Hardest language to learn. It is definitely a challenge.

• Hardest language to learn Aug 10, 2023 · In conclusion, determining the hardest language to learn among Chinese, Japanese, and Korean is subjective and depends on individual factors such as your native language, learning style, and personal motivation. Arabic is ranked as the hardest language to learn, according to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), the US federal government’s primary training institution — for good reasons. Arabic is the queen of poetic languages, the 6th official language of the UN and second on our list of toughest languages to learn. That being said, some languages objectively pose more challenges than others. Here are some reasons why learning Mandarin Chinese can be simpler than you think. Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Prostock-studio. Many even call them some of the most difficult programming languages to master. Jan 16, 2024 · To improve your language learning skills. Jun 4, 2018 · Mandarin is a tone language – so the way the pitch is bent during a word being spoken vastly affects the meaning of words that are otherwise pronounced the same. By Vikash Gupta • January 1, 2025 • Foreign Languages • 7 minutes of reading • 5 Comments. The top 10 hardest languages to learn—Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian, Finnish, Basque, Navajo, Icelandic, and Thai—present unique challenges that can be overcome with perseverance and expert guidance. Icelandic The 12 languages on this list are among the hardest languages to learn (for English speakers). 12 of the world’s most difficult languages to learn and what makes them so hard to In conclusion, learning a new language is a challenging but rewarding experience, especially for non-English speakers. It requires the memorisation of thousands of special characters. Dec 13, 2024 · What Is the Hardest Language to Learn in the World? Expert Opinions on the Top Contender. Key factors include: Grammatical complexity : Languages with complex grammar rules, irregular verb conjugations, and nuanced sentence structure can be daunting for non-native speakers. I agree. Enjoy! Feb 8, 2024 · The rewards of mastering difficult languages. Mar 15, 2024 · Learning English as a second language can be very, very hard, depending on your native tongue. Let’s take a look at them in more detail. 1. First, vowels are not included when writing. Dec 26, 2024 · Learn about the ten most challenging languages to master, from Mandarin Chinese to Russian, and the unique features that make them so hard. These are the HARDEST LANGUAGES to learn ranked by the time it takes to be FLUENT in them! Have you ever wondered how hard MANDARIN is to learn? Or what abou Sep 30, 2024 · Thai is by far the most difficult. If you are german let say, and want to learn english, it will be much easier for you than it will be for someone whose mother tongue is arabic or chinese for exemple, owing to the fact that both german and english belong to the west germanic branch of the indo-european languages, unlike the ones cited above. Available for Korean, Spanish, French, Chinese, Hindi, Thai, German, Hawaiian, Hungarian, Icelandic and more. Dec 12, 2024 · Korean is a fascinating language to learn, but it does come with its challenges. After that are 50 merely “hard” Category-3 languages, including Czech, Hindi, Russian, and Thai. It represents one of life’s greatest pleasures, a challenge that will open doors to rewarding career paths. This post shall review. Nov 7, 2024 · Learn about the challenges and benefits of mastering the 10 hardest languages to learn, such as Cantonese, Mandarin, Arabic, Korean and Japanese. Learning any language is a wonderful skill, even if you never reach complete fluency. The hardest languages (for English speakers) are generally very different from English in both their vocabulary and their grammar. Dec 20, 2024 · Top 10 hardest languages in the world. Nov 28, 2024 · Dive into the wealth of language learning tools such as apps, websites, and textbooks that are specifically designed for the hardest languages. For example, tonal languages like Mandarin use pitch to change word meaning, which can be challenging for English speakers. At Languages Mar 12, 2020 · The most difficult Asian language (and sometimes viewed as the most difficult language) is the same language that is spoken most in the world; Mandarin Chinese. It can take years for an English speaker to grasp Japanese and is regarded by the FSI as the hardest language for English speakers to learn. Category I: 23-24 weeks (575-600 hours What languages do you have the best chance of mastering quickly? We've used data to rank the top 17 easiest languages to learn if you're fluent in English. German. I’ve studied three languages in addition to my mother one, English. May 14, 2024 · The top 10 hardest languages to learn vary depending on factors such as native language, linguistic background, and personal learning preferences. With consistent effort and perseverance, significant progress can be