Top 10 Most Attractive Languages in Europe

We have already discussed the most useful European languages. Today, in celebration of the European Day of Languages on September 26th, we’d like to focus on another issue. 

Approaching the topic from a different angle, we have prepared the ranking of the most attractive languages in Europe. After all, they say not to mix business with pleasure, but rules are meant to be broken. 

What makes a language attractive?

There is little sociolinguistic research in that area, and the most comprehensive piece on that topic remains the famous article by the Guardian from 2014. It identifies several reasons impacting whether or not a particular language sounds pleasant. 

The question of finding a language attractive is very subjective. Surprisingly, it’s not the sound of the language that primarily attracts us, but our connotations with the nations that speak it. People are more likely to consider a language beautiful if it’s spoken in a country with impressive socioeconomic power. 

Another factor is the similarity of the language to our own mother tongue - which is why the topic is so individual. Our brains are programmed to find things we are familiar with more enticing. 

For example, it is a common opinion that Germanic languages sound harsh, or even downright aggressive. This is because consonant clusters are a norm in some of them. To the speakers of languages dominated by vowels, words full of consonants may sound foreign and, quite literally, grate on their ears. 

In contrast, Romance languages - often quoted as the most “sexy” or “romantic” - carry very few sounds that aren’t found in other languages. They sound familiar, or maybe even safe, which is why many perceive them as more “friendly” than other language groups. 

Finally, our own experience plays a huge role in determining what languages we find more attractive than others. If we have pleasant memories we connect with a certain place, we are more likely to positively perceive the language as well. 

Watching a sunset in Greece, admiring the Northern Lights in Iceland, or hiking across the rolling hills of Wales can provide us with a rush of warmth, increasing our sympathy for the local language. 

Do you know how it’s said that the best motivation to learn a language fast is to fall in love with a native speaker? The desire to impress them is one thing, but another crucial factor is that once we’re fond of someone, we automatically start appreciating the language they speak and their accent more. 

So, yes, what languages we find attractive is a very subjective matter. The list will look different for everyone, but there are certain languages which are mentioned more than others.

Here is the list of the top 10 most attractive languages in Europe, based on research carried out by us at Europe Language Jobs. 

Top 10 Most Attractive Languages in Europe:

1. Irish Gaelic
2. Swedish
3. Modern Greek 
4. Italian
5. Estonian
6. Spanish
7. Finnish
8. Ukrainian
9. Maltese
10. French 

1. Irish Gaelic

Perhaps it’s the connotation with the emerald hills or the work-of-art beer that makes our hearts pick up their rhythm whenever we hear the Irish accent. Whatever the reason, Irish - or, more properly, Irish Gaelic - is quoted as one of the most attractive languages. Not just in Europe, but in the whole world.

Irish figured on the list of the top 5 sexiest European accents in a survey carried out by Indy 100, preceded only by the classic winners: Italian and French. 

But it’s not only the accent - Irish Gaelic as a language is a common favourite. Maybe it’s its originality; after all, there aren’t that many native speakers compared to more popular languages. They also live on a secluded island, which gives them a note of mystery. 

Some may argue Irish Gaelic sounds a bit harsh due to its raspy, throaty sounds - but let’s be honest, we all love the throaty quality of a voice. Make your own verdict by listening to some Irish Gaelic. 

Are you lucky enough to speak this attractive language? Have a look at our jobs for Irish speakers! 

2. Swedish

We will eventually get to the more “standard” languages we know you’re waiting for. But first, we want to give priority to other beautiful languages which often go underestimated. 

Two adjectives most often attributed to Swedish by non-native speakers are “strong” and “masculine”. Perhaps it’s the patriarchy’s fault, but this is exactly what lands Swedish in one of the top positions in the rankings of most attractive European languages. 

If you’re annoyed now at the gender-specific connotations ruling the world, we recommend watching @henrikjordal break stereotypes related to the concept of Scandinavian toxic masculinity on Instagram. He’s actually Norwegian, but his point applies perfectly. 

But coming back to the topic - even if you’re not a linguist, you will most likely recognise a Nordic language when you hear it. There is a certain quality to them, a particular mix of musicality and harshness that spikes our interest.

If you’re not an expert in distinguishing between different Nordic languages, listen to a Swedish native speaker to get a hang of what it sounds like. 

Are you lucky enough to speak this attractive language? Have a look at our jobs for Swedish speakers! 

