Under Xerxes, Persia took over large parts of Northern and Central Greece in the 480s BC, and the Empire was only shaken by the conquest of Alexander the Great by 330 BC. Its also gaining global popularity, and more and more people are looking for online Swahili lessons. French speakers can master other Romance languages like Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. Its also an easier language to learn for English speakers than, for example, Russian or Chinese, which take much longer to learn and reach fluency. 6. It is important to note that the Farsi and Persian languages are the same things, with Farsi simply being an endonym, or the languages name according to native speakers. There are more than 22 million native Amharic speakers and about 4 million L2 speakers worldwide. The language sounds like musica. You may assume that the Welsh language is Germanic due to being on the border of England and so close to the other countries with a Germanic language. The change to New Persian was initially sparked by the rise of Islam and the Arabic nations of the area, including the adoption of Arabic script for writing, illumination for manuscripts, and a wider spread of poetry. There are many reasons for which certain languages can be easy or hard for an individual to learn. This means youll be able to read and pronounce most words correctly once you have learned a few ground rules. The language changed and morphed over time, leaving us with the modern language and areas of native Persian speakers, including modern-day Iran. By doing this you can hear whether you are pronouncing things correctly and will be able to compare them to audio of native speakers. Though Persia does not exist as a nation today, per-say, it does live on in the Middle Eastern countries that were created because of it. The Finnish language often uses just one word to say a whole sentence, which can be confusing for those used to the complex sentences of the English language. Some tonal languages may be particularly difficult for English speakers, as this is not something that they are used to. The 10 Easiest Languages to Learn for English Speakers. However, the Empire still maintained cultural and political significance even as its sphere of influence shrank. German 2. Like Norwegian and Swedish, it has fairly straightforward grammar rules and a lot of vocabulary that will be familiar to English speakers., For example, Gode tidende sounds a lot like Good tidings, and the word dyre, which means expensive, is similar to the word dear, which is used in English when something is considered too pricey. The script that they use (Devanagari) is vastly different from Latin and even Arabic script. You probably have so many Spanish words in your ear. For example, the word frolic meaning to play and move around cheerfully (e.g. Indeed, fluency doesnt happen overnight, no matter which language youre learning. The main reason for this is because of the use of the Cyrillic script. "The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.". It is a vibrant, fluid, and ancient language, that ignites passion and intrigue in researchers, teachers, and those who want to learn how to speak it. Check out our article on the best way to learn a new language here. For conversation and community-based lessons, opt for Mondlys courses that help you get fluent quickly and easily! Why? For example, the word order in Swedish is also SVO. Above all, have fun. These differences include word order differences, tenses, and even the inclusion of gender into language. The Persian language uses the Arabic script, something that native English speakers are unfamiliar with. The Hindi language is a relatively challenging one and takes hours to perfect to even an intermediate level. We mentioned Dutch above, but Afrikaans is like a grammatically boiled-down version of its parent language. Cudoo also offers 3 levels of Farsi (at $12.99 each) which is a helpful starting point. Or, easier than other languages, to be more precise. 1. We love hearing from our readers. It is thought that the language may begin to rise in popularity, though, since it is featured on the popular language immersion app, Duolingo. Because of its Latin roots, Romanian does share some cognates with the English language, and because of its phonetic form, pronunciations are easier to get to grips with. On the bright side, it is phonetic, which means it is spelled how it is said and vice-versa. The language is also full of idioms and homophones which, without prior experience, can also be very confusing. Spanish is one of the easiest languages to learn, so it's logical why it is the second-largest language worldwide.. Click here to get a copy. and the grammar, pronunciation and spelling is simpler than in many other languages. That's because it's the closest language to English today, both in words and structure. was designed with you in mind: Minimal grammar, easy rules and as a bonus, lots of things that resemble many other world languages. Some shared cognates include katt which of course means cat, busk which means bush, and our personal favorite (because it is so simple but looks so much more pleasing to the eye than our boring spelling) sn which means snow. Lastly, brush up on your Colloquial Persian with Abdi