made over time. Like English, Spanish is a Latin-based language. Chinese grammar has to be one of the simplest to pick up, especially in comparison to English. Oct 31, 2022 · What is the hardest language to learn? Spoken by over a billion people, Mandarin Chinese is unanimously considered to be the most difficult language in the world to master, especially for those whose native languages use the Latin writing system, like English, Spanish, French, German, and all other European languages. Ejectives are also quite a new feature to many of us. The tricky part is switching from one paradigm to another, like from object-oriented programming to functional programming. Aug 4, 2018 · Russian, Hindi, Thai, Polish and Greek, on the other hand, take around 44 weeks to learn, while the hardest languages, which include Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Arabic, can take more than a year and a half to reach proficiency in. The archaic language is made up of extremely long words, while the specific syllables are pronounced entirely differently from typical English syllables. But the Khoisan languages may have the hardest ones to understand, because they utilize multiple, marked click consonants. Aug 7, 2023 · Embark on a linguistic adventure with our guide to the 25 most challenging languages to learn in 2024. Oct 23, 2024 · Highlights of the language: Script: Chinese characters Official Language: China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore Speakers: 1. To an English-speaker, the novelties include the clicks of many African languages Jun 22, 2021 · “Easy” or “hard” is all about what languages you already know. But which language is the hardest to learn? And what makes it so challenging? Direct Answer: Why Korean is often considered the Hardest Language Dec 16, 2024 · 1. Here are the easiest and hardest languages to learn. Japanese. Native Japanese speakers, on the other hand, have considerable difficulty learning the English Dec 4, 2024 · Cultural and Historical Context: Languages with rich cultural heritage, historical context, and regional dialects can be difficult to learn due to their complexity. It also has a unique character set, with thousands of characters to learn. And to complicate things further most Arabic letters are written in four different forms depending on the placing of the word. 5 days ago · Q. What's the hardest language to learn for English speakers? See the rankings below. Using declensions, non-homophonous homographs and suffixes will also weigh in the balance. But choosing to learn the easy thing is like plucking the lowest hanging fruit. Jan 7, 2025 · The Top 5 Hardest Languages to Learn. Many widely-spoken languages (Turkish, Japanese, Korean, Hindi/Urdu, for example) have SOV word order, which can make learning hard for English speakers. The FSI language difficulty ranking helps English speakers see how hard different languages are to learn. Let us discuss the 10 hardest languages to learn. Once you learn one language well, it's super easy to learn another programming language. Some languages have so many options available that it can be overwhelming. Dec 15, 2017 · Category III languages are mainly spoken in Southeast Asia, and they include Indonesian and Malay. Oct 22, 2022 · What do you think is the hardest language to learn? Let us know in the comments below! Language Learning. Yes, certainly. Feb 23, 2024 · The hardest language to learn varies depending on a person’s linguistic background and personal experiences with learning languages. This isn’t surprising, as some elements of learning are subjective, and many factors can influence how tricky an individual finds a specific language. Sep 18, 2023 · The first thing many learners will think of is the writing system. Jan 19, 2016 · To become proficient in one of these languages, it usually takes 44 weeks of study or 1,110 classroom hours. Oct 3, 2024 · People working in linguistics have different opinions about which languages are the hardest to learn. Jan 1, 2025 · Here, I’ve compiled seven of the most difficult languages to learn. If you’re a language enthusiast, you might wonder why some languages are tougher than others and what makes your journey more daunting. Written Arabic also Uses fewer vowels, which can be difficult for those learning to read the language. May 13, 2022 · Learn how language difficulty is determined by linguistic distance, grammar, pronunciation, and writing system. However, there are certain languages that seem to have been programmed specifically to lock out non-native speakers. Feb 6, 2024 · Cracking the code of a new language is an exhilarating feat, but some tongues twist and turn with a complexity that truly tests the mettle of even the most dedicated polyglot. Its unique Hangul writing system is logical and relatively easy to grasp, but the complex grammar rules and pronunciation, which differ significantly from English, can be tricky for beginners. Many of their vocabularies are similar, as is their grammar. Aside from the fact that many of the words in the English