3. Modern Greek

While ancient Greek is undeniably sexy, there sadly aren’t many speakers left alive. The limited population of people fluent in ancient Greek and Latin undoubtedly makes it a very attractive group, but for the purpose of this article, we will focus on languages actively functioning in today’s society. 

First of all, modern Greek (also called demotic Greek) is not all that different from ancient Greek. In fact, “ancient Greek” is a very general term, referring to many different eras. The older the era, the fewer similarities. But modern Greek speakers can understand some of the newer variations of “ancient Greek”. 

There is no specific date deciding when ancient Greek became modern Greek. Some attribute it to the fall of Constantinople in 1453, but others argue this marks a historical change, not a linguistic one. Many claim what can be considered modern Greek was already spoken as far as the year 1000. 

Therefore, maybe it’s the rich history of the Greek language that makes it so enticing. Or perhaps it’s the connotations with the delicious cuisine, interesting culture, and perfect climate. Greece is definitely one of the top destinations in Europe, which finds its reflection in the love for its language. 

By the way, if you're a fan of Greece, you may want to learn these curious facts you didn't know about it. They will spark your interest in the country and language!

Did you know Tom Hiddlestone speaks Greek? That’s right - his British accent isn’t enough; he also has to be fluent in one of the most attractive languages in Europe. If you don’t believe us, listen to his interview about Thor: the Dark World with the Greek media. 

Are you lucky enough to speak this attractive language? Have a look at our jobs for Greek speakers! 

4. Italian

While we’re on the topic of rich culture and delicious food, we couldn’t fail to mention the absolute favourite: Italian. 

Again, maybe it’s the long history that has Italian dominating every single ranking of the most beautiful languages in Europe, or in the entire world. Italian is also the one Romance language which likely has the most in common with Latin. 

That's a curious fact that there are some countries that have nothing to do with the Italian heritage but actively use it as a state language. If you ever have walking holidays in Switzerland, hiking around the popular mountains, you will be able to spot a lot of Italian speakers in the villages.

We all know how Latin is the linguistic equivalent of an aphrodisiac. The knowledge of this archaic language is attributed to wealth, power, and a certain status. Add to this the Italian culture and cuisine and voilà - you have the most attractive language which ever existed. 

Perhaps we have identified another factor influencing the level of attractiveness of a language - its history. The languages with the most ancient roots seem to dominate the charts. 

Following up on Brits knowing sexy languages - here’s a video of Colin Firth speaking Italian to brighten up your day. 

Are you lucky enough to speak this attractive language? Have a look at our jobs for Italian speakers! 

5. Estonian

Chances are, you may have never heard Estonian being spoken. It only has approximately 1.1 million native speakers, according to Visit Estonia. That’s approximately 1/9 of the population of London. 

So, if you have never heard Estonian, you should drop everything and do so now. It may quickly become one of your favourite European languages. 

It’s impossible to compare Estonian to any other language. You just have to hear it and develop your own opinion. Many say it sounds incredibly melodic, bringing to mind what you would imagine to be the Elvish language. 

There is definitely some magic to Estonian. The limited number of native speakers makes it elitist and intriguing. Its beauty perfectly reflects the natural beauty of the country, so consider having a trip to Estonia and experience the language spoken in its natural habitat.

Are you lucky enough to speak this attractive language? Have a look at our jobs for Estonian speakers! 

6. Spanish

With approximately 500,000 speakers, Spanish is presently the most commonly spoken European language worldwide (excluding English). This number includes both native speakers and those who acquired Spanish as a second language. 

Everyone wants to join the Spanish club. There’s no doubt about that. It’s melodic, beautiful, and incredibly learner-friendly. 

Of course, it is necessary to point out that just like “ancient Greek”, “Spanish” is an incredibly vague term. There are so many variations of Spanish, it is simply impossible to identify one. Spanish is formally the official language in 20 countries all over the world, and it has different characteristics in each and every one of them. 

In Europe, the term “Spanish language” most commonly refers to Castellano - the continental Spanish spoken in most parts of Spain. But even there, the language is impacted by different regions and dialects, giving it various shapes and forms. 

Perhaps it’s the diversity that attracts us to Spanish. The culture, food, and music of Spanish-speaking countries are popular all over the world, warming us up to the language. Native Spanish speakers are also known to be incredibly friendly and kind, which definitely influences our love for the language. 

