The title of the most challenging language to learn is hotly contested, but several languages consistently appear on the list. Here are some of the most difficult languages for English speakers:
- Mandarin Chinese: Despite being the most widely spoken native language globally, Mandarin Chinese tops the list. It demands the memorization of thousands of special characters.
- Arabic: Next on the list is Arabic, which is also among the top five most spoken world languages. Its unique script and complex grammar contribute to its difficulty.
- Polish: Known for its intricate grammar rules, Polish poses a challenge for learners.
- Russian: Russian’s Cyrillic alphabet and complex case system make it a formidable language to master.
- Turkish: Turkish has a different linguistic structure and vocabulary, which can be perplexing for English speakers.
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- Japanese: Renowned for its intricate writing system, Japanese combines three scripts: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. The latter involves thousands of characters, each with multiple meanings and pronunciations. Additionally, Japanese grammar and honorifics add complexity.
- Hungarian: With its unique vocabulary, complex grammar rules, and cases, Hungarian can be a perplexing language to learn.
- Finnish: Finnish has a different linguistic structure, extensive vowel harmony, and a rich case system. Its lack of Latin roots makes it challenging for English speakers.
- Korean: Korean’s writing system, Hangul, is relatively straightforward, but mastering the language requires understanding honorifics, verb endings, and context-based speech levels.Danish: Danish pronunciation and irregular verbs add to its complexity.
What is the closest language to English
The closest language to English has a few contenders, each with its own fascinating history and linguistic connections.
- Scots: Scots, often regarded as a dialect of English, shares a common ancestry with English. It developed from Old English (Anglo-Saxon). While some consider it a distinct language, others see it as closely related to English. You can test this mutual intelligibility by reading a Scots Wikipedia entry. Scots remains an essential part of Scottish identity despite English’s dominance after the union of Scottish and English parliaments in 1707.
- Frisian: If we’re looking for a definitely distinct language, Frisian takes the crown. It’s a West Germanic language spoken in parts of the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany. Frisian shares 80% lexical similarity with English. Here’s a glimpse of how its dialects compare:
- English: Good morning
- West Frisian: Wolkom
- North Frisian: Wäljkiimen
- Saterland Frisian: Wäilkuumen
Although Frisian has only around 480,000 native speakers today, it was once popular in the Middle Ages. Unfortunately, bad flooding led to its decline, and Dutch became the official language of the region.
- Dutch: Our next closest relative is Dutch, another West Germanic language. Like Frisian and English, Dutch evolved from Proto-Germanic. It shares many words and phrases with English and has a similar grammatical structure.
Which language is best other than English
Choosing a language to learn depends on your interests, travel plans, education, and career goals. Here are some highly valuable languages you might consider:
- Chinese (Mandarin):
- Approximate time to learn: 88 weeks (2200 class hours) .
- Number of speakers: 1.3 billion .
- Popular places to learn: China, Taiwan, and Singapore.
- Why learn Mandarin? It’s the most widely spoken language globally, and understanding it opens up business and travel opportunities. Learning its thousands of unique characters is a stimulating challenge.
- Spanish:
- Approximate time to learn: 30 weeks (600-750 class hours) .
- Number of speakers: 595 million total speakers .
- Popular places to learn: Costa Rica, Spain, and Mexico.
- Why learn Spanish? It ranks high due to its 477 million native speakers and over 550 million total speakers. It’s the official language of over 20 countries and the unofficial second language of the United States, where about 13% of the population speaks Spanish at home. Plus, there’s a wealth of Spanish-language content online, including shows on Netflix like “Money Heist” .
- Italian, Danish, Norwegian, French, Portuguese, Romanian, Swedish, and Dutch:
- These languages are relatively easy for English speakers to learn . Each offers unique cultural experiences and opens doors to communication in various regions.
Which is the oldest language in the world
Determining the oldest spoken language is a fascinating endeavor, but it’s essential to recognize that pinpointing an exact origin is challenging due to the scarcity of written records from ancient times. However, let look at some of the contenders based on the oldest known examples:
- Arabic:
- Date of Oldest Known Example: Around the 1st century CE.
- Country/Region of Origin: Arabian Peninsula.
- Current Number of Native Speakers: Approximately 580 million across all varieties of Arabic.
- Arabic, although relatively modern compared to other languages on this list, has a significant global presence. Around 310 million people speak Arabic as a native language, and an additional 270 million are fluent in it as a second language. It was influenced by languages like Aramaic, Hellenistic Greek, Hebrew, and Persian .
