Popular European Languages in 2022
The United Nations predicts that by 2023, six out of every 10 people living in Europe will speak a language other than English. In the US, Spanish ranks second behind English. However, according to our research, English is still the most popular language among speakers of other languages around the globe.
In the next 12 years, the UN expects the following countries to rank above English in terms of total population speaking another language: Germany (1st place), France (2nd place), Italy (3rd place), Spain (4th place), Poland (5th place), Sweden (6th place), Hungary (7th place), Czech Republic (9th place), Slovakia (10th place), Romania (11th place), Bulgaria (12th place).
#1: Spanish
According to the World Economic Forum, Spanish ranks as the best language to learn in Europe. While English is the global language, it doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of opportunities for native speakers of Spanish. With the largest population outside of North America, Spain is a prime destination for international students looking to study abroad. And because of the close proximity to Latin America, the number of Spanish speakers in the US continues to grow.
The United Nations estimates that nearly half of the world speaks Spanish today. In fact, it’s the second most spoken language next to Mandarin Chinese. If you’re considering studying abroad, consider learning Spanish in the US. You’ll find schools throughout the country that offer great programs. Plus, you’ll be able to practice speaking the language while living here.
#2: French
French is a beautiful language, but it can also be difficult to understand. There are many different ways to say the same thing. And there are many regional differences too. But don’t worry about that — we’ve got you covered. Here are some tips on how to improve your French skills.
#3: German
German is one of the most popular languages to study abroad. However, many students overlook this language because they think it sounds too difficult. But don’t worry, there are some similarities between the two languages that make learning German much easier than you’d think.
The German alphabet consists of 26 letters, just like the English alphabet. This makes the two languages very similar. Plus, the pronunciation of the German language is also quite similar to English. For example, “Kommen Sie,” pronounced kom-ehn zee, translates into “come.” And “Ich habe eine Freundin,” pronounced ih hay ah-beh nay froy-deen, translates into “I have a friend.”
Another reason why English speakers find it easy transitioning to German is that the two languages belong to the same linguistic family — Indo-European. So if you’re already familiar with the English language, you’ll feel comfortable speaking German.
Best European languages to Study in College
If you want to study abroad in Europe, there are many languages to consider. And while some people love learning French, Spanish, Italian, German, or Portuguese, others find it difficult to pick just one. So how do you decide which language to learn? Here are three things to keep in mind when choosing your next language.
- What Are Your Goals?
You’ll likely already have a good idea of what you’d like to achieve once you finish school. Do you want to work in a specific industry? Or maybe you’d like to travel around Europe. Whatever your goals are, you’ll want to think about whether those goals align with the type of language you’d like to learn.
For example, if you want to go to France someday, you might want to take French classes because you plan on living there. On the other hand, if you want to live in Italy and travel throughout Europe, you might want to focus on Italian.
2. Where Would You Like To Live?
While most people don’t realize it, many countries actually require a certain amount of foreign language proficiency in order to move there. This makes sense, since knowing another language gives you access to a whole world of opportunities.
However, if you really want to live somewhere else, you might want to look into the local requirements for moving there. In addition to being able to speak the language, you’ll also want to check out the cost of living, job availability, and quality of life.
3. How Much Time Will You Have?
The more free time you have, the easier it will be to dedicate yourself to studying. Of course, you won’t be able to completely neglect everything else in your life, but you can try to set aside a few hours every day to study. If you’re looking to study abroad, it might help to start planning early. Some schools even offer summer programs where you can enroll in courses during the off-season.
