The journey of learning a new language is an exhilarating adventure that presents a unique set of challenges, particularly for English speakers. The complexity inherent in this process varies significantly across languages, influenced by a myriad of factors such as grammatical structures, pronunciation nuances, and writing systems that are starkly different from those in English. This article aims to delve into the intricacies of the top 20 hardest languages to learn for English speakers, shedding light on the linguistic hurdles that learners are likely to encounter. From the tonal complexities of Mandarin Chinese, which require acute auditory discernment, to the intricate verb conjugations of Arabic and the daunting alphabetic system of Russian, each language presents its own set of challenges. Whether you are a passionate polyglot or a curious novice eager to embark on a linguistic journey, understanding the challenges that lie ahead is the first step towards mastering a new language. This exploration is not just about linguistic acquisition; it's about bridging cultural divides and expanding one's cognitive horizons.
Criteria for ranking language difficulty
The task of ranking languages by difficulty is a complex endeavour that requires careful consideration of various linguistic factors. The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) has developed a categorisation system that ranks languages based on the estimated time required for an English speaker to achieve General Professional Proficiency in Speaking and Reading. This system is a cornerstone in the field of linguistics, providing a valuable benchmark for learners and educators alike. The criteria for this ranking encompass a wide range of linguistic features, including but not limited to grammatical complexity, phonological differences, the use of non-Latin scripts, and syntactic structures that are unfamiliar to English speakers. For instance, languages that employ extensive case systems, such as Russian or German, or those that utilise tonal distinctions, like Mandarin, are placed higher on the difficulty scale. The linguistic distance between English and the target language is a critical factor; the greater the distance, the more challenging the language is likely to be for English speakers. This ranking is not just an academic exercise; it has practical implications for language learners, guiding them in setting realistic expectations and preparing for the challenges ahead.
1. Mandarin
Mandarin Chinese stands out as one of the most daunting languages for English speakers to learn, primarily due to its tonal nature and the extensive use of characters. The language's tonal system, which includes four main tones and a neutral tone, requires learners to discern and produce distinct pitch variations to convey different meanings, a feature that is foreign to the phonology of English. Additionally, Mandarin's writing system, which comprises thousands of characters, each representing a word or a morpheme, presents a significant memorisation challenge.
Unlike alphabetic writing systems where letters represent sounds, Chinese characters often provide little phonetic clue to their pronunciation, necessitating rote memorisation. The complexity of Mandarin extends beyond its tonal and written aspects; the language also possesses a rich set of grammatical rules and a vocabulary that reflects the cultural and historical depth of Chinese society. Despite these challenges, the strategic importance of Mandarin in the global landscape, coupled with the cultural richness it offers, makes it a rewarding language to learn. Resources for tackling Mandarin are abundant, with platforms like Memrise offering courses that incorporate native speaker videos to aid with listening and pronunciation skills, making the learning process more interactive and engaging.
2. Arabic
The Arabic language presents a unique set of challenges for English speakers, starting with its script, which is written from right to left. This directional shift is the first of many hurdles learners encounter. Arabic script is cursive, with most letters connecting to one another and changing shape depending on their position in a word, adding a layer of complexity to the writing and reading process. The language is also characterised by its rich phonetic inventory, including several sounds that do not exist in English, such as the emphatic consonants and the uvular fricative.
Arabic is known for its dialectical diversity, with regional variations that can differ significantly from the Modern Standard Arabic taught in most academic and formal settings. This variation means that learners often have to adapt to different linguistic nuances depending on the region or context in which they are communicating. The grammatical system of Arabic, with its root-and-pattern morphology, presents another layer of complexity, where words are formed by applying patterns to a set of root consonants to convey different meanings. The Al Jazeera Learning Arabic website is recommended by Arabic tutors and offers comprehensive materials for learners, from beginners to advanced, facilitating a deeper understanding of both the language and the diverse cultures of the Arab world.
3. Japanese
Japanese is often cited as one of the most challenging languages for English speakers to learn, due in large part to its complex writing system and intricate social linguistics. The Japanese writing system is a mix of three scripts: Kanji, which are characters borrowed from Chinese and used for most nouns, verbs, and adjectives; Hiragana, a phonetic script used for native Japanese words not covered by Kanji and for grammatical elements; and Katakana, another phonetic script used primarily for foreign words and names. This tripartite system requires learners to master multiple sets of characters and understand their specific uses within the language.