- Tamil:
- Date of Oldest Known Example: Around 300 BCE.
- Country/Region of Origin: South India.
- Current Number of Native Speakers: Approximately 75 million.
- Tamil is the oldest attested non-Sanskrit language native to India. Early Tamil inscriptions were found in caves and on pottery. The Tolkāppiyam, dating back to the 1st century BCE, is the oldest piece of Tamil literature. Old Tamil evolved into modern Tamil and is still spoken by millions .
- Persian (Farsi):
- Date of Oldest Known Example: Around 525 BCE.
- Country/Region of Origin: Ancient Iran.
- Current Number of Native Speakers: Approximately 70 million (with 110 million worldwide).
- Persian (Farsi) has a rich history divided into three periods: Old Persian, Middle Persian, and Modern Persian. It originated in Ancient Iran and continues to be spoken today .
However, if we consider direct lineage, the Coptic language deserves special mention. Although not the same as Archaic Egyptian, Coptic is its direct descendant. The earliest known complete sentence in Egyptian dates back to around 2690 BCE, and Egyptian hieroglyphs from tombs go even further back in time .
Which language is best for earning money
The most profitable language to learn depends on your goals and the field you’re interested in. However, here are six languages that can potentially boost your earning potential:
- Mandarin Chinese: With 955 million native speakers, Mandarin is spoken in China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. China’s booming economy and global influence make Mandarin valuable for business, manufacturing, logistics, and tourism. Learning Mandarin can open doors to opportunities in these sectors.
- Russian: Spoken by 155 million native speakers, Russian is prevalent in Russia, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and diaspora communities worldwide. It’s the third most represented language on the Internet after English. Russian speakers often travel abroad, creating a demand for Russian-language services in English-speaking countries.
- Arabic: Arabic is essential for business and diplomacy in the Middle East and North Africa. It’s spoken by millions of people across various countries. Learning Arabic can be advantageous if you’re interested in oil and gas, finance, or international relations.
- Portuguese: Portuguese is spoken in Brazil, Portugal, and several African countries. Brazil’s growing economy and cultural influence make Portuguese valuable for trade, tourism, and entertainment. It’s also the sixth most spoken language globally.
- Spanish: With 460 million native speakers, Spanish is widely used in Latin America, Spain, and the United States. It’s beneficial for business, travel, and communication with Spanish-speaking communities. Spanish is also the second most spoken language globally.
- Japanese: Japan has a strong economy and technological advancements. Learning Japanese can be advantageous if you’re interested in technology, automotive industries, or anime and entertainment. It’s spoken by around 128 million people.
Which language is in most demand
The demand for programming languages varies based on industry trends, job roles, and geographical regions. However, here are some in-demand programming languages that can enhance your career prospects:
- Java: Java remains a top choice for creating complete applications. It’s platform-independent and widely used in various domains. Although its growth is slightly slower than the market, it still leads the pack.
- Python: Python’s popularity continues to soar. It’s an interpreted, high-level language known for rapid development. Companies like Intel, IBM, Netflix, and Meta use Python extensively. While it’s catching up to Java, the gap between them ensures both languages have their place.
- SQL: SQL (Structured Query Language) is essential for managing relational databases. It surpassed C++ in demand and is growing relative to the market. Its third-place ranking indicates strong industry reliance.
- C++: C++ is a powerful, compiled language used for fast rendering in applications like browsers, banking software, and motion design. Although it fell to fourth place, it remains crucial for specific use cases.
- JavaScript: JavaScript dominates web development, both on the frontend and backend. Its versatility and widespread adoption make it indispensable for tech startups and established companies.
- Bash: Bash scripting is essential for automating tasks in Unix-like systems. It’s particularly valuable for system administrators and DevOps professionals.
- C#: C# is popular for Windows development, game development (using Unity), and enterprise applications. Its demand remains steady.
- Go (Golang): Go is gaining traction due to its simplicity, performance, and suitability for cloud-native applications. It’s especially relevant for backend development.
For non-programming languages, consider learning:
- Spanish: With over 400 million speakers, it’s valuable for global business.
- Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese): One in six people worldwide speaks Chinese, and businesses often collaborate with Chinese manufacturers.
- French: Used in international bodies like the UN and UNESCO, it opens doors to global brands.
- Arabic: Shaped international policies and is in demand for government agencies.
- German: Second most spoken language in Europe, offering career opportunities.
- Japanese: Explore different cultures and benefit from the Asian economy’s growth.