Rafiee's 3rd edition copy of this classic conversational sourcebook. However, the language family it belongs to is the relatively small Kartvelian. Ahead of getting into the details of the language, including the Persian alphabet, syntax, and sound system, we should first create a firm understanding of where the entire language came from, and the country that spawned such a dynamic vernacular. For instance, words like plastic, water and lamp are identical in both Dutch and English. One of the best ways that you can learn a language is to fully immerse yourself in all aspects of it, including different types of media in that particular language. Other Middle Eastern languages that use similar dialects are Basseri in Southern Iran, Darwazi in Tajikistan and Afghanistan, Hazaragi in Pakistan, and the specific meanings that the Tehrani accent brings to the language. The multi-state system set up by Cyrus continued, including tax districts, infrastructure, communications, and transportation, all important to sustain such a massive expanse. For this reason, it is considered a macro language because its reach is vast and extensive. is pronounced as Poo vay voo. This is because the Dutch were some of the first colonizers of the States. As well as this, the grammar rules are different from what we may be used to, as they follow the Subject Object Verb writing and speaking order. Spanish 2. Along with natives and Spanish language learners, there are more than 572 million Spanish speakers worldwide. That being said, perhaps that is a good thing. Another superb option is Persian Learning with your host, Majid, who goes over everything you need to know about the language. From that perspective, there are no easy and hard languages. If youre looking to learn a language that will enhance your travel experiences and boost your employability, learning Spanish online is a great choice. In fact, did you know that for most English speakers, Persian is one of the easiest Middle Eastern languages to learn? Because of its more challenging pronunciation, however, Danish isnt the easiest Scandinavian language to learn., Even so, if you plan to stay in Denmark for a longer period of time, learning the local language is simply the best way to fully immerse yourself in the countrys unique culture and form deeper connections.. Nowadays, Latin script is used, which is why native English speakers find it a little easier. The grammar structure is, on the other hand, a bit unusual for English speakers. For example, you may seek out a language teacher who specializes in your chosen language or may start to visit a store where a staff member speaks the language. Get 70% off + 10 languages + 14 day free trial. For instance, Et tois? (And you?) 28 Easiest Languages for English Speakers to Learn, Ranked. Languages that are more closely related to English share certain qualities and characteristics that make them easier for English speakers to pick up. Spanish is a close relative of French. For example, the noun system is different from most other languages you may have heard of since it has three genders and two numbers. But, as with many foreign languages, its often simply a matter of getting some practice in. Cognates are when a similar-sounding word has an identical meaning. Originally, Persian was the language spoken by the rulers and people within the Empire of Persia, stretching back for thousands of years. Instead, think of it more as a head start if you decide to pick up the other one. Spanish also uses the same alphabet as English, and many of the words are pronounced just as they are spelled., Another benefit of Spanish for English speakers is that the sentence structure is not only similar to English, but its also not as strict as it is in English, which means there are often multiple ways a sentence can be put together.. Are you thinking about taking Portuguese lessons? It is easy, there is many derivatives to the words. Although it can be a bit daunting, Swahili grammar is actually very straightforward. It is a beautiful language from a country steeped in history and, as such, many of the traditional ways of speaking still stand. FluentU is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Some words are identical in Dutch and English water, lamp, warm, just to name a few. Do you want to learn a new language but you dont have a lot of free time on your hands? Esperanto was designed with you in mind: Minimal grammar, easy rules and as a bonus, lots of things that resemble many other world languages. Romanian 3 Moderate languages to Learn 1. Although the lack of grammar rules might sound appealing, it can be a bit confusing, but its not hard to get used to. Persian is, first and foremost, an Indo-European language and so this makes it a little similar to English. 