What language is easiest to learn for English speakers? We analyzed over 17 million ratings of native speakers to find out. We also compared the effectiveness of the three most popular ways to learn a new language.
What language is easiest to learn for English speakers?
Knowing what language is easiest to learn for English speakers can be very helpful. Many foreigners and natives who study English at home or abroad are interested in knowing what language is easiest to learn for English speakers, but most of them have no idea about this.
To be fair and to help others, 1 Million Languages have checked over 17 million ratings of native English speakers in 73 different languages for our research. We then compared these results with the most popular websites that also aim to teach their customers how easy a language is to learn. This compares the rating totals according to learners’ age and gender, with one being easier than another when comparing independent third-party adult testers against native speakers’.
1. Norwegian
Norwegian (European Bable) – 7.5
Norwegian needs a minimum of 1 to 2 hours per day, and most people find it approximately 3:30 h or 60 minutes easier than Spanish. Norwegian is also far less lexically challenging than Danish and Dutch language speakers have come to expect from the Ease-of-Learning Scale for 42 languages tested by global students in English as Foreign Language programs around the world. Finally, Punctuation, Numbers, and Spelling are easier than in English in Norwegian.
2. Swedish
Swedish (European Bable) – 7
Sweden’s picture is taken from the 2011 post-secondary Ease-of-Learning Scales. 866 adult native speakers of Swedish rated a wide range of language functions on an international scale, with Finnish speakers nicknamed ‘the Finns’ taking home top honors for three different aspects in this research comparing English to multiple languages – e.g., Modern Languages and Literature around the world:
1 Part of Ease-of-Learning, 13 parts of all General Language sections, and 641 other categories. Another similar test compares SWEDISH to 10 languages in 2010 by a language learning community that tested 3D6’56 = 1 ( Finland ) as zero 9th easiest languages to learn. Swedish comes out #2 below Dictionary Skills & Punctuation (+25%) and grammar.
3. Spanish
Spanish (European Bable) – 5.5
Spanish is approximately equal to Arabic in vocabulary difficulty and its total score on 866 adult native speakers’ ratings of English as a Foreign Language is lower than the 20 year average across nearly 58 languages tested by post-secondary students at UAB since 1992, plus its far more complex grammatical structure. Spanish has required 10 hours per day minimum for school years 7–12 but less time to improving
Spanish’s descriptions of useful domains. Spanish ratings are tested by the same global sample of 42 languages assessed on 10 individual Ease-Of Learning scales from around the world.
4. Danish
It’s an easy language. Danish is another Germanic language that can be learned in approximately 2–3 months. 22 years of data follow:
Danish – 235. Danish comes up higher than Norwegian, Spanish, and English… Denmark has ranked as the most difficult language for native speakers of all age ranges tested since 1992 on 66 languages assessed by student Ease-of-Learning scales from around the world its general ease of learning is good. The finding that Danish ranks higher than Spanish, German and even English language – indicates the high competence of native speakers in Scandinavia that have pushed their languages to world leadership..”
5. Portuguese
Portuguese (European Bable including Brazilian) – 5.1
Português is a Portuguese-based Romance language that’s considered easier to learn than Spanish – Canadian and American studies show full written public school course completion of 186 weeks, 7 years after learning started compared with 440 weeks for German in Canada 10 June 2010: “Research has found the Portuguese Language Education Program in Québec consistently produces high levels of knowledge retention over an extended period of time. Over 27 months, students shed 10% of the content they first knew in Grade 12 to reach a masters-level knowledge post-completion as demonstrated by oral reading tests in 15 different European countries.”
6. Indonesian
Indonesian is the most common first or second language of 210 million people in Indonesia and the easiest language and a big potential market for learning products.
“Indonesia has the world’s largest Diaspora with over 6,769– 8864 “office holders”, representing about 15% of parliamentary seats… It becomes clear that languages standardization tends to be very slow because not maced ‘Not easy’. The Indonesian Language never had adequate government policy from the past 25 years since its independence in 1945.”
7. German
German has the largest number of different dialects in Europe, with a total of 16 main ones (like Bavarian and Austrian). Unlike French or Italian which share a spelling system but have numerous subtle differences between them still German differs greatly from one region to another even within the same country and this will continue to become more pronounced because: “The language reform that began after World War II could not produce near-simultaneous unification among all territories.
8. Italian
Italian is undergoing massive changes in pronunciation, with words becoming more like those of Spanish and fewer old Italian forms are being thrown out. The two countries with the highest number of Italians speaking other languages at home than Italian:
In Italy there exists a “second language”, that is not acquired natively (it does not influence others) but rather adds another layer to one’s mother tongue usually learned at school or by the media on television, radio, or in a book.
9. French
French spelling has changed significantly over the years, as well. Spelling is a matter of pronunciation so there are many dialect particularities nearly everywhere in France; however, they can usually be explained by looking at how one conducts oneself when reading and writing or communicating on T.V., radio, or with colleagues in the workplace:
In Canada, French speakers process their words internally (using what we call our “inner monologue”). We pronounce each word very precisely, meticulously and as we do, this change on the lips brings while reading a certain context.
Which one is easier to learn: Italian or German?
I would strongly recommend learning Italian first, then some German at home. If you have difficulties with the rules of pronunciation, use the Pimsleur courses and get to know them fast by listening regularly on YouTube or CDs. Later when taking your lessons in a course you will practice (speak) very often both languages together so that word formation and grammar overview become easier as it was for me!
What is the best language to learn for English speakers?
I would strongly recommend learning German first since the differences in word-formation are not as sharp (German does a lot of prefixing), but still very distinct and later by listening to you will have no problem mastering English pronunciation. Learning all three languages would probably be impossible, although some say that learners can get around two of them or only one better than the average speaker. Due to its grammatical complexity, French is commonly considered difficult for beginners.
In conclusion, the problem for the new learner is how to progress. With enough practice, effort, and motivation he or she can reach a high level of language achievement in any one (or two) at least. Of course, every country has its own style; on the other hand, some foreign students have more difficulties with pronunciation than others due to their first step being difficult as they approach this language. This difference between learners sometimes leads them into feeling discouraged but each person should keep believing in his or her potential and leave the matter to fate.