Austronesian language family, are of regional importance.