12 Toki Pona. Persian and Farsi: Whats the difference? However, not only is it rewarding to form a friendship in this way, but it can also be beneficial to your learning journey. It has Dutch at its core but it is also intertwined with other dialects and indigenous languages from Africa. In Thai, you can find many languages that come from Chinese. How far away the country that the language belongs to (both physically and culturally) can also be an influencing factor in how easy or difficult a language can be to learn. Name: Easiest Languages To Learn For English Speakers, According To Experts: Top 10 Being able to speak another language can actually. There are also no capital letters in Persian writing, making it difficult to decipher as an English speaker. However, this is not a hard and fast rule, and there are also many other contributing factors. The EasyPersian site offers lessons based on the alphabet and script. Table of Contents 7 Easiest Languages To Learn 1. If the writer wants to be able to communicate with a large audience, then a widely-spoken language like English, Spanish, or Mandarin Chinese is a good choice. Therefore, you should be able to master the basics and learn how to speak French in no time. But yes, Swahili is also categorized as a less demanding language to learn. That being said, it is more than doable and there are a wealth of resources out there if you choose to learn this beautiful, song-like language. Kanji is a character-based system with thousands of characters to learn. Therefore, it is relatively easy for all speakers to learn, regardless of their native language. The main goal of the language was to create something that was universally simple. Enter Spanish. In fact, Dutch sounds a bit like a mix of English and German. If you are learning Spanish, get some Spanish music on or tune into a Spanish soap opera. This may be because it is influenced in many ways by English and some of the more familiar Romance languages. Even so, French is still one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. Although this may come as a surprise, learning Indonesian is considered relatively easy for English speakers. This language was invented by a few linguists who were also great global citizens. As a native English speaker, you will likely get on well with a language that uses the same alphabet as you. What will help you to persevere even when it starts to get difficult? Learn about the best language resources that I've personally test-driven. Afrikaans is a beautiful language that is surprisingly easy to learn for native English speakers. There are a number of different dialects of Georgian, depending on where you are speaking it, but the most common is the one spoken in Georgia itself. In addition, there are many English words in French vocabulary . Persian is most likely known to you under one of the names of its dialects. Of course, as with any language, there will be lots of new vocabulary to learn, but if you need to spend any amount of time in Southeast Asia, its an excellent second language to have under your belt., Swahili is a Bantu language and another very useful second language to have, as its widely used in East Africa, including in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. Whether its their sentence structure or vocabulary, they are simply easier to master than some other languages. Many languages are similar to other languages. There are some challenging aspects of learning French though. In addition to this, they also feature hard and soft sounds for each of the consonants, meaning that pronunciation can be difficult to get to grips with. Here are nine of the easiest languages to learn for Spanish speakers: 1. These minuscule differences can transform the meaning entirely. But if youre new to language learning and youre looking for a relatively easy language to learn, any of the languages on this list would be great to start with. However, if the writing style is very different from what you are used to then you may well struggle to get to grips with this at first. Rosetta Stone is a well-established course but isnt suitable for everybody. The only barrier you need to overcome is yourself. That means most learners wont find many words they cant get their mouth around! But even if youre not familiar with any other similar language, Portuguese will be relatively easy to learn. On the other hand, the sentence structure and verb focus of Tagalog is quite different to that of English, which makes it the most challenging language on this list. So, if youre looking for an easy foreign language to learn, youve come to the right place. Italian: Italian is the easiest language for Spanish speakers to learn. However, if you are looking for a modest challenge then Swahili is a great language choice for you. Other languages may have unique and new sounds, compared with the sounds you know from your own language and alphabet. Both Thai and Chinese are tonal languages. And another 17 percent can speak more than two languages. