The Best Language to Learn (Updated for 2023)

Our multilingual environment serves as a continual reminder that the more languages we speak, the more linked we become on various levels. With the many advancements in the world now, you may find yourself in positions where you have to communicate with people who do not speak your native language.

Learning new languages aids in the development and expansion of your social, personal, educational, and professional networks. We will go through the best languages you should consider learning in this post.

Best Languages To Learn

If you are still unsure of the language to learn, you can pick from any of these languages:

1. Mandarin

Chinese is one of the greatest languages to study since it is the most spoken language globally, with 1.2 billion native speakers. Most Chinese speakers speak Mandarin. Others speak Cantonese throughout China and Asia. China also possesses the world’s second-biggest economy, making it an appealing option. With China’s rise as a worldwide power, it’s becoming more crucial for firms to have employees who can speak Chinese.

Mandarin is also the second most prevalent language among Internet users. China was the world’s top e-commerce market in 2019, with sales of $714.58 billion. If important Asian economies continue to grow their Internet use, Chinese may soon overtake English as the most frequently used Internet language.

2. Spanish

It’s no surprise that Spanish is one of the most popular languages to study. More than 405 million people worldwide are native speakers of the language. There are about 37.6 million Americans who speak Spanish as their primary language. Having your content in Spanish allows you to reach this large and growing market.

It’s no surprise that most Spanish-speaking countries are in the South and Central American regions. Consequently, many people throughout the globe are fluent in Spanish as a result of this. Spanish is regarded as one of the most straightforward languages for English speakers to learn.

3. German

Germany boasts Europe’s greatest GDP, and many people are migrating to the nation in search of fresh opportunities. There are over 210 million native speakers worldwide. German is one of the EU’s three official languages. There is an expected increase as a result of the country’s decision to leave the EU (alongside French). 

Additionally, German is the fourth most popular language in terms of internet use. Being able to communicate fluently in German is advantageous in disciplines like science and technology, where Germany ranks third in the world in terms of research and development spending. 

According to The Economist, studying German will pay out more incentives than learning Spanish or French. Approximately German companies employ about 700,000 people in the United States. Above all, it is a wonderful language to pick up. The way words have more meaning by adding different ends makes it an exceptional choice to learn.

4. Russian

Many Eastern European and Europeanasian nations use Russian as their primary language. In addition to having the second greatest proportion of online material (behind English), Russian has the highest percentage of internet content in Europe. As a result, one of the most significant languages to learn for European business is Russian.

The country’s size, rising economy, and natural riches (it is the world’s top oil producer) all contribute to its attraction for business. Furthermore, Moscow has the largest concentration of billionaires of any city on the planet.

There are 300 million speakers in the world. It is seventh in terms of the world’s most widely spoken language. Furthermore, it accounts for the majority of internet content in Europe. In the rank of the English Proficiency Index, Russia is low. Thus, translating your material into Russian might be a crucial step in achieving worldwide business objectives.

Russia has been classified as one of the four main international powers whose influence is rapidly expanding as a member of the BRIC group of nations. Its economy is already the sixth biggest in the world. Russian is an official language of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, making it important in international affairs, diplomacy, and commerce. Furthermore, Russia is well-known for its engineering skill and IT community. Russian is a commonly used language in scientific and technical literature in fields such as physics and engineering.

5. French

For centuries, French, often known as the language of love, served as the international and diplomatic language. English has only lately surpassed French as the language of diplomacy, thanks to the development of the United States as a worldwide power. Currently, France is still a major economic powerhouse and a popular tourist destination. Therefore, learning French is a must.

The colonial history of France contributed significantly to French becoming one of the most widely spoken languages in Europe. As a result, more individuals outside of France speak this language than within it. According to Forbes, by 2050, the globe will have 750 million French speakers. 

There is a belief that there are over 102 million Internet users in the country. Africa, which is quickly developing and rich in natural resources, has French-speaking countries. Three of the top five fastest-growing African economies have French as their official language. French is a lingua franca in countries where English is not widely spoken, such as Morocco, Algeria, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

Learning French can help you get a job in the global tourist business, fashion, the visual arts, or theater. This is because French is the most widely spoken language in these fields.

After Brexit, we should expect this language to grow in popularity. It is an essential language to learn because of its widespread use, especially in developing economies.

French is easy to learn for English speakers, with about 80 million native speakers and 153 million non-native speakers worldwide. The English and French alphabets are similar. In fact, English and French have more lexical similarities than any other language.

Overall, French is a great language to learn whether you want to learn frequent phrases in food, fashion, or travel, or you want to imitate a romantic accent.