language stem from Ancient Greek and Latin, English also has some pretty complex grammatical, spoken and written rules - which even native speakers often get confused with! The pronunciation is also pretty hard to master, mainly because of consonant clusters and words that just seem awkward to foreigners. Hardest languages to learn. Oct 11, 2023 · Language difficulty rankings exist so you can set the fluency goalposts at a realistic distance. There are 46 basic symbols, and depending on the words you're writing, you sometimes add little symbols at the top or write a normal symbol but smaller next to a bigger symbol to change the pronunciation slightly. It is the official language of 26 countries and has a rich cultural and historical significance. The language is spoken in China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. May 9, 2024 · With over 7,000 languages in the world, it’s hard to say what is the hardest language to learn. Sep 17, 2024 · The hardest languages to learn are those that are very different from your native language in terms of vocabulary, grammar features, pronunciation, and spelling. It’s a tonal language, has tons of homonyms, makes frequent use of idiomatic expressions, and uses a completely different writing system. While there is no definitive answer to the question of the easiest or most difficult languages, one frequently cited source is the FSI language ranking system that rates languages in terms of how long it usually takes English speakers to learn them. Oct 23, 2024 · Difficult languages to learn that take 88 weeks 8. After learning 3-4, you can pick up another in a couple weeks. Czech Jul 3, 2024 · Several factors can make a language hard to learn. It includes some of the best languages to learn, including Spanish, Italian and French. Interestingly, the hardest language to learn is also the most widely spoken native language in the world. Choose a language that excites you and aligns with your goals and stick with it. e rising tones to pose a question. While French has the reputation of being one of the most difficult languages to learn, Chinese is the one that comes out on top. . Feb 27, 2019 · As we mentioned before on our blog, the FSI has some 800 language learning courses in 70 languages with over 70 years of experience in instructing US diplomats and foreign affairs employees to learn languages. Discover the cultures, histories, and literatures behind these languages and why they are worth the effort. We’re apt to transfer from our first language to the new language—that can include vocabulary and grammar (like saying your new Spanish words in the order you’d say them in English). The Hardest Slavic Languages to Learn for English Speakers . Thai, Spanish, and Chinese would be. Nov 29, 2017 · FSI language-learning categories are numbered like hurricanes—higher number, scarier language. The difficulty also depends on your native language. 1 billion Counting only the native speakers, Mandarin Chinese is the most popular language in the world, with 939 million speakers. These are suited to those with advanced technical knowledge. Which are the most difficult languages to learn? Everyone’s experience with learning a language is different; for some, it can be an arduous task while others may find the process rather effortless. Mandarin Chinese is challenging for a number of reasons. However, there are also languages in the same family as English that are difficult for other Jun 27, 2023 · This is one of the criteria used by UNESCO to determine which languages are the most difficult to learn. Q10. Hiragana isn't too bad. Nov 24, 2024 · The following five languages are widely regarded as among the most difficult to learn, due to their unique writing systems, complex grammatical structures, and vast vocabularies. net Related to this group are other European language groups such as the Romance languages which include French, Romanian, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. Apr 25, 2017 · Learn why Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Korean and Hindi are the most difficult languages for English speakers to master. Mandarin. From Croatian to Mandarin, discover the complexities and unique quirks of each language, and challenge yourself to expand your linguistic horizons. Difficulty Level: 8/10 Language Characteristics: Mandarin Chinese is a tonal language, with four tones and a complex writing system. Zulu (10. The top five hardest languages to learn were. Jun 9, 2023 · The Hardest Languages to Learn in the World. Given that this list was formulated by the FSI, it is important to Jul 30, 2020 · Learning a new language is never an easy thing to do. To help you make a time-efficient decision, The Foreign Service Institute sorted major languages around the world into 5 categories of difficulty according to their differences from English. So why is this language spoken by over 400 million people so difficult to master? The simple answer is variations. The hardest languages to learn for non-English speakers are often those that present