Beyond the writing system, Japanese' grammar rules and syntax differ markedly from English, with a subject-object-verb (SOV) order as opposed to the subject-verb-object (SVO) order common in English. Additionally, Japanese employs a system of honorifics that affect verb forms and vocabulary depending on the social context and the relationship between the speaker and the listener, adding a layer of complexity to communication. Despite these challenges, learning Japanese offers unparalleled insights into Japan's rich culture and history, and opens up opportunities in fields ranging from business to technology. Platforms like Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese provides comprehensive grammar guides, and apps like WaniKani offer innovative methods for mastering Kanji.
4. Korean
Korean is a language that poses a unique set of challenges for English speakers, starting with its script, Hangul. While Hangul is praised for its scientific design and ease of learning, the language's complex grammar rules, syntax, and phonology present significant hurdles. Korean grammar is agglutinative, meaning that a series of suffixes are attached to a base verb to express tense, mood, and respect levels, among other nuances. This can result in long, complex verb forms that are challenging for learners to construct and understand. Additionally, Korean syntax is subject-object-verb (SOV), which is a departure from the subject-verb-object (SVO) structure familiar to English speakers.
The language also features a system of honorifics that is deeply embedded in Korean culture, requiring speakers to use different levels of speech depending on the social status and relationship to the listener. This aspect of Korean not only affects verb conjugations but also impacts vocabulary choice, making social interactions more complex. Phonologically, Korean has a set of sounds that are not found in English, including tense and aspirated consonants, which can be difficult for learners to distinguish and produce. Resources for learning Korean have expanded in recent years, with platforms like Talk To Me In Korean providing comprehensive lessons ranging from beginner to advanced levels, and apps like HelloTalk facilitating language exchange with native speakers.
5. Russian
Russian presents a formidable challenge for English speakers due to its Cyrillic alphabet, complex grammatical structure, and the cultural nuances embedded within the language. The Cyrillic script, while phonetic, contains several letters that have no direct equivalents in the Latin alphabet used by English, necessitating a significant adjustment period for learners. Grammatically, Russian is notorious for its case system, which affects the form of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives based on their role in the sentence, such as the subject, object, or means by which an action is performed.
This system, combined with aspects like aspectual pairs of verbs and verb conjugation, adds layers of complexity to sentence construction and comprehension. Additionally, Russian syntax allows for a flexible word order, further complicating the process of understanding and forming sentences. The phonology of Russian, with its palatalised consonants and vowel reduction, poses additional pronunciation challenges for English speakers. Russian tutors in the field say that despite these hurdles, learning Russian opens up a rich literary and cultural heritage, offering insights into the history, politics, and society of Russia and its neighboring countries. Websites like RussianPod101 offer a range of audio and video lessons, and apps like Duolingo provide interactive exercises for beginners and intermediate learners.
6. Cantonese
Cantonese, spoken primarily in Hong Kong and the Guangdong province of China, is often considered more challenging than Mandarin due to its complex tonal system and colloquial usage. Cantonese has six to nine tones, depending on the analysis, which is more than Mandarin's four main tones. This tonal complexity requires learners to develop a keen ear for pitch differences and the ability to reproduce them accurately, which can be particularly challenging for speakers of non-tonal languages like English. Additionally, Cantonese is rich in slang and idiomatic expressions, reflecting the vibrant culture and history of the Cantonese-speaking regions.
The language also retains more traditional Chinese characters than Mandarin, adding another layer of difficulty for learners accustomed to the simplified characters used in mainland China. Learning Cantonese can be facilitated by using apps like HelloTalk, where learners can practice with native speakers, and websites like CantoneseClass101, which offers structured lessons ranging from beginner to advanced levels.
7. Hungarian
Hungarian, a Finno-Ugric language spoken primarily in Hungary, is known for its agglutinative grammar, extensive use of vowel harmony, and unique vocabulary, making it a challenging language for English speakers to learn. The agglutinative nature of Hungarian means that words are often formed by adding a series of suffixes to a base word, resulting in long, complex words that convey a wide range of meanings and grammatical nuances. Vowel harmony, another characteristic feature of Hungarian, requires suffixes to match the front or back quality of the vowels in the base word, adding an additional layer of complexity to word formation.
Furthermore, Hungarian has a case system with 18 cases, used to express various grammatical functions, which is a significant departure from the structure of English. The vocabulary of Hungarian is also largely distinct from that of English and other Indo-European languages, with only a few loanwords, making it necessary for learners to build their lexicon from the ground up. Websites like HungarianPod101 provide comprehensive audio and video lessons, and apps like Memrise, can help learners expand their vocabulary through spaced repetition.
