Skip to content
4ToSpeak
Start free

Learned German? Learn this next

Best language to learn after German

German gives you cases, noun genders and verb-final word order, which are the hard parts of several neighbouring languages, and the others come easier.

Start freeHow it works
  • Free forever plan
  • No card needed
  • 77 languages

Updated · by the 4ToSpeak team

6 languages to learn after German, ranked

  1. 1. Dutch

    A lot carries over

    Closest relative among the big languages. Much of the vocabulary and grammar is similar, and word order is familiar.

    Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours

    Learn Dutch · How long it takes

  2. 2. Swedish

    Some carries over

    Shares Germanic roots and much simpler grammar, with no cases to learn.

    Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours

    Learn Swedish · How long it takes

  3. 3. Norwegian

    Some carries over

    Very regular grammar and a good base for reading Swedish and Danish.

    Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours

    Learn Norwegian · How long it takes

  4. 4. Danish

    Some carries over

    Easy to read once you know Norwegian or Swedish, with soft pronunciation that takes listening time.

    Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours

    Learn Danish · How long it takes

  5. 5. Afrikaans

    A lot carries over

    A simplified relative of Dutch, so it is quick if you know German or Dutch.

    Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours

    Learn Afrikaans · How long it takes

  6. 6. Russian

    A little carries over

    Not related, but cases and noun genders will feel familiar.

    Harder for English speakers · about 1,100 hours

    Learn Russian · How long it takes

“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.

Compare two of them

Other starting points

FAQ

Questions, answered

Still stuck? support@4tospeak.com

What is the best language to learn after German?

After German, the best language to learn next is Dutch. Closest relative among the big languages. Much of the vocabulary and grammar is similar, and word order is familiar. Swedish is the next best choice.

Which language is easiest to learn after German?

Dutch 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 German.

Should I master German 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 German and Dutch at the same time?

You can, but similar languages are easy to mix up. Most learners do better getting German to a comfortable level and then adding Dutch, which will feel much faster than starting from scratch.

Related guides

Next steps

Free · no card · 77 languages

Start Dutch today

Try a Dutch sentence and say it out loud. Free, no card.

Start free