challenges in grammar, writing systems, and pronunciation, and require a significant amount of time and effort to master. See the complete list of the easiest and hardest languages to learn, based on the Foreign Service Institute rankings and time estimates. As an Anglophone, learning German will probably be the easiest of these 10 languages since it is also a Germanic language. For an English speaker, the hardest languages generally belong to a different language family (i. Cantonese is considered a “super-hard” language by the US Foreign Service Institute. The most important thing is that you enjoy learning it and have a fulfilling Arabic. May 28, 2024 · Although Korean ranks last on our list of the hardest languages to learn, with a smaller native-speaking population of 80 million people, it still opens the door for language learners to a whole different culture with its unique quirks and fascinating history. Platforms like Memrise for Mandarin or Al Jazeera Learning Arabic offer structured pathways from beginner to advanced levels. Understanding the complexities of these languages empowers you to make informed decisions when venturing into a new linguistic skill. So this is not an easy language to Oct 20, 2024 · Indo-European language tree. Aug 11, 2022 · Hardest languages to learn, ranked. Here, we have listed the hardest languages to learn. We often hear people saying Portuguese is the hardest language to learn. Most Difficult Language To Learn Many people ask the question what is the most difficult language to learn? In that regard, many languages have been claimed to be the hardest language to learn, below are some candidates, for a good reason. Language. Arabic is considered one of the toughest languages to learn as it has numerous dialects, a huge vocabulary, tough pronunciations, a lack of vowels and a right-to-left writing style. 3 billion Mandarin speakers can do it, so can you — in 20 months’ time. Yet, if the 1. Jun 1, 2023 · Hardest Languages to Learn: Where to Start. I think ‘the hardest language’ changes from nation to nation, if you are native in English, it’s easier for you to learn other european languages, but for me, as a turkish, it took me 3 years to speak it slightly better than the average. With technological progress, learning the most difficult languages of the world has become quite easy. Jul 10, 2024 · What are the hardest languages to learn? 1. Compare the difficulty levels for native English speakers and other linguistic groups, and find out which languages are the easiest to learn. I'm glad my school forced us to learn Java and LISP early on Jan 7, 2025 · The app currently features 42 native languages and 34 languages you can learn. Jan 9, 2024 · 🕐 Approximate time to learn: 44 weeks (1100 hours) 🗣️ Number of speakers: 45 million 📍 Countries to visit: Philippines. However, there are also languages in the same family as English that are difficult for other 5 days ago · Arabic. Arabic Language; Why it’s so difficult: Arabic has very few words that resemble those Of European languages. The hardest part of learning any language is just getting started. of overall speakers: 1. This post will explore the various factors that Nov 13, 2023 · A second way languages can be hard is with sounds and distinctions that do not exist in the learner’s language. Mandarin, on the other hand, is a hard language to learn to grasp for an English speaker. Category IV includes the most challenging European languages for English speakers to pick up. Mar 28, 2024 · The time required to learn a challenging language varies depending on factors such as language complexity, prior language learning experience, and dedicated practice. Find out the factors that make these languages challenging, such as tone, writing systems, sentence structure and dialects. Aug 9, 2021 · The problem arises when it comes to understanding the language. Top 4 Hardest Languages to Learn. Mar 28, 2022 · Hardest language to learn #2: Cantonese. Hence they require significant amounts of memorization. Whether you’re aiming to connect with a new culture, expand your career opportunities, or simply challenge yourself intellectually, mastering any of these languages is a remarkable achievement. What Languages are Easier to Learn? Feb 14, 2022 · Learning a language is always a challenge no matter the language you choose. Mandarin Jul 20, 2018 · Category V is the most difficult for English speakers with Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean all taking at least 88 weeks. Chinese characters are already extremely hard to learn since there are more than a hundred different characters, but the intonation is what truly prevents people from casually 10 Hardest Programming Languages to Learn Now that you know the answer to 'what is the easiest programming language?', let's explore a list of programming languages known to have a steep learning curve. Apr 12, 2023 · Arabic is a Semitic language that originated in the Arabian Peninsula and is spoken by over 400 million people. However, some commonly cited challenging languages include Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hungarian, Finnish, Icelandic, Navajo, Basque, and Georgian. Nov 17, 2024 · In conclusion, while all languages present unique challenges, the top ten hardest languages to learn require dedication, persistence, and a significant amount of time and effort. Here is the list of the 10 hardest languages to learn in the world. Mar 23, 2021 · Senior producer Dylan Lyons (yours truly) is joined by project manager for learning content Elin Asklöv and English language editor Ted Mentele to discuss the easiest and hardest languages. Jul 17, 2024 · Learn about the difficulty level, popularity, and history of the hardest languages in the world, such as Mandarin, Arabic, Japanese, and Korean. Sep 21, 2015 · Here, we examine 10 of the hardest languages to learn based on FSI rankings. Mandarin Mandarin is often considered one of the most difficult languages to learn for non-native speakers due to its unique writing system, tonal nature and vast vocabulary. Below, we Oct 16, 2023 · Hungarian, the official language of Hungary and the European Union, has about 14 million native speakers. Follow. Jan 3, 2025 · Mandarin is the most widely spoken global language, belonging to the Chinese group of languages. It looks at grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and writing systems. Closing out our list of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn is Tagalog, a language part of the Austronesian group, along with other languages such as Malay and Sudanese. For English speakers, languages like Mandarin Chinese and Arabic are particularly challenging due to their unique scripts, tonal qualities, and grammatical structures. The program has French, Spanish, Chinese, German, and more available for free. Category I Mar 27, 2024 · These languages are also known as esolang or esoteric programming languages. German is more difficult for a native English speaker to learn than say a romance language, but a lot easier than any of the medium languages. The most difficult language to learn is Chinese, due to its complex writing system, tonal pronunciation, and lack of similarities to English. Arabic. Mandarin is a tonal language. 3 million) and Xhosa (7. As a result, Icelandic has become one of the most difficult languages to learn for English speakers. Find out why these languages are challenging to learn and how they differ from English and other languages. Compared to other complicated but more widely spoken languages, like Korean or Arabic, there are limited resources available to non-speakers. Do you know any of the languages listed below? See which ones made it onto our list of the most challenging scripts for English speakers to attempt. Just as learning Arabic is hard for Mandarin speakers, learning Mandarin is hard for Arabic speakers. It can be easier to learn a language in case you can speak a language that is similar to the languages that you can already speak well and know well. The hardest languages for English speakers to learn (supposedly) 1. Currently learning Japanese. Nov 3, 2022 · To determine which languages would be most difficult for English speakers to learn. Before we begin, we’d like to note that no list like this can be 100% accurate as language learning – and assessing the hardest languages to learn – is subjective. According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), which trains U. 3 billion speers, Mandarin is the most difficult language for someone to learn. Talking about the easiest or hardest programming language is fluid. Mandarin Chinese. It is definitely a challenge. Of all of those languages, Thai is by far the most difficult. By understanding the complexities of these languages, learners can better prepare themselves for the journey ahead and appreciate the cultural richness and diversity Jan 4, 2024 · 28 Easiest and Hardest Languages to Learn for English Speakers. Jul 29, 2022 · The hardest languages for you to learn will depend on the languages you currently speak, particularly your native languages. Apr 19, 2024 · One of the hardest languages to grasp has a tonal language with thousands of characters. This language is almost impossible to learn. Of these 10 hardest languages to learn, some, like Hungarian and Finnish, are considered quite complex because they have little to no resemblance to any other languages. Since the eleventh century, this language has evolved in a secluded environment. Learning one of the hardest languages will give your language learning muscles a complete workout, so any languages you choose to learn in the future will seem easier and take you less time to become Oct 23, 2019 · The time it takes to learn a language is something every learner takes into account before deciding to learn a certain language. Pronouncing the words themselves isn't that hard, but the writing is a killer. That’s mainly due to their complex grammatical structure and difficult pronunciation. Extensively spoken across Arab and Africa – Arabic is one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn. And