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. Download our easy, visualItalian essentials eBook and get a head start. Yes, that is systems, plural. The most important thing that we want you to take away from this article is that even though some languages may be easier for a native English speaker to learn than others, it does not mean the harder languages are out of your reach. You need to find a good teacher or quality online language lessons. German is, as the name suggests, a Germanic language. You say what you see. This language is basically useless, but it is undoubtedly the easiest to learn. The grammar is similar to English, and many vocabulary words will sound familiar, like samme (same), ham (him) and op (up). how long it will take you to learn a language, Download our freeSpanish essentials eBook to help you get started, Download our easy, visualItalian essentials eBook and get a head start, Download our free French essentials eBook to accompany your studies, Download our free German essentials eBook to see the similarities. You already know more than youre aware of in terms of vocabulary too. The following are some of. Continue with Recommended Cookies. This can be difficult for a learner to get used to, especially if it is not something that they have ever come across before. Too easy for you and looking for something more challenging? We have another popular Romance language for you to consider of course, its French. They also write right to left, which is very different from English writing. It is also known as the Perso-Arabic alphabet and is written in horizontal lines from right to left, with numbers written from left to right. A large portion of its vocabulary comes from Arabic, meaning that will be the main hurdle for non-native speakers to overcome. You may come across a challenge or two, like mastering Portuguese pronunciation and nasal sounds. This makes it a very unique language to write, speak and hear. Many popular world languages have very different grammatical structures to English. What better excuse to go to Paris and brush up on your French skills whilst you sip coffee and eat croissants? An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Another member of the Germanic family of languages that is considered easy to learn is Swedish. In comparison, a language that is not in your language family may be more difficult to get to grips with. FluentU brings a language to life with real-world videos. There are dialects of French even here in the States and of course, in Canada. By the way, why not check out our list of the best apps to learn French? Furthermore, Norwegian has an SVO (subject-verb-object) sentence structure, the same as English. Russian is the largest of all of the languages in the Slavic family and is spoken widely in the country and around the world. We will cover the basics of the Persian language, its origins and cultural history, and some of the best ways to approach learning it for the first time, including great resources that are available now. It is something you can keep on developing over time and once you have learned a second language, you will have an appetite for learning more, which will become even easier when you have more languages under your belt! One aspect of German that English-speakers do tend to struggle with is the pronunciation, especially when it comes to longer compound words like Fremdschmen (cringe) or Verschlimmbessern (to worsen or exacerbate)., But while German might not be quite as easy for English-speakers to grasp as Dutch or Norwegian, it is an extremely useful language to learn, as its spoken by more than 100 million people throughout Central Europe, including in Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg.. Of these, Spanish and Italian are the easiest for native English speakers to learn, followed by Portuguese and finally French. Iceland is known to have some pretty difficult words to pronounce, from place names to everyday words. Therefore, from a linguistic perspective, Norwegian and English have quite a lot in common. No matter how busy you are or how difficult you think it may be, theres a language out there for everyone! Therefore, from a linguistic perspective, Norwegian and English have quite a lot in common. Similar in many ways to Norwegian, Swedish is yet another Germanic language that is a little simpler for native English speakers to learn. An example of this is the Russian words and . There is also a welcome lack of verb conjugation, which is great news for learners, especially since this means that the sentence structure stays simple and short. However, the word Persian is still applicable to the language as a whole, as it refers to the spoken and written forms, as well as the entire backstory of the Persian culture that comes along with just the words. That is a huge amount of time, and even then you will only be at intermediate, conversational level. You would not be alone in assuming that it would be a Slavic language given its proximity to Russia and other Slavic countries. The Spanish language is phonetic (meaning the spelling tells you the pronunciation of the word). You and your buddy will be able to help each other. This languages alphabet utilizes six different vowel sounds (, a, e, i, o, u) and two diphthongs (ey, ow), but the diacritics that denote them, such as the alef do not have a specific sound. Spanish is often the go-to language for English speakers because of its small inventory of speech sounds and user-friendly phonetic spelling system. Amharic Amharic is the first language of Amharas, an ethnic group from the Highlands of Ethiopia. . This means you will have to work hard to memorize the way words are written. Learning a language is a lifelong skill and you will be learning it forever but guess what? Although Frisia no longer exists, Frisian, which actually consists of three main dialects, is still in use in parts of the Netherlands and Germany., English and Frisian share many similarities in terms of sentence structure and vocabulary.