There are so many famous native Spanish speakers, it is difficult to pick just one. We decided to stick to the world of music, so here are Rosalía and Álvaro Soler speaking their native language.

Are you lucky enough to speak this attractive language? Have a look at our jobs for Spanish speakers! 

7. Finnish

The Finnish language is unlike any other. It’s one of the few European languages which are not part of the Indo-European linguistic family. It belongs to the Finno-Ugric language group and is related to our other favourite, Estonian. 

Finnish may not be the first language that springs to mind when we think about attractive languages for most. But did you know that Quenya, the Elvish language constructed by J. R. R. Tolkien for his books, was majorly inspired by Finnish? 

That’s right - the melodic, lilting, magical language of the Elves is based on Finnish. For context, Tolkien’s other major Elvish language, Sindarin, was primarily inspired by Welsh.

The author was a professor of classical philology at the University of Oxford, so he used his passion for languages and extensive knowledge of the topic to create fascinating, fictional ones. 

If someone with so much experience in the linguistic sphere as J. R. R. Tolkien chose Finnish, of all the languages, to base his own language on, there must be a reason. Go ahead and compare a native Finnish speaker with Tolkien reading a poem in Quenya, and try to spot the similarities. 

Are you lucky enough to speak this attractive language? Have a look at our jobs for Finnish speakers! 

8. Ukrainian

Perhaps Russian is mentioned a bit more often overall, but here at Europe Language Jobs, we’re big fans of the Ukrainian language.

Russian and Ukrainian are quite similar - speakers of both languages can understand each other (or at least the context) in a similar way Spanish and Portuguese speakers do thanks to similarities between the languages. 

However, in our own experience, Ukrainian sounds a little more melodic and flows a bit more flawlessly. Learning this beautiful language is even more recommended now than ever before, due to the increased number of Ukrainians leaving their home country and moving to other European destinations. 

Slavic languages in general have an incredibly soothing quality to them. They sound calming and reassuring - like the most beautiful lullaby. See for yourself with this video of a native speaker speaking Ukrainian. 

9. Maltese

This is a widely underrated European language, and we have no idea why. There are so many things that make Maltese special - for example, did you know it’s the only Semitic language written using the Latin script?

Additionally, Maltese combines English, Italian, French, and subtle elements of Arabic. It is literally a cluster of the most attractive languages, with the sexiest features of each of them glued together to form a whole new language. 

Spoken Maltese resembles English - the flow and intonation are quite similar. But underneath that, there’s a layer of French mannerism, the throatiness of Arabic, and the Italian accent. So many attractive elements wrapped into one, in our opinion, make it the most beautiful language in Europe.  

If you have never had the opportunity to hear Maltese, now is the time to catch up and fall in love with the language the way we have. 

10. French

Pardon us for leaving this one until the very end. You all knew it would be here, so we didn’t want it to overshadow all the other beautiful languages Europe has to offer.

French is internationally acclaimed as the most romantic language in the whole world. If titles like that were officially recognised, we are sure this one would belong to French under every jurisdiction.

It’s all in the throatiness accompanying each world, the lilting accent, the purring Rs. All of it is wrapped in a certain manner, typical for native French speakers. It’s difficult to put into words and nobody can quite put their finger on it, but we know you feel it’s there. 

Despite the fact it’s quite a challenging language to learn, French is the second most commonly studied language in the world (after English), according to the newest statistics. Holding the status of the official language in 29 countries around the world, it is predicted to become the most widely spoken mother tongue by 2050.  

Everyone wants to join the French-speaking elite. Perhaps the fact that mastering its complicated grammar, diverse vocabulary, and correct pronunciation is rather difficult makes those who have managed to do it even more attractive. 

You all know what French sounds like, but since we all love to hear it so much, here’s an interview with Eva Green. The visual quality is poor, but it’s all about the audio - and her calling Daniel Craig seh-xiy with a French accent. 

Are you lucky enough to speak this attractive language? Have a look at our jobs for French speakers!

As we have mentioned, the list of the most attractive languages in Europe looks different for everyone. This one is ours, based on research and our own preferences, but remember that different factors influence which languages we find pleasant. 

The point of view can shift depending on personal experience, native languages, and connotations with a specific country. One thing to keep in mind is that every language is unique and while some may seem more enticing, they’re all beautiful in their variety.

Are there any languages you find attractive? Our list focuses on European languages, but feel free to share non-European ones as well! 

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