8. Finnish
Finnish is known for its complex grammar, extensive use of cases, and unique phonetic system, making it one of the most challenging languages for English speakers to master. The language features 15 grammatical cases, which are used to express relationships between words in a sentence, such as location, direction, and possession. This case system requires learners to understand and memorise various endings for nouns, adjectives, and pronouns, depending on their role in the sentence. Finnish is also an agglutinative language, meaning that it forms words and expresses grammatical relationships through the addition of suffixes to stem words.
This can result in long, compound words that are challenging to decipher and pronounce. Additionally, Finnish has a phonetic system that includes vowel harmony and consonant gradation, which affect the pronunciation and spelling of words based on their phonetic environment. Resources for learning Finnish include online courses and apps that provide structured lessons, interactive exercises, and opportunities to practice with native speakers, helping learners to navigate the complexities of the language.
9. Polish
Polish, a West Slavic language spoken primarily in Poland, presents a range of challenges for English speakers, including its complex case system, aspectual pairs of verbs, and consonant clusters. The Polish case system involves seven cases that affect the form of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives, depending on their grammatical function in a sentence, such as the subject, direct object, or location. This requires learners to memorise and apply different endings to words, adding a layer of complexity to sentence construction.
Polish verbs also come in aspectual pairs, with each pair consisting of a perfective verb (denoting completed actions) and an imperfective verb (denoting ongoing or habitual actions). Understanding and using these pairs correctly is crucial for conveying the intended temporal aspect of an action. Additionally, Polish is known for its consonant clusters, which can be challenging for English speakers to pronounce. Despite these linguistic hurdles, learning Polish offers insights into Poland's rich history, culture, and literature. Many online platforms can be found that offer comprehensive lessons, interactive exercises, and opportunities to practice speaking and listening, helping learners to overcome the challenges of the language.
10. Turkish
Turkish, a Turkic language spoken primarily in Turkey and Cyprus, is characterised by its agglutinative structure, vowel harmony, and extensive use of suffixes, making it a challenging language for English speakers to learn. The agglutinative nature of Turkish means that words are formed by attaching a series of suffixes to a root word, each suffix adding a new layer of meaning or grammatical function. This can result in long, complex words that are significantly different from the structure of English words. Vowel harmony is another feature of Turkish, requiring suffixes to harmonise with the vowels in the root word in terms of frontness or backness and roundedness.
This rule affects the form of almost all suffixes in Turkish, adding an additional layer of complexity to word formation. Additionally, Turkish employs a subject-object-verb (SOV) word order, which is a departure from the subject-verb-object (SVO) order familiar to English speakers. Despite these challenges, learning Turkish opens up a window to the rich cultural heritage of Turkey, with its fascinating history, literature, and culinary traditions.
11. Thai
Thai, the official language of Thailand, presents a unique set of challenges for English speakers, including its tonal system, complex script, and lack of grammatical markers for tense, plurality, and gender. The Thai language uses a tonal system, where the pitch or tone used when pronouncing a word can change its meaning. This requires learners to develop a keen ear for tonal differences and the ability to reproduce them accurately, which can be particularly challenging for speakers of non-tonal languages like English. The Thai script, an abugida where consonant-vowel sequences are written as units, is another hurdle for English speakers, requiring memorisation of a new set of characters and their corresponding sounds.
Additionally, Thai grammar does not use inflections to indicate tense, plurality, or gender, relying instead on context and auxiliary words to convey these grammatical aspects. Despite these linguistic hurdles, learning Thai offers a gateway to understanding the rich culture, history, and traditions of Thailand, enhancing travel experiences and fostering deeper connections with Thai people. Resources for learning Thai include language schools offering courses in Thailand, online platforms providing structured lessons and interactive exercises, and language exchange apps that connect learners with native Thai speakers for practice.
12. Vietnamese
Vietnamese, the official language of Vietnam, is known for its tonal system, complex phonology, and heavy use of diacritics in its writing system, presenting a unique set of challenges for English speakers. The language employs a tonal system, with six distinct tones that can alter the meaning of a word, requiring learners to develop the ability to distinguish and reproduce these tones accurately. Vietnamese phonology includes a variety of sounds that are not present in English, such as certain consonants and vowel qualities, making pronunciation a significant hurdle for learners.
The use of the Latin alphabet, albeit heavily modified with diacritics to represent tones and certain vowel and consonant sounds, adds another layer of complexity to reading and writing in Vietnamese. Despite these challenges, learning Vietnamese opens up a rich cultural and linguistic landscape, offering insights into Vietnam's history, traditions, and contemporary society.
13. Icelandic
Icelandic, the official language of Iceland, is known for its preservation of Old Norse grammatical features, complex inflectional system, and unique phonetic sounds, making it a challenging language for English speakers to learn. The language's grammar includes a complex case system, with four cases that affect nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and articles, requiring learners to understand and apply various inflections based on grammatical function. Icelandic also retains a distinction between strong and weak verbs, with different conjugation patterns that must be memorised.