6. Hindi

Between 1971 and 2011, the number of Hindi native speakers in India grew from 37% to 44%. This trend is still going strong a decade later. Hindi is the world’s third-fastest-growing spoken language. Also, it is the second-fastest-growing language in the United States. Its rapid expansion is linked to large-scale migration from northern India to cities like Bengaluru.

Furthermore, it is well known that many Indian parents choose to educate their children in Hindi rather than other regional languages. This is due to the fact that more than half of the country’s population speaks Hindi.

But, like with other languages, it’s not only the huge number of speakers that should inspire you to study the language; it’s the language’s worldwide influence. India is a major player in today’s global economy. Hence, you should study Hindi if you have any business with Indians. Also, you can learn Hindi to have a deeper understanding of Hinduism and Indian culture.

7. Portuguese

Portuguese is a language that is spoken worldwide. It is the official language of many European, South American, Asian, and African nations. If that wasn’t enough to convince you that this is one of the essential languages to learn, consider the following: Brazil is fast becoming one of the world’s most powerful economies.

Portuguese is neither the oldest nor the most recent language on the planet. However, it is spoken on all continents and is useful for travel and commerce.

Portuguese is the world’s sixth most frequently spoken language. Also, it is the second most widely spoken language in Latin America. This language is the second-fastest-growing European language after English, according to UNESCO data. Portuguese is well ahead of German, French, and Italian, and it is the official language of eight nations in terms of popularity.

The need for the Portuguese language is increasing tremendously as the link between India and Brazil strengthens. Technology, technical assistance, finance, exports, tourism, and education are all seeing growing demand. Brazil provides international corporations with chances in tourism, pharmaceuticals, and energy, to mention a few. 

Portuguese speakers will have more chances as companies continue to set up businesses in Brazil. Because of the region’s diplomatic and economic ties with Portugal and other Lusophone nations, Portuguese is gaining popularity throughout Asia.

Moreover, learning Portuguese is not difficult for a natural English speaker. While the language and sentence structure are different from English, they are easier. The accent is more like American English than Spanish, and learning new sounds like nasal vowels isn’t difficult.

8. Korean

Korean is one of the future languages because it evolves and increases at the same rate as the Korean economy and culture. If you like Korean pop culture or wish to conduct business with Korean enterprises, you should learn this language. There are 77.2 million Korean speakers in the world.

The Korean culture has sparked interest in many individuals all around the globe in recent years. K-pop musicians are popular in Europe, Canada, and the United States. Fans follow them on social media, listen to their music, and watch Korean dramas on Netflix. Korean is the world’s seventh-most popular dialect to learn on the Duolingo app today.

9. Arabic

Arabic is the world’s fifth most spoken language, with many active, rising economies in the Middle East and Africa speaking it. There are 300 million speakers in the world.

Arabic began as a nomadic language used by nomadic people. It is now the official language of the Arab League, which consists of 22 nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and the UAE. These well-known tourism spots make learning Arabic worthwhile. It is also the language of the whole Muslim civilization, including all of its books.

The GDP of Arabic nations exceeds $600 billion, and the Middle Eastern economy has grown by more than 120 percent in the last five years. Arabic-speaking nations produce 37% of the world’s oil and 18% of the world’s gas while also making strides in other fields.

Continued immigration from the Middle East and the expanding Muslim community in the United States all contribute to the growth of Arabic. Firms in the Middle East, especially Arabic translation companies, provide excellent job chances for foreigners with a strong command of the Arabic language. So, you should learn Arabic if you’re interested in studying a fast-growing foreign language and working for a forward-thinking organization overseas.

Arabic is a macrolanguage with 30 distinct dialects. Modern Standard Arabic is the written and spoken language taught in schools and the official version used by governments and the media.

10. Italian

Italian is part of the Italo-Dalmatian branch of the Romantic language family. Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican, Slovene, and Istria have a total population of around 67 million native speakers in 2020. About 13.4 million people speak it as a second language.

Italy is home to several world heritage sites and several historical literatures published in the Italian language. Fashion, gastronomy, and automobile are among Italy’s most renowned sectors. Therefore, it is an important site for business throughout Europe. So if you are in any of these industries, learning Italian will do you a lot of good. Also, it is a good place for vacations. Many people who go there never get enough of the place.

Conclusion

You can learn a language for education, travel, and business. Whatever the case may be, learning the best new languages will benefit you in the long run. However, picking the right language is very vital. If you are looking to learn more languages, you can pick from any discussed above.