the award for the most difficult language to learn by the native English speakers goes to… Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean Aug 17, 2024 · While these languages are considered some of the hardest to learn, they also offer some of the most profound rewards. The hardest languages to learn often come with intricate grammar, complex pronunciation, and unique scripts that can overwhelm even the most dedicated learners. This list delves into the top 10 most challenging languages to master, exploring the linguistic hurdles that await intrepid language learners. We researched the top 5 most widely spoken non-English languages to see which languages are the hardest for their speakers to learn. Many languages share underlying principles, making it easier to pick up others after you’ve mastered one. Nov 27, 2023 · Learning Navajo isn’t easy. Simple grammar. Whether you choose to learn the hardest language in the world or an easier one, it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, the best language to learn is the one you'll stick with. Though Mandarin Chinese is thought to be one of the most difficult languages to learn, there are certain aspects of the language that are easier to pick up. Mar 20, 2024 · Rank Programming Language Description; Beginner-Friendly: Easiest to Learn; 1: Scratch: Scratch’s visual interface turns complex coding concepts into child’s play, making it the ideal starting point for beginners, especially children. All of these languages have different grammatical structures than English. Sep 2, 2024 · It’s common knowledge that languages vary in difficulty levels. Urdu. Jan 6, 2025 · When it comes to learning a new language, many people find themselves facing a daunting task. Master languages that are hard to learn with FunEasyLearn: Learn the difference between vowel sounds and consonants with ; Draw each character of a hard language such as Japanese, challenging for most English speakers; What Is The Hardest Language For English Speakers To Learn? Have you ever considered the challenges that come with learning a new language? In this engaging Nov 6, 2024 · For some time now, linguists and language learners around the world have argued that English is one of, if not the hardest language to learn. Source: Jack Lynch, researchgate. Jul 8, 2020 · The internet and social communities have given access to a world of resources to learn whatever we aspire to, including some of the world’s hardest programming languages. 9 Are there any courses available to learn these most difficult languages of the world? Ans. Swahili also counts as a Category III language. Written by Duals. Let’s explore the top 10 hardest languages for English speakers to learn. 8 million) have borrowed click sounds, which can be hard to learn. Finally, the “Big Four. Some are easier to speak than write, and vice versa. 28 billion speakers. With over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, it’s no wonder that language learners often get overwhelmed. Because Mandarin is a tonal language, each sound has four unique pronunciations in the phonetic transcription method pinyin. Oct 29, 2024 · The Hardest Languages To Learn For English Speakers 1. For English speakers, it is usually cited as one of the most difficult languages to learn. Let’s talk about the top 10 hardest languages to learn for English speakers. Feb 15, 2022 · Top 10 Hardest Languages To Learn. Feb 27, 2021 · What exactly makes a language difficult to learn? According to numerous research findings related to language learning, native English speakers find it extremely difficult to learn Asian languages. The factors that determine a language’s difficulty will often vary from person to person depending on how skilled they are at learning languages and what language(s) they are already fluent in. Apr 16, 2024 · The post The 17 Hardest Languages to Learn in the World first appeared on The Green Voyage. Based on various studies, language learning expert opinions, and online feedback, here are the top 5 hardest languages to learn: The hardest languages to learn for English speakers: Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Russian, Polish, Hungarian, Turkish. Even if the language is a bit similar to some other Asian languages, even Asians find it difficult to learn. Polyglots, get your tongues twisting! These fascinating languages are also the notoriously hardest languages to learn if English is your first language. ) Category IV: For people who like a challenge. From an English perspective Learning one of these languages is generally considered more difficult than learning a Germanic language, but a lot easier than Mar 6, 2015 · These 10 languages are rated as some of the hardest for English speakers to learn by the US Foreign Service Institute, along with Vietnamese and Thai. They’re easy and convenient and teach the basics in a way Sep 9, 2024 · The most difficult language in the world to learn depends on your native language and linguistic background. Sep 28, 2023 · Top 10 Hardest Languages to Learn for