Main Language Spoken in Shanghai, China

The primary language in Shanghai is Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua) — the national official language, used in government, education, media, and business.

Local Dialect: Shanghainese

Shanghai also has its own Wu Chinese dialect, Shanghainese (Zhānghǎi wú), spoken natively by many longtime residents. It is mutually unintelligible with Mandarin and features distinct phonology (e.g., voiced initials, five tones vs. Mandarin's four). While Mandarin dominates public life, Shanghainese remains a marker of local identity, especially among older generations.

English is widely understood in tourist areas, international business, and higher education.