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Comments 28

Maria Belen Suarez3mo ago

Maria Belen Suarez3mo ago

It makes sense, my native language is Spanish and I'm familiar with English since I'm a child, I know that I have facility to learn and understand a new language. But sometimes I feel like I'm not prepare to speak a foreing language as Italian (I'm living in Italy right now) even when I understand and write well, I feel blocked when I have to speak it. To anyone happen the same?

It makes sense, my native language is Spanish and I'm familiar with English since I'm a child, I know that I have facility to learn and understand a new language. But sometimes I feel like I'm not prepare to speak a foreing language as Italian (I'm living in Italy right now) even when I understand and write well, I feel blocked when I have to speak it. To anyone happen the same?

Reply

Eduardo Guzman3mo ago

Eduardo Guzman3mo ago

Spanish is not easy at all like they say here, it's my native language and I'm still learning new things about it everytime.

Spanish is not easy at all like they say here, it's my native language and I'm still learning new things about it everytime.

Reply

Nikita Grigorev3mo ago

Nikita Grigorev3mo ago

Interesting article, thanks!

Interesting article, thanks!

Reply

Carmine Basilicata3mo ago

Carmine Basilicata3mo ago

Cool one, thank you!

Cool one, thank you!

Reply

Murray Cutt3mo ago

Murray Cutt3mo ago

Having lived in a French speaking province as an anglophone or English speaker, I agree the French language is one of the top 3 as both languages share the same vocabulary. This greatly expedites the learning process.

Having lived in a French speaking province as an anglophone or English speaker, I agree the French language is one of the top 3 as both languages share the same vocabulary. This greatly expedites the learning process.

Reply

Ayda Öztürk3mo ago

Ayda Öztürk3mo ago

I always thought that Italian would be the easiest language to learn

I always thought that Italian would be the easiest language to learn

Reply

Aurojyoti Das3mo ago

Aurojyoti Das3mo ago

Nice article. I am trying for a job Internationally . So would Learning Spanish bump my resume or Learning Dutch would

Nice article. I am trying for a job Internationally . So would Learning Spanish bump my resume or Learning Dutch would

Reply

Nadhir Habouria3mo ago

Nadhir Habouria3mo ago

Nice article.

Nice article.

Reply

Smithi Das3mo ago

Smithi Das3mo ago

Sensible Information.. Thank you

Sensible Information.. Thank you

Reply

Marianna Dor Dias3mo ago

Marianna Dor Dias3mo ago

I am onto Spanish right now :)

I am onto Spanish right now :)

Reply

Israel González3mo ago

Israel González3mo ago

i would love to start on Dutch, Danish Norwegian and Swedish

i would love to start on Dutch, Danish Norwegian and Swedish

Reply

Sarka Panenkova3mo ago

Sarka Panenkova3mo ago

Great advice post!

Great advice post!

Reply

Bruno Cardoso3mo ago

Bruno Cardoso3mo ago

Well learn other languages than english became easier if you live in a country that have it as a mother language... Portuguese is quite similar to English, but some pronunciation are very weird and hard to do, but not impossible. Thank you for this post, very informative.

Well learn other languages than english became easier if you live in a country that have it as a mother language... Portuguese is quite similar to English, but some pronunciation are very weird and hard to do, but not impossible. Thank you for this post, very informative.

Reply

Eliza Juraszek3mo ago

Eliza Juraszek3mo ago

I would defiinitely add Italian to that list. Good article :)

I would defiinitely add Italian to that list. Good article :)

Reply

Akash Poddar3mo ago

Akash Poddar3mo ago

Hmm.. Interesting.

Hmm.. Interesting.

Reply

Agnieszka Pacyga3mo ago

Agnieszka Pacyga3mo ago

Professional opportunities yes of course..But at the same time maybe sometimes it´s a good idea to go off the beaten track and learn a language which is not so popular...

Professional opportunities yes of course..But at the same time maybe sometimes it´s a good idea to go off the beaten track and learn a language which is not so popular...

Reply

Henna Ryynänen3mo ago

Henna Ryynänen3mo ago

I think I would add that Scandinavian languages are not that hard to learn (except Finnish). Just people might find them scary.

I think I would add that Scandinavian languages are not that hard to learn (except Finnish). Just people might find them scary.

Reply

jounadier moreno3mo ago

jounadier moreno3mo ago

I've always loved languages, and I really liked the article :)

I've always loved languages, and I really liked the article :)

Reply

Aline Costa3mo ago

Aline Costa3mo ago

I always believe that German were one of the hardest languages to learn. But... let's try it!

I always believe that German were one of the hardest languages to learn. But... let's try it!