English Speakers. Learning Arabic means learning new characters outside of the Latin alphabet and getting used to reading from The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) has created a list to show the approximate time you need to learn a specific language as an English speaker. After all, what you find most difficult might not align with what someone else considers a challenge. The harder the language you choose to learn, the more it’ll stretch your language learning skills. Oct 25, 2022 · One of the hardest languages to grasp has a tonal language with thousands of characters. Whether it’s complex grammar rules, intricate writing systems, or unfamiliar phonetics, mastering certain languages requires dedication and perseverance. Despite being one of the most spoken languages in the world, Chinese is one of the hardest languages to learn ranked by the Defense Language Institute. Arabic----1. It uses an entirely different script; letter forms change depending on which position the letter takes in the word. Learning a new language can be an exciting journey, but some languages pose more challenges than others. No. However, non-English speakers may find it relatively simpler. And now you’re curious about just how hard languages can get? For whatever reason, if you’ve ever wondered about which languages are the most difficult to learn – for speakers of English, at least – here are 11 of the very toughest. Ranking languages based on difficulty is, when it comes down to it, a fruitless exercise due to its subjectivity. (Note: there are no Category III languages spoken in Europe. Despite modern influences, the Icelandic people have made conscious efforts to keep their language pure and resist incorporating foreign words, which further adds to its complexity and charm. Based on various language learning expert opinions and studies, here are the top 5 hardest languages to learn: Learning a new language is a journey that requires dedication, patience, and the right resources. May 21, 2018 · For English speakers, it is especially difficult to learn languages like Japanese, Arabic, and Hungarian. Russian and Korean are category 4 languages (between medium and hard). Despite being one of the top tourist destinations in the world, Asia has some of the most challenging yet rewarding languages to learn. , non-Germanic or non-Indo-European). Learn 50+ languages with Drops. However, if you’re up for a challenge, these are the 25 hardest languages to learn. e. Jun 11, 2010 · And languages in the hardest category are Arabic, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin Chinese. In this post, we’ll take a look at the easiest and hardest languages to learn, the factors that determine language difficulty, and a complete ranking of the world’s most widely spoken languages—including how long it takes to learn each language. Cantonese is a tonal language, which can be very challenging for English speakers who are used to speaking with emphasis (“I didn’t eat YOUR sandwich!”) and inflection, i. S. Language learning is literally a mind-bending challenge, but here are some of the easiest languages to learn, including German, Portuguese, French, and Spanish. Learning one of the top 10 hardest languages to learn is not just an academic endeavor; it’s a journey that fosters cognitive development, enhances cultural empathy, and can significantly broaden professional horizons. According to the US Foreign Service Institute, the difficulty of learning languages for English speakers can be divided into four categories according to the time of learning (30 weeks / 36 weeks / 44 weeks / 88 weeks) going from the easiest languages to learn to the hardest one. ” According to the US Department of State, the four most difficult languages to learn are Arabic, Japanese, Chinese and Korean. Mandarin- One Of The Hardest Languages To Learn: Why is it so hard? It may be the most spoken language globally. Dec 9, 2024 · The Icelandic language remains one of the hardest languages to learn, which makes sense considering the language hasn’t changed since it settled in the ninth and 10th centuries. The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) classifies some languages into different categories based on how similar they are to English. These include the language’s grammar rules, pronunciation, writing system, and vocabulary. For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy. For beginners, one of the best ways to test the waters is to start with a language-learning app. (But don't be put off! Jul 29, 2022 · Native language: Arabic. Determining Language Difficulty. I'm trying to learn the languages on the list, and so far I've covered 6: Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, Chinese, Tagalog, and Cantonese. However, there is more to learning a language than just the language itself. Many online courses by reputed institutions like Henry Harvin offer exceptional courses. Over 300 million people speak Arabic today, making it one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world. According