If you’re an English speaker looking to learn a new language, you might wonder: which language is easiest to learn? The good news is there are several easy languages for English speakers to learn quickly.
This guide will show you the easiest languages for English speakers based on vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. We’ll cover 12+ languages and explain why they’re simple to master.
What Makes a Language Easy for English Speakers?
Before listing the easiest languages to learn for English speakers, here’s what makes them simple:
Shared Vocabulary – Languages with Latin/Greek roots (Spanish, French) share words with English (“nation” → “nación“).
Simple Grammar – Fewer verb conjugations, no noun genders (e.g., Chinese).
Familiar Writing System – Languages using the alphabet (A, B, C) are easier than Arabic or Japanese.
Similar Pronunciation – If sounds match English, speaking feels natural.
12 Easiest Languages for English Speakers (Ranked)
From European languages to easy Asian options, here’s the full list:
🇳🇱 Dutch (#1 Easiest)
Why Easy? Very similar vocabulary (“apple” = “appel”). No noun cases like German.
Challenge: Guttural “g” sound may feel rough.
Example: “Hoe gaat het?” (“How are you?”)
🇪🇸 Spanish (#2)
Why Easy? 30-40% of English words come from Latin. Phonetic spelling (read as written).
Challenge: Verb conjugations (hablo, hablas, habla).
Example: “¿Dónde está el baño?” (“Where’s the bathroom?”)
🇳🇴 Norwegian (#3)
Why Easy? Simple grammar (verbs don’t change much!). Understand Swedish/Danish too!
Bonus: Many English words come from Old Norse (“knife” = “kniv“).
Example: “Jeg heter ___.” (“My name is ___.”)
🇫🇷 French (#4)
Why Easy? 30% of English vocabulary comes from French (“restaurant” = same!).
Challenge: Silent letters (“beaucoup” = bo-koo).
Example: “Je m’appelle ___.” (“My name is ___.”)
🇮🇹 Italian (#5)
Why Easy? Musical & phonetic. Many English loanwords (“pizza”).
Challenge: Verb endings change (parlo vs. parli).
Example: “Quanto costa?” (“How much?”)
🇵🇹 Portuguese (#6)
Why Easy? Similar to Spanish, with simpler pronunciation than French.
Challenge: Nasal sounds (“não” = now).
🇸🇪 Swedish (#7)
Why Easy? Grammar is simpler than German.
Perk: Understand some Danish/Norwegian!
🇩🇪 German (#8)
Why Easy? Many shared words (“Haus” = “house”).
Challenge: Complex grammar (der/die/das).
🇮🇩 Indonesian (#9 – Easiest Asian Language)
Why Easy? No verb conjugations or tones! Uses the Latin alphabet.
Example: “Nama saya ___.” (“My name is ___.”)
🇲🇾 Malay (#10)
Why Easy? Similar to Indonesian (mutually intelligible). Very simple grammar.
🇿🇦 Afrikaans (#11 – Easiest Grammar)
Why Easy? No verb conjugations! (“I am, you am, we am”).
🇮🇱 Hebrew (#12 – Easiest Middle Eastern Language)
Why Easy? Simple verb system.
Challenge: New alphabet (but no cursive letters!).
Languages That Are Harder for English Speakers
For English speakers, certain languages pose extra challenges due to unfamiliar writing systems (like Japanese, Arabic, or Chinese), tonal pronunciation (as in Mandarin, Thai, or Vietnamese), or complex grammar rules (found in Russian, Polish, and Hungarian). These factors can significantly slow down progress for beginners.
If you’re just starting out, the smartest move is to pick one of the easiest languages for English speakers first—such as Spanish, Dutch, or Norwegian. Building confidence with a simpler language first can make tackling tougher ones far less intimidating later.
How to Learn These Languages Fast
If you’re learning one of the easiest languages for English speakers—like Spanish, Dutch, or Norwegian—boost your progress with these strategies: Watch engaging TV shows (Money Heist for Spanish or Ragnarok for Norwegian), use apps like Duolingo or Memrise for daily practice, and start speaking early through platforms like iTalki or Tandem. Also, leverage cognates—words that sound similar in English and your target language (e.g., “important” → “importante” in Spanish and Portuguese)—to expand vocabulary effortlessly.
The key to success is consistency mixed with enjoyment. By combining immersive content (TV, music), smart tools (apps, tutors), and linguistic shortcuts (cognates), you’ll build skills faster while staying motivated. The easier the language, the quicker you’ll see progress—so pick a method that excites you and stick with it.
Conclusion
The easiest languages to learn for English speakers—Dutch, Spanish, and Norwegian—offer quick mastery, but the best choice depends on your goals. For travel, Spanish or French are practical picks, while business learners may benefit more from German or Mandarin (though they’re more challenging). If you’re learning just for fun, try Indonesian’s straightforward grammar or Swedish’s melodic flow. Anyway, the easiest language is ultimately the one you enjoy—so pick what excites you, and you’ll progress faster!
