Learned French? Learn this next
Best language to learn after French
French gives you more Latin vocabulary than almost any other language, and a large share of English words come through it, so the next Romance language arrives quickly.
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Updated · by the 4ToSpeak team
Spanish · lesson preview
Step 4¿Dónde está la estación?
Where is the station?
- Order
- Translate
- Listen
- Speak
Say it out loud. Green landed, yellow was close.
Start free5 languages to learn after French, ranked
1. Spanish
A lot carries overFamiliar vocabulary and grammar with far more regular spelling, so speaking comes faster than it did in French.
Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours
2. Italian
A lot carries overShares verb patterns and a huge amount of vocabulary, and it reads exactly as it sounds.
Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours
3. Portuguese
A lot carries overClose to both French and Spanish, with nasal vowels you already half-know.
Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours
4. Catalan
A lot carries overOften sits halfway between French and Spanish, a good second step in either direction.
Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours
5. Romanian
Some carries overFamiliar Latin roots with Slavic influence and a case system French lacks.
Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours
“Carries over” is a guide to how much vocabulary, grammar and sound you will recognise, not a measurement. Hours are for a native English speaker starting from zero; your head start will shorten them.
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Other starting points
What is the best language to learn after French?
After French, the best language to learn next is Spanish. Familiar vocabulary and grammar with far more regular spelling, so speaking comes faster than it did in French. Italian is the next best choice.
Which language is easiest to learn after French?
Spanish is the easiest next step, with "a lot" carrying over. Based on difficulty bands for English speakers, it takes about 700 hours, and you start ahead because of French.
Should I master French before starting another language?
You do not need to master it. A comfortable conversational level (the point where you can hold a short chat without panic) is enough. Starting a similar language too early can blur the two together, so build a solid base first.
Can I learn French and Spanish at the same time?
You can, but similar languages are easy to mix up. Most learners do better getting French to a comfortable level and then adding Spanish, which will feel much faster than starting from scratch.
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