Easiest Language To Learn

Which is the easiest language to learn? If you are looking for an answer to this question, then you are at the right place.

Maybe you are just deciding or it’s on your bucket list. Or you have already started your learning journey and you are looking to make progress. Whether it’s for your workplace or a university project, it should be fun and easy. Whatever is the reason behind it, before getting your head around the grammatical structures, verb conjugations, vocabulary, pronunciation, and all other stuff you need to consider one aspect, is it an easy one to learn?

According to the linguistics department, a new learning journey is not only dependent on how easier a person finds a new tongue to learn. But it depends on the background of the learner. For instance, where do they live? How fluent a speaker they are in their native tongue? And of course, who are the people they’re surrounded with.

Why some languages are easier and harder than others?

There are many linguistic factors that make them easier or hard to learn for a speaker. Following are the reasons why some of them seem easier or harder than others:

Sounds and tones

First of all, you have to check the sounds and tones. Is the tonality the same? or does it have new or unique sounds? If the sounds and tones are the same as your native tongue then naturally, it will be easier for you to learn.

Grammatical concepts

Does the grammar of your target lingo have any similarity to your native tongue? Grammatical differences can make a huge impact. The easier will be the ones in which there are little to no differences in the verb forms, word order, grammar rules, verb tenses, Subject-verb-Object structure, or other use of grammar. So if that’s the case, you are on the safer side.

Writing system

If you can recognize the writing system, chances are, the alphabets are the same. And that is good news. It will be easier for you.

Language family

If it belongs to the same family, it is definitely more relatable and comprehensive. You should identify whether there are loan words or cognates. Vocabulary words would be easily recognizable to you.

Language resources

You need to look at whether the primary material and resources are easily accessible or not? Do high-quality books, newspapers, songs, lessons, and movies are easily available?

Cultural distance

Learning a tongue that belongs to the same culture should not be culturally distant from the native languages.

What makes the language easy to learn?

The linguistic background of the learner can influence his or her ability to learn. Here are some other factors:

Your motivation

No matter how easy it is for you to grasp new words, language learning won’t happen overnight. It is a continuous process. You have to work hard to achieve your goals. You will never make progress if you are not motivated. It takes time and effort for success in any foreign language. Your motivation behind learning something new can help you find a way through the difficult parts. Divide your time carefully and spend equal hours studying and equal hours in finding motivation. Try to join a linguistic forum, stay up to date with new happenings.

Foreign Languages

If you have exposure to any foreign languages, it is going to make a big difference. For example, if you speak the English language as a second language and you are a native French speaker. You are still aware of the structure, vocabulary list, pronunciation, and memorizing grammar rules of English. This awareness of the features will give you a head start to learn connected languages from the same family.

Your Native Language

The native language is of great significance. It will become easier to grip the target language if it overlaps your native tongue. Moreover, it will have similarities in terms of syntax, grammar, verbs, and vocabulary.

In the case of English speakers, they found French easier because there are 10,000 English words that are closely related to French words.

Your Pronunciation

So you have decided to learn a language that has the same sounds, pitch, and tone as your native tongue. It means you have discovered a large part of the learning process. And now you are very close to becoming a winner.

As for Scottish people they find Spanish pronunciation easier to learn.

Your Strengths And Knowledge

You should pick a language to learn that matches your strengths. Some may lack knowledge of sentence structure. Some others might have a knack for vocabulary,  nasal vowels, and correct spellings. Or maybe they are unable to memorize the nouns, conjugation rules, or fundamental sentence structures. Bottom line, strength in a subject and knowledge of linguistics are important.

Top 5 Easiest Languages to Learn

Here we have ranked the top 5 easiest languages to learn.

Spanish

Pronunciation and spelling: very easy

Grammar and writing: fairly easy

Number of natives speakers:  480 Million

Spanish is the number 1 and easiest language for English speakers to learn. After English, Spanish is considered the go-to language. Overall it is very easy to understand that you can learn it if you get enrolled yourself in some good lessons.

