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Do locals in Uruguay speak English well?

In general, no: you should not rely on English as the main language for everyday life in Uruguay.

Life and adaptation

Answer

Generally, no: you should not expect English to be the main language of everyday life in Uruguay. In Montevideo, especially among young people and at certain companies, English speakers are more common, but this does not negate the role of Spanish.

In a small shop, when renting, at a clinic, a bank, a government office, or when arranging household repairs, communication is usually in Spanish. Even if an employee understands some English, official explanations, forms, and terms will still be in the local language.

English can help at the start, but should not be the only thing you rely on. For everyday life, it is more useful to prepare basic Spanish phrases in advance and have help for situations where the cost of an error is high. This is especially important in the first weeks, when you need to resolve housing, communication services, and documents quickly.

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