to the Foreign Service Institute, Arabic’s at the top of the list for languages that are the hardest to learn. We’ll also learn why some languages are tougher to learn than others and uncover the fact that why Mandarin Chinese is the toughest language to learn. And for Spotify users, it’s easier than you think to start your lessons. The only redeeming quality is that the language is absolutely phonetic and the noun declensions are much simpler than many IE languages. If you took the most "hard" or "complex" language in the world and gave a newborn 18 months of exposure and stimulation of said language, they'll speak it as fluently as any of us Jul 9, 2018 · List of Hardest Languages to Learn in the World. If you’re really looking for a challenge, consider the hardest languages to learn first. COLOMBO NICOLA/Shutterstock. Fun fact about learning languages; children in their first 18 months have a better aptitude for learning a first language then adults have for a second language. Jul 19, 2024 · Top 10 Hardest Languages to Learn: A Linguistic Challenge. Indeed none of the State Department’s hardest languages is written with the Latin alphabet used by most European languages. Czech and Polish are often considered the most difficult Slavic languages to learn for English speakers. 4 days ago · Most difficult language in the world: In this article, we’ll explore the hardest language in the world to learn. With almost 1. After this particular study time you will reach 'Speaking 3: General Professional Proficiency in Speaking (S3)' and 'Reading 3: General Professional Proficiency in Reading (R3)' Please keep in mind that this ranking only shows the view of the Foreign Dec 2, 2024 · 3. Jan 22, 2021 · Why it's hard: Despite 221 million native speakers that you can potentially learn from, Arabic is still one of the hardest languages to learn. Got stumped by a supposedly easy language like French or Spanish. In the first part of the episode, we reveal the three easiest languages to learn and what makes them more straightforward. Nov 30, 2017 · Check out the FSI’s full list of languages on the next page. diplomats in foreign languages, Mandarin Chinese requires about 2,200 hours of study to achieve proficiency, classifying it as a “super-hard” language. Finnish, Hungarian, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese. If you're thinking about learning your first foreign language, you might consider checking out this list of the easiest languages to learn. Dec 2, 2024 · It uses a unique inflection system involving complex grammar rules, which makes it one of the top 10 most difficult languages to learn. The characters and pronunciation of the language are difficult. Even though many languages are influenced by Arabic, including Persian, Spanish, and Greek, Arabic joins Mandarin and Cantonese in Category IV as one of the hardest languages to learn for English speakers. In compiling this list we have tried to focus on languages that are fairly widely spoken. The hardest languages for non-English speakers. Which Celtic language is the hardest to learn - and which is the easiest? In terms of the actual language - spelling, syntax, pronunciation, and morphology - Irish is the most difficult of all Celtic languages to learn. Top 5 Hardest Languages to Learn. Some of the most difficult languages to learn are: Haskell; INTERCAL; BrainF**K; WhiteSpace; Malbolge; COW; C++; Is C++ the hardest programming language? Apr 18, 2024 · Though Mandarin is the most spoken language in the world, it has been notorious for being one of, if not the, most difficult language to learn for English speakers. Keep in mind that every learner’s experience will vary, but these languages are generally considered particularly tough for non-native speakers. The hardest languages to learn for non-English speakers that speak Arabic as a native language include those that have different tones, complicated grammar rules, and multiple cases. Its pronunciation and grammar, including 14 vowels, make it the most difficult language for English speakers to learn. Beginning language learners may want to start with an easier language, such as Spanish, German or Italian. Dec 4, 2023 · However, many other languages can be much more challenging for native English speakers to grasp. Learning languages is crucial for travelers as it enables them to navigate new environments, connect with locals, and immerse themselves in different cultures. Dec 16, 2024 · Before diving into the top 5 hardest languages, let’s consider what makes a language challenging to learn. At the end of the article, you will surely know which hardest language you want to begin with. That's because they contain very different grammar systems, sounds, and features than English. Nov 10, 2023 · Discover the hardest languages in the world, crucial for acquiring valued skills in both educational and corporate realms. All languages, even the most closely related ones, will have different sounds that any new speaker will have to learn. drjzjk axb tcl wranyql vcok qsyaya jmq lifn gjfgq icjpdb