It has only 10 vowels and diphthong sounds. Spanish is rated as a critical language for employment by 37% of employers. It has a huge variety of dialects which is the only hardest part. The only fun-to-pronounce letter is ñ, other than that there are no unfamiliar phonemes. You can also learn Spanish from a variety of videos, music videos, speech, and books

Italian

Number of native speakers: 69 million people

Spelling and grammar: fairly easy

Pronunciation and writing: moderately easy

Italian is known to be one of the easiest romance languages. It is often simpler and consistent to create sentences than in English. Its Latin roots give cognates similar to Italian and English. Italian sentence structure is rhythmic that is why according to most linguists Italian is fairly simple to understand and easy to learn in conversation. Intonations make it more clear.

French

Spelling and speaking: fairly easy

Grammar and pronunciation: slightly challenging

Native speakers: 76.8 million people

It is known to be the international language of love with 45% of English words having French origin. They have similar-sounding words with identical meanings. This is also one of the easiest languages for English speakers as their vocabulary familiar with each other. But it is not all easy, the pronunciation of French is a bit difficult. It has notorious silent letters and nasal vowel sounds that are not used in English. From this point of view, it seems to be slightly difficult for modern English speakers.

German

Native speakers: 79 million

speaking and spelling: fairly challenging

grammar and pronunciation: fairly challenging

It overlaps with English a bit especially when it comes to nouns and becomes difficult to pick up for English speakers because of its rough pronunciation, noun case endings, and long words. It is descriptive language and can also be said to combined language sometimes. Overall it is fun to learn German with many English overlapping words.

Portuguese

Grammar: moderate

Pronunciation: challenging

Spelling: challenging

Native speakers: 223 million speakers

It is considered to be the most beautiful and powerful language. It overlaps with English because of its identical word order and structure. Pronunciation is a little difficult and tricky because of nasal vowel sounds.

The Challenge of Asian Tongues

East Africa’s Language Diversity

In East Africa, as in many regions around the world, the linguistic landscape is diverse and rich, presenting language learners with a variety of challenges and opportunities. One feature that can be particularly challenging for those whose mother tongue belongs to the Germanic language family, such as English speakers, is the concept of gendered nouns.

This grammatical aspect, common in many European languages, contrasts with the linguistic norms of East African languages, where noun genders may not play as prominent a role. For example, in Cape Verde, the common language of Cape Verdean Creole, while influenced by Portuguese, simplifies many of the complexities found in European languages, including the use of gendered nouns. Navigating these differences requires adaptability and an understanding of the nuances that define each language.

This exemplifies the broader challenge of learning difficult languages that diverge significantly from one’s own linguistic background, highlighting the importance of cultural and linguistic flexibility in global communication.

Artificial vs. Natural Languages

Language learning resources have significantly evolved, offering learners an array of tools to master new languages, from the Norwegian language, which belongs to the Germanic family of the Indo-European language family, to the intricate Italian grammar of a Romance language, also within the Indo-European umbrella. For those interested in the less commonly studied language of San Marino, which primarily uses Italian, comprehensive resources are crucial for understanding not just the grammar but the cultural nuances as well.

Meanwhile, the exploration of an artificial language, constructed with the purpose of facilitating international communication, provides a fascinating contrast to natural languages with deep historical roots and complex evolutionary paths. These resources, whether digital apps, textbooks, or online communities, empower learners to dive into the linguistic structures and cultural contexts of both widely spoken languages like Norwegian and Italian, and the unique linguistic situation of microstates like San Marino, demonstrating the rich diversity and interconnectedness within the Indo-European language family and beyond.

Phonetic Ease in Learning

The journey to acquire language skills often leads learners to confront what is subjectively labeled the “hardest language” to learn, which varies greatly depending on one’s native tongue and linguistic background. Yet, it’s this very challenge that unveils the beauty and complexity of language learning. Each so-called “complicated language” is not just a system of rules and vocabulary to be mastered but a gateway to understanding different worldviews and cultures, making the process of learning it inherently beautiful. The perception of difficulty enhances the learner’s appreciation for the nuances and idiosyncrasies that make a language unique.

As learners advance their skills, they often find that the languages once deemed difficult reveal their own elegance and logic, transforming the daunting task of learning into an enriching experience that celebrates the diversity and intricacy of human communication. A phonetic language, when also a popular language, offers learners the advantage of straightforward pronunciation rules, facilitating easier mastery and global communication.

Frequently Asked Questions