Learned Spanish? Learn this next
Best language to learn after Spanish
Spanish is a strong launch pad. Its vowels, verb patterns and Latin vocabulary carry into a whole family of languages, and a few unrelated ones are friendlier than they look.
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Updated · by the 4ToSpeak team
Portuguese · lesson preview
Step 4Onde fica o hotel?
Where is the hotel?
- Order
- Translate
- Listen
- Speak
Say it out loud. Green landed, yellow was close.
Start free6 languages to learn after Spanish, ranked
1. Portuguese
A lot carries overThe closest major language. Written Portuguese is easy to read from day one, and the spoken form is the main new skill.
Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours
2. Italian
A lot carries overShares much of its vocabulary and verb endings with Spanish, with spelling that matches sound.
Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours
3. Catalan
A lot carries overSits between Spanish and French, so you can read it quickly and learn to speak it a step behind.
Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours
4. French
Some carries overMany shared Latin roots and similar grammar, but spelling and pronunciation are much further from sound.
Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours
5. Romanian
Some carries overA Romance language with familiar roots, though cases and a few unique words slow you down.
Closest to English for English speakers · about 700 hours
6. Japanese
A little carries overNot related, but the five clean vowels you already say map almost exactly onto Japanese sounds.
Hardest for English speakers · about 2,200 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.
Compare two of them
Other starting points
What is the best language to learn after Spanish?
After Spanish, the best language to learn next is Portuguese. The closest major language. Written Portuguese is easy to read from day one, and the spoken form is the main new skill. Italian is the next best choice.
Which language is easiest to learn after Spanish?
Portuguese 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 Spanish.
Should I master Spanish 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 Spanish and Portuguese at the same time?
You can, but similar languages are easy to mix up. Most learners do better getting Spanish to a comfortable level and then adding Portuguese, which will feel much faster than starting from scratch.
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