The phonetic system of Icelandic includes sounds that are not found in English, such as the voiceless alveolar lateral fricative and the voiceless labial–velar approximant, adding to the difficulty of pronunciation. Resources for learning Icelandic include online courses that provide comprehensive grammar guides, vocabulary lists, and opportunities to practice listening and speaking, as well as language exchange platforms that connect learners with native Icelandic speakers.
14. Hebrew
Hebrew, the official language of Israel, presents several challenges for English speakers, including its Semitic root system, use of an abjad writing system, and complex verb conjugations. The Hebrew writing system is an abjad, where vowels are not typically written, requiring learners to infer vowel sounds based on context and their knowledge of the language. This can make reading and writing in Hebrew particularly challenging for beginners. The language's vocabulary is built around a system of roots, typically consisting of three consonants, which form the basis for a variety of related words through the addition of prefixes, suffixes, and vowel patterns.
This root-based system, while logical, requires a shift in thinking from the more linear vocabulary construction in English. Hebrew verb conjugation is also complex, with different binyanim (verb patterns) that change the root's vowels and sometimes consonants to express different voices, aspects, and moods.
15. Basque
Basque, a language isolate spoken in the Basque Country in Spain and France, presents a unique set of challenges for English speakers due to its non-Indo-European roots, agglutinative grammar, and distinct phonetic system. The agglutinative nature of Basque means that grammatical information is often expressed through the addition of suffixes to a root word, resulting in long, complex words that can be daunting for learners. The language's case system, with a number of cases used to express grammatical relationships between words, adds another layer of complexity to sentence construction.
Basque phonetics also include sounds that are not common in English, requiring learners to adapt their pronunciation. Despite these linguistic hurdles, learning Basque offers a unique opportunity to delve into the rich cultural heritage of the Basque people, known for their distinct traditions, cuisine, and history. Resources for learning Basque are more limited compared to more widely spoken languages, but include language schools in the Basque Country, online courses, and language exchange platforms that connect learners with native speakers.
16. Georgian
Georgian, the official language of Georgia, is known for its unique script, complex verb system, and rich system of grammatical cases, making it a challenging language for English speakers to learn. The Georgian script, known as Mkhedruli, is distinct from the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets, requiring learners to master a new set of characters and their corresponding sounds. The language's verb system is particularly complex, with verbs conjugated based on tense, mood, person, and number, often resulting in long, morphologically complex verb forms.
Georgian also features a number of grammatical cases that affect the form of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives, adding another layer of complexity to sentence construction. Despite these linguistic hurdles, learning Georgian opens up a window to the rich cultural heritage, history, and literature of Georgia, offering insights into one of the oldest civilizations in the world.
17. Amharic
Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia, presents a unique set of challenges for English speakers, including its Semitic root system, use of the Ge'ez script, and complex verb conjugations. The Ge'ez script, an abugida where each character represents a consonant-vowel combination, is a significant departure from the Latin alphabet, requiring learners to memorise a new set of symbols and their pronunciations. The language's vocabulary is built around a system of roots, typically consisting of three consonants, which form the basis for a variety of related words through the addition of prefixes, suffixes, and vowel changes.
Amharic verb conjugation is also complex, with different forms to express variations in tense, aspect, mood, and voice. Despite these linguistic hurdles, learning Amharic offers a gateway to understanding the rich cultural, historical, and religious heritage of Ethiopia, one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Resources for learning Amharic include online courses that provide structured lessons, interactive exercises, and opportunities to practice with native speakers, as well as language exchange platforms that connect learners with Amharic speakers for conversational practice.
18. Mongolian
Mongolian, the official language of Mongolia, presents several challenges for English speakers, including its Cyrillic script, complex vowel harmony system, and extensive use of cases. The Mongolian Cyrillic script, while similar to the Russian Cyrillic alphabet, includes additional letters specific to Mongolian sounds, requiring learners to adapt to new phonetic symbols. The language's vowel harmony system, where vowels within a word harmonise to be either front or back, adds a layer of complexity to word formation and pronunciation.
Mongolian grammar also features a number of cases that affect the form of nouns and pronouns, influencing their meaning and role in a sentence. Despite these linguistic hurdles, learning Mongolian offers a unique opportunity to explore the rich nomadic culture, history, and traditions of Mongolia. Resources for learning Mongolian are more limited compared to more widely spoken languages but include online courses, language exchange platforms, and textbooks that provide a comprehensive overview of Mongolian grammar and vocabulary.
