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Learned Russian? Learn this next

Best language to learn after Russian

Russian gives you cases, verb aspect and the Cyrillic alphabet, the three hardest parts of every Slavic language.

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Updated · by the 4ToSpeak team

5 languages to learn after Russian, ranked

  1. 1. Ukrainian

    A lot carries over

    Close in grammar and vocabulary, and written in nearly the same alphabet.

    Harder for English speakers · about 1,100 hours

    Learn Ukrainian · How long it takes

  2. 2. Bulgarian

    A lot carries over

    Uses Cyrillic and many familiar words, with far simpler grammar and no cases.

    Harder for English speakers · about 1,100 hours

    Learn Bulgarian · How long it takes

  3. 3. Serbian

    Some carries over

    Cyrillic and Latin are both used, and the grammar patterns feel familiar.

    Harder for English speakers · about 1,100 hours

    Learn Serbian · How long it takes

  4. 4. Polish

    Some carries over

    Shares cases and many roots, but uses the Latin alphabet and has different sounds.

    Harder for English speakers · about 1,100 hours

    Learn Polish · How long it takes

  5. 5. Czech

    Some carries over

    Shares roots and cases, with a different set of sounds and spelling rules.

    Harder for English speakers · about 1,100 hours

    Learn Czech · 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.

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FAQ

Questions, answered

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What is the best language to learn after Russian?

After Russian, the best language to learn next is Ukrainian. Close in grammar and vocabulary, and written in nearly the same alphabet. Bulgarian is the next best choice.

Which language is easiest to learn after Russian?

Ukrainian is the easiest next step, with "a lot" carrying over. Based on difficulty bands for English speakers, it takes about 1,100 hours, and you start ahead because of Russian.

Should I master Russian 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 Russian and Ukrainian at the same time?

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

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