Reply

Jéssica Volpato3mo ago

Jéssica Volpato3mo ago

You know what's funny?! It is much easier for a English speaker learn Spanish than a Brazilian, even though 20% of the words are the same in both languages, cause of the grammar Brazilians struggle to learn it.

You know what's funny?! It is much easier for a English speaker learn Spanish than a Brazilian, even though 20% of the words are the same in both languages, cause of the grammar Brazilians struggle to learn it.

Reply

Viktorija Valyte3mo ago

Viktorija Valyte3mo ago

Thank you for the interesting article!

Thank you for the interesting article!

Reply

Shyleena Abdool3mo ago

Shyleena Abdool3mo ago

Interesting! Thank you for posting it.

Interesting! Thank you for posting it.

Reply

Julia Taribo3mo ago

Julia Taribo3mo ago

I always thought that Italian would be the easiest language to learn) but good to know

I always thought that Italian would be the easiest language to learn) but good to know

Reply

Samuel Akpobome3mo ago

Samuel Akpobome3mo ago

Great post. Thanks for the information

Great post. Thanks for the information

Reply

Randy Van de perre3mo ago

Randy Van de perre3mo ago

well lets start studying then !!

well lets start studying then !!

Reply

Sabine Hazebroek3mo ago

Sabine Hazebroek3mo ago

It makes sense, all these languages come originally from the same base. Just as Dutch, Danish and Swedish, for example. But that doesn't mean they're easy to learn.

It makes sense, all these languages come originally from the same base. Just as Dutch, Danish and Swedish, for example. But that doesn't mean they're easy to learn.

Reply

Ceyda Özkazıcı3mo ago

Ceyda Özkazıcı3mo ago

Thank you for this great information.

Thank you for this great information.

Reply

Do You Speak English? These Are Other Languages You Can Learn

October 31, 2024 min read

People often ask us: What is the easiest European language to learn if you speak English? Well, that's a very good question...

Language learning offers the chance to brighten your world. Along with experiencing the beauty of other cultures and making it easier to communicate with people from around the globe, you’ll also be improving your professional skill set. As the economy continues to move from a local to a global level, being multilingual will become even more of an asset.

Perhaps you don’t have a need to learn any particular language but rather a basic desire to broaden your linguistic horizons. If so, you might be wondering where to begin.

You might choose to learn the language that is most utilized in your field. Another option is going with the easiest language to learn. If your goal is to help spruce up your resume as soon as possible, this is probably the best route to take.

Luckily, three of the most commonly spoken languages around the world are also some of the easiest for English speakers to pick up.

The Familiarity Factor: The Subconscious Aspects of Language Learning

You likely have more exposure to foreign languages than you might realise. Sure, you might not speak Spanish yourself, but how often have you heard it spoken around you in everyday life?

Chances are that you’ve picked up on bits and pieces of foreign languages via:

  • Popular songs that often include foreign phrases or are performed in another language altogether
  • Popular movies or TV series with subtitles
  • Multilingual friends, family, and co-workers who speak other languages in your presence

You might be thinking that you never actually listened to the languages being spoken in any of these circumstances, but the subconscious mind picks up on more than you might expect.

Once you begin learning a new language, you will likely see some words, phrases or sounds that you recognise, and this will help with the learning process and boost your confidence.

The Three Easiest European Languages to Learn for English Speakers:

1. Starting with Spanish

Spanish is the third-most spoken language on Earth, and it is likely to be the foreign language that, as an English speaker, you’re most familiar with.

Learning Spanish is popular in a lot of schools and it’s quite straightforward. Words are generally pronounced the way they are spelled, making it easy to pronounce while reading.

What’s even better is that the Spanish language contains many English cognates, which is one of the reasons why it’s generally one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. 

Some familiar Spanish-English cognates include:

Spanish words in English

And if you add the familiarity factor to the mix, you’ll find out that you already know quite a few words in Spanish. The likelihood is that the words: fiesta, siesta, chico, amigo, fajita and casa are all familiar to you.

Even if you’re not a fan, you have probably heard songs from Shakira, Enrique Iglesias or Jennifer Lopez hundreds of times. This has already accustomed you to the Spanish language. Not to mention if you’re a diehard fan of the popular TV series such as Narcos or La casa de papel (Money Heist), filmed entirely or partially in Spanish. 

Learning Spanish doesn't have to be seen as something stressful. It all depends on the goals and objectives you set for yourself and method used during the process.

Remember, the key to success is always consistency and positivity. Some days will be harder than always, so make sure to check for resources to assist you with any difficulties. If you don't know where to begin, click here:  

2. Getting Great at German

German might not be as familiar to English speakers as Spanish, but it’s still one of the easiest languages to learn for English speakers, mostly due to its similarities to English. 