19. Pashto
Pashto, one of the two official languages of Afghanistan and a regional language in Pakistan, poses significant challenges for English speakers due to its complex phonology, extensive use of inflection, and unique script. The Pashto phonetic system includes a number of sounds that are not present in English, such as retroflex consonants and nasalised vowels, making pronunciation a significant hurdle for learners. The language's grammar is marked by a rich inflectional system, with nouns, pronouns, and adjectives inflected for case, number, and gender, and verbs inflected for tense, aspect, mood, and voice.
Pashto also uses its own script, which is derived from the Persian-Arabic script but includes additional letters to represent Pashto-specific sounds. Despite these challenges, learning Pashto provides valuable insights into the culture, history, and literature of the Pashtun people, and is of strategic importance in military, diplomatic, and humanitarian efforts in the region.
20. Tamil
Tamil, an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore and spoken predominantly in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, presents significant challenges for English speakers, including its Dravidian script, complex agglutinative grammar, and extensive use of compound words. The Tamil script is unique and non-Latin, comprising 12 vowels, 18 consonants, and one special character, necessitating learners to familiarise themselves with entirely new phonetic symbols. The language's agglutinative nature means that words are formed by joining morphemes together, which can result in long, complex words that convey specific nuances.
Tamil grammar is known for its rich system of tenses, moods, and voices, which are indicated through suffixes attached to verb roots, adding layers of complexity to sentence construction. Additionally, the language's use of classical and modern dialects can vary significantly, presenting further challenges in learning and understanding contextual usage. Despite these linguistic hurdles, learning Tamil offers a deep dive into one of the world's oldest and richest cultural heritages, with a literary tradition spanning over two millennia. Resources for learning Tamil include online platforms, community classes, and a range of textbooks that cover the intricacies of its grammar and vocabulary.
How to Learn the Hardest Languages for English Speakers?
Embarking on the journey to learn one of the hardest languages for English speakers can seem daunting. However, with the right strategies and resources, this challenge can be turned into a rewarding educational pursuit. Here are several effective strategies to enhance your language learning experience:
- Online Tutoring: Have you considered the impact a skilled tutor can have on your learning curve? Whether it's an IB tutor, A-Level tutor or infact any tutor for the language you are pursuing, personalised tutoring can provide direct feedback and tailored lessons that focus on your specific areas of difficulty, accelerating your understanding and proficiency.
- Utilising the Best Resources: Are you making the most of the available resources? Dive into the wealth of language learning tools such as apps, websites, and textbooks that are specifically designed for the hardest languages. Platforms like Memrise for Mandarin or Al Jazeera Learning Arabic offer structured pathways from beginner to advanced levels. TutorChase also offers IB resources, A-Level resources, IGCSE resources and more to enhance learning.
- Immersive Experiences: Engage with media in the target language, including films, music, and podcasts. This not only improves your listening skills but also gives you insights into the cultural nuances of the language.
- Language Exchange: Participate in language exchange meetups or use apps like Tandem to practice speaking and improve your conversational skills. This real-time practice can be invaluable.
- Cultural Immersion: Understanding the culture behind a language can be incredibly motivating. Try cooking traditional dishes, attending cultural festivals, or reading about the history associated with the language.
- Regular Practice: Consistency is key in language learning. Set aside dedicated time daily to practice reading, writing, speaking, and listening to ensure steady progress.
An expert IB English tutor said:
"Have you set achievable milestones? Break your learning into manageable goals, such as mastering a set number of words a week or having a five-minute conversation by the end of the month. Celebrate these small victories to stay motivated and you will achieve your target in no time!"By integrating these strategies into your study plan, you not only make the learning process more engaging but also increase your chances of success. Are you ready to tackle the challenge and unlock new opportunities through language learning?
Final thoughts: embracing the challenge of language learning
Embracing the challenge of learning one of the top 20 hardest languages for English speakers is a journey that offers profound rewards beyond fluency. This endeavor not only equips learners with new communication skills but also fosters a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and cognitive flexibility. The process of overcoming the complexities of a new language can be transformative, enhancing one's ability to adapt to new situations and solve problems creatively. Experts in linguistics and cognitive science advocate for the pursuit of learning difficult languages, highlighting the unparalleled benefits it brings to personal and professional growth.
In today's interconnected global society, the ability to communicate in multiple languages is increasingly invaluable. The skills and perspectives gained through this rigorous learning process are assets that extend far beyond linguistic competence, enriching one's life and career in myriad ways. For those considering embarking on this rewarding journey, resources and support are more accessible than ever. With dedication, the right strategies, and the wealth of tools available, mastering a difficult language is an achievable and immensely rewarding goal.
