Bridging the Gap: Languages That Come Naturally to English Speakers
With over 6,500 world languages, mastering a new tongue can seem a daunting task, which we try to make easy with our app. But for native English speakers, certain languages prove more accessible thanks to shared roots and grammar. Whether related European languages or globally influential ones, some options feel nearly effortless to pick up. Here are the most beginner-friendly languages for English speakers looking to expand their linguistic horizons.
Norwegian
Linguistically and culturally close to English, Norwegian tops the list of easy languages thanks to several parallels. Norwegian grammar mirrors English with familiar sentence structure and minimal conjugation. Pronunciation poses little problem aside from some vowel changes. And Norwegian vocabulary reveals the shared Germanic roots of English with many cognates like “bok” (book) and “husband” (husband). Communication skills transfer rapidly.
Written Norwegian exists in two official forms: Bokmål and Nynorsk. Bokmål proves simplest for English speakers given its heavier influences from Danish. The melodious rhythm of spoken Norwegian further eases learning. Grasping basics takes mere weeks for many English speakers given Norwegian’s accessibility.
Swedish
Fellow Scandinavian language Swedish similarly tops easy language lists. Its wealth of English loan words and cognates render Swedish vocabulary readily comprehensible. Grammar and syntax hew close to English patterns with familiar nominative and accusative cases. Pronunciation follows consistent rules while allowing many shared sounds.
Plus, Swedish lacks grammatical gender and most conjugations, avoiding complexities burdensome for English speakers. The two languages share Germanic origins which permeates modern similarities. For English speakers, learning conversational Swedish can feel nearly as simple as practicing a dialect of home.
Spanish
With 330 million native speakers worldwide, Spanish opens immense global opportunities to English speakers as a relatively simple language to grasp. Spanish pronunciation patterns quite transparently with consistent rules. Verb conjugation follows predictable formats. And cognates like “familia” (family) allow quick vocabulary gains.
Sharing Latin roots, Spanish and English exhibit countless parallel terms. The languages show similarities in sentence syntax as well. Even the elegant rhythm of Spanish speech resonates naturally with English speakers. Together these facilities accelerate learning, making Spanish accessible within months.
Afrikaans
English speakers can unlock African linguistic diversity through Afrikaans, South Africa’s most prevalent language. Afrikaans holds many parallels as a Germanic language with substantial vocabulary derived from Dutch and English. Pronunciation patterns familiarly while grammar remains uncomplicated.
Lacking noun gender, no articles, and limited verb conjugations, Afrikaans structure aligns with English. Duolingo estimates English speakers can achieve basic conversational proficiency within 100 hours of study thanks to similarities. For a taste of South African culture, Afrikaans makes a winsome first African language.
French
Don’t let its refined reputation fool you — French is more accessible than it seems, especially for English speakers. Pronunciation demands practice, but spoken French utilizes common sounds. Grammar contains complexities like moods and verbal aspects but follows orderly conventions.
Vocabulary offers the biggest leg up through thousands of shared Latin terms — “famille”, “opportunité”, “actualité”. Even abstract concepts like “liberty” hold direct equivalents. The Norman Conquest linked English and French indelibly. This enduring affinity makes French conquerable for dedicated beginners.
Portuguese
Emerging world power Brazil makes its Portuguese language integral for global engagement. Fortunately, Portuguese proves relatively intuitive for English speakers to pick up. Both languages stem from Latin with numerous cognate words. Simple pronunciation patterns hew close to Spanish. And straightforward grammar lacks dense complications.
Some unique nasal vowels and verb irregularities exist, but shared vocabulary smooths the way. With practice, English speakers can converse in Portuguese without mastering complex paradigms. A little application unlocks this conduit to over 200 million Lusophone speakers worldwide.
Italian
When visiting the Mediterranean, English speakers find Italian surprisingly uncomplicated thanks again to Latin roots. Many common Italian vocabulary words directly parallel their English equivalents. Pronunciation follows consistent phonic rules. The transparent spelling system even allows new learners to sound out unfamiliar terms.
Italian verb conjugation requires some diligence but uses familiar formats. And noun gender adds limited complexity for memory. Italy’s energetic culture meshes wonderfully with direct Italian communication unencumbered by elaborate grammar. English speakers can attain conversational fluency fairly readily through practice.
Bottom Line
Evidence clearly shows that some languages structurally resonate more with English speakers. Linguistic cousins like Germanic and Latin languages prove most intuitive due to shared ancestry. But global languages like Spanish also feature familiar elements that expedite learning.
With the right language, English speakers can convey meaning and make cultural connections quickly. But learning any new language requires an investment of time and effort. Ultimately choosing a language you feel passionate about remains the surest motivation to attain fluency. Let these “easy language” starting points guide you on a personally meaningful linguistic journey.
Read in our blog about The Secret to Becoming Fluent in a New Language in Just 6 Months