Additionally, just like Spanish, German is also a phonetic language. That makes pronunciation easy to figure out. The spelling rules are a bit more structured, and unlike the English language, which has both simple and continuous present tense, the German language only has one form of the present tense. All of these things can make learning German easier in the beginning.

Moreover, the English language is part of the family of Germanic languages, which also includes German, of course. This means that the languages are somewhat similar in structure and may even contain similar words that are easy to recognise, also known as cognates.

Some examples of German-English congnates include:

German is on of tne of the easiest languages to learn

In addition to cognates, you probably picked up German words from popular songs and movies. In terms of music, you might have also heard the popular ‘99 Luftballons’ song by Nane or, if you’re a rock fan, Rammstein songs were a big part of your playlist.

When it comes to movies, there are quite a few 100% German movies in IMDB’s top movies of all time. Some of the most popular are 'The Life of Others’ (Das Leben der Anderen) and ‘Downfall’ (Der Untergang). Watching them will unconsciously get you one step closer to learning German.

3. Finding Fluency with French

Knowing English will help you learn Spanish, but knowing both English and Spanish will help you learn French even faster. The more you teach your brain about languages, the more their various structures will begin to make sense to you.

On top of that, English and French have a lot of common ground, and, following the Norman invasion of England in 1066, English and French share many cognates.

The pronunciation of French is actually much easier to understand than English, which contains a variety of words with the same spelling yet completely different meanings or pronunciations.

Many of the French cognates actually have the exact same spelling as the English words. Words like international, distance, and finance are all written the same in French, making it one of the easiest languages to learn for an English speaker.

Some cognates with slightly different spellings include:

French is one of the easiest languages to learn  

Do you notice any patterns with these words? French contains many patterns, and once you begin studying, you’ll quickly start picking upon them.

Also, you were picking up new French words without you even knowing when you were listening to Zaz or Celine Dion and watching ‘Amélie’ or ‘The Intouchables’ (Intouchables).

Pick your language wisely

Learning a new language can seem daunting at first. But if you choose the language you want to learn wisely, it can become one of the best decisions you will ever make. The secret is to start with a language that can offer you great professional opportunities, but also one that’s easier to learn.

While Chinese and Hindi are the languages spoken by the most people on Earth, learning them would be extremely hard and it would take a lot of extra time. As you already know English, you will have an easier time learning Spanish, German, French, or any other European language.

Mondly language learning app

Now is the time to pick the easiest language to learn for you and dive into learning a few new words and phrases every day. The easiest way to start is by downloading one of the better language apps and committing to learning daily until it becomes a habit. Before you know it, you’ll expand your linguistic horizons and improve your employability.

What’s even better is that once you start to approach fluency in one of the above languages, it will be easier to learn a bunch of other languages. Who knows what languages you will speak in the future?

Today's guest post comes from Sebastian Maraloiu, CMO of the language learning app, Mondly.

About Guest blogger

We collaborate with content creators to provide different points of view, fresh perspective, and professional expertise in a variety of topics.

We collaborate with content creators to provide different points of view, fresh perspective, and professional expertise in a variety of topics.

Comments 28

Maria Belen Suarez3mo ago

Maria Belen Suarez3mo ago

It makes sense, my native language is Spanish and I'm familiar with English since I'm a child, I know that I have facility to learn and understand a new language. But sometimes I feel like I'm not prepare to speak a foreing language as Italian (I'm living in Italy right now) even when I understand and write well, I feel blocked when I have to speak it. To anyone happen the same?

It makes sense, my native language is Spanish and I'm familiar with English since I'm a child, I know that I have facility to learn and understand a new language. But sometimes I feel like I'm not prepare to speak a foreing language as Italian (I'm living in Italy right now) even when I understand and write well, I feel blocked when I have to speak it. To anyone happen the same?

Reply

Eduardo Guzman3mo ago

Eduardo Guzman3mo ago

Spanish is not easy at all like they say here, it's my native language and I'm still learning new things about it everytime.

Spanish is not easy at all like they say here, it's my native language and I'm still learning new things about it everytime.

Reply

Nikita Grigorev3mo ago

Nikita Grigorev3mo ago

Interesting article, thanks!

Interesting article, thanks!

Reply

Carmine Basilicata3mo ago

Carmine Basilicata3mo ago

Cool one, thank you!

Cool one, thank you!

Reply

Murray Cutt3mo ago

Murray Cutt3mo ago

Having lived in a French speaking province as an anglophone or English speaker, I agree the French language is one of the top 3 as both languages share the same vocabulary. This greatly expedites the learning process.

Having lived in a French speaking province as an anglophone or English speaker, I agree the French language is one of the top 3 as both languages share the same vocabulary. This greatly expedites the learning process.

