The Easiest Languages to Learn for English Speakers
You’ve decided to learn a new language. Good for you! Learning another language makes you smarter — and sexier, too! Which language will you choose? There are so many factors to consider. If this is your first foreign language, you might consider starting with one of the easiest languages to learn. That way, you can build your confidence while developing good language-learning habits before tackling a more challenging tongue. You’ll make faster progress and develop a stronger foundation for learning additional languages. (They’re like potato chips – hard to stop at just one!)
So, let’s explore the easiest languages for English speakers to learn.
What Makes a Language Easy to Learn?
Before we dive into the easiest languages to learn, let’s consider what makes some languages simpler to acquire than others. After all, no language is inherently easier or harder to learn as a first language – children around the world typically learn their native tongue at the same rate.
But when learning a second language, similarity makes a huge difference. When the vocabulary, sentence structure, alphabet, and sounds feel familiar, they are much easier to learn. Languages in the same family as English – the Germanic languages – and those with similar vocabulary and grammar are easier languages for English speakers to learn.
Another factor is the language’s accessibility. The more books, news broadcasts, music stations, or conversation partners you have access to in a specific language, the easier it is to learn it. Accessibility varies by how many people speak the language, where you live, and even your home life. If you live with someone who speaks the language, you’ll pick it up far more easily.
Exposure through TV, radio, conversation, or other great ways to learn a language helps you take advantage of cognates – words in two different languages that share similar meanings, spellings, and pronunciations. Recognizing familiar words makes learning a new language feel more intuitive.
Finally, easy-to-learn languages have straightforward rules for grammar, spelling, and pronunciation – with few exceptions. Of course, by that logic, English should be impossible! Just watch as Ricky Ricardo hilariously wrestles with English spelling – bough, rough, through, and cough leave him puzzled! (Though at least he didn’t hiccup!)
The Top 5 Easiest Languages for English Speakers
We consulted the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute to determine which are the easiest languages for English speakers to learn.
Norwegian
Is it surprising to find Norwegian at the top of our list of easiest to learn languages?
Like English, it’s a Germanic language with similar vocabulary, grammar, and syntax or sentence structure. Norwegian word order is familiar, too, and the verbs are wonderfully consistent.
For example, “She likes coffee” translates to “Hun liker kaffe.” But “They like coffee,” is “De liker kaffe.” The word order is the same; the words for “like” and “coffee” are familiar; and – best of all – the verb form doesn’t change no matter who likes coffee!
Spanish
Spanish is one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. It’s highly accessible, and did you know that 30-40% of English words are related to Spanish? Many of the related words are cognates, like familia (family) and delicioso (delicious), making vocabulary easier to pick up. And, since Spanish is highly phonetic with few exceptions to its spelling rules, once you can pronounce it, you can spell it!
Spanish grammar is a bit challenging, with gendered nouns (every noun is either masculine or feminine) and more verb tenses than English. But don’t panic – many tenses are rarely used in conversation, and the grammar follows clear, consistent rules.
Swedish
Like English and Norwegian, Swedish is a Germanic language. It shares many cognates with English, and the basic sentence structure and word order is similar to English. Swedish grammar is also simpler than in most European languages, with straightforward verb conjugation that rarely changes based on who or how many are doing the action. For example:
- Jag är (I am)
- Du är (You are)
- Vi är (We are)
The verb är (are) stays the same!
Dutch
Dutch is another Germanic language. In fact, some linguists consider it the closest major language to English, making Dutch one of the easiest languages to learn. The grammar and sentence structure are familiar, and some vocabulary is instantly recognizable, such as “kat” for cat or “vriend” for friend.
Dutch pronunciation takes some getting used to, especially the guttural “G” sound. A fun way to master it? Try this tongue twister:
“Goede gaven geven gul geluk.”
(Good gifts give generous happiness).
Start slowly to get the pronunciation right, then gradually speed up as your confidence grows.
French
French is a fan favorite, prized for its elegance, global influence, and rich cultural history. But compared to some of the easiest languages to learn, it comes with a few extra challenges.
It shares thousands of cognates with English, like “restaurant,” “important,” and “color” – making vocabulary acquisition feel intuitive. Sentence structure and word order are also similar to English, and French pronunciation follows pretty consistent rules.
However, silent letters, nasal vowels, and a tricky pronunciation rule called liaison – where the ending sound of one word blends into the next – make speaking French tricky at first. Add in gendered nouns and complex verb conjugations, and you’ll understand its placement on our list.
Are There Other Easy-to-Learn Languages?
Absolutely! Italian and Portuguese share many similarities with Spanish, placing them among the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. Indonesian, one of the few Asian languages that uses the Latin alphabet, also has simple grammar and no verb conjugations, making it surprisingly accessible.
Ultimately, the easiest language to learn is the one you’re most excited about.
Start Your New Language Learning Journey with Easy Languages
Different qualities can make languages easy for English speakers to learn, but don’t let the challenging languages intimidate you. The Pimsleur Method™ makes learning a language faster and more intuitive than you might imagine – no matter which language you choose.