Reply

Ayda Öztürk3mo ago

Ayda Öztürk3mo ago

I always thought that Italian would be the easiest language to learn

I always thought that Italian would be the easiest language to learn

Reply

Aurojyoti Das3mo ago

Aurojyoti Das3mo ago

Nice article. I am trying for a job Internationally . So would Learning Spanish bump my resume or Learning Dutch would

Nice article. I am trying for a job Internationally . So would Learning Spanish bump my resume or Learning Dutch would

Reply

Nadhir Habouria3mo ago

Nadhir Habouria3mo ago

Nice article.

Nice article.

Reply

Smithi Das3mo ago

Smithi Das3mo ago

Sensible Information.. Thank you

Sensible Information.. Thank you

Reply

Marianna Dor Dias3mo ago

Marianna Dor Dias3mo ago

I am onto Spanish right now :)

I am onto Spanish right now :)

Reply

Israel González3mo ago

Israel González3mo ago

i would love to start on Dutch, Danish Norwegian and Swedish

i would love to start on Dutch, Danish Norwegian and Swedish

Reply

Sarka Panenkova3mo ago

Sarka Panenkova3mo ago

Great advice post!

Great advice post!

Reply

Bruno Cardoso3mo ago

Bruno Cardoso3mo ago

Well learn other languages than english became easier if you live in a country that have it as a mother language... Portuguese is quite similar to English, but some pronunciation are very weird and hard to do, but not impossible. Thank you for this post, very informative.

Well learn other languages than english became easier if you live in a country that have it as a mother language... Portuguese is quite similar to English, but some pronunciation are very weird and hard to do, but not impossible. Thank you for this post, very informative.

Reply

Eliza Juraszek3mo ago

Eliza Juraszek3mo ago

I would defiinitely add Italian to that list. Good article :)

I would defiinitely add Italian to that list. Good article :)

Reply

Akash Poddar3mo ago

Akash Poddar3mo ago

Hmm.. Interesting.

Hmm.. Interesting.

Reply

Agnieszka Pacyga3mo ago

Agnieszka Pacyga3mo ago

Professional opportunities yes of course..But at the same time maybe sometimes it´s a good idea to go off the beaten track and learn a language which is not so popular...

Professional opportunities yes of course..But at the same time maybe sometimes it´s a good idea to go off the beaten track and learn a language which is not so popular...

Reply

Henna Ryynänen3mo ago

Henna Ryynänen3mo ago

I think I would add that Scandinavian languages are not that hard to learn (except Finnish). Just people might find them scary.

I think I would add that Scandinavian languages are not that hard to learn (except Finnish). Just people might find them scary.

Reply

jounadier moreno3mo ago

jounadier moreno3mo ago

I've always loved languages, and I really liked the article :)

I've always loved languages, and I really liked the article :)

Reply

Aline Costa3mo ago

Aline Costa3mo ago

I always believe that German were one of the hardest languages to learn. But... let's try it!

I always believe that German were one of the hardest languages to learn. But... let's try it!

Reply

Jéssica Volpato3mo ago

Jéssica Volpato3mo ago

You know what's funny?! It is much easier for a English speaker learn Spanish than a Brazilian, even though 20% of the words are the same in both languages, cause of the grammar Brazilians struggle to learn it.

You know what's funny?! It is much easier for a English speaker learn Spanish than a Brazilian, even though 20% of the words are the same in both languages, cause of the grammar Brazilians struggle to learn it.

Reply

Viktorija Valyte3mo ago

Viktorija Valyte3mo ago

Thank you for the interesting article!

Thank you for the interesting article!

Reply

Shyleena Abdool3mo ago

Shyleena Abdool3mo ago

Interesting! Thank you for posting it.

Interesting! Thank you for posting it.

Reply

Julia Taribo3mo ago

Julia Taribo3mo ago

I always thought that Italian would be the easiest language to learn) but good to know

I always thought that Italian would be the easiest language to learn) but good to know

Reply

Samuel Akpobome3mo ago

Samuel Akpobome3mo ago

Great post. Thanks for the information

Great post. Thanks for the information

Reply

Randy Van de perre3mo ago

Randy Van de perre3mo ago

well lets start studying then !!

well lets start studying then !!

Reply

Sabine Hazebroek3mo ago

Sabine Hazebroek3mo ago

It makes sense, all these languages come originally from the same base. Just as Dutch, Danish and Swedish, for example. But that doesn't mean they're easy to learn.

It makes sense, all these languages come originally from the same base. Just as Dutch, Danish and Swedish, for example. But that doesn't mean they're easy to learn.

Reply

Ceyda Özkazıcı3mo ago

Ceyda Özkazıcı3mo ago

Thank you for this great information.

Thank you for this great information.

Reply