Best language for nordic languages
Best Nordic language to learn
Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish and Icelandic are often lumped together, but they are very different choices. Here is how to pick.
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Updated · by the 4ToSpeak team
Norwegian · lesson preview
Step 4How we ranked them
We ranked by ease of learning, how many people you can talk to and how well each opens the neighbouring languages.
The 5 best languages, ranked
1. Norwegian
Closest to English · about 700 hours
Clear grammar and understood by Swedes and Danes, which makes it a strong first choice.
2. Swedish
Closest to English · about 700 hours
The largest Scandinavian language by speakers, with light grammar.
3. Danish
Closest to English · about 700 hours
Easy to read once you know Norwegian or Swedish, but the soft pronunciation takes listening time.
4. Finnish
Harder · about 1,100 hours
Unrelated to the others, with long words built from endings and perfectly phonetic spelling.
5. Icelandic
Harder · about 1,100 hours
Conservative and close to Old Norse, with a case system and a loyal group of learners.
Tips for getting there faster
- Norwegian, Swedish and Danish are largely mutually readable, so one opens the others.
- Nordic speakers often reply in English. Say you want to practise and keep going.
- Listening matters most, especially for Danish.
Still torn between two?
Compare the finalists head to head:
Best Nordic language to learn?
Norwegian or Swedish is the best Nordic language for most English speakers, because both have light grammar, are widely understood across Scandinavia and open the door to the others. Finnish and Icelandic are harder but very rewarding.
Which is the easiest of these languages to learn?
Norwegian is the quickest on this list for an English speaker, at about 700 hours to working proficiency (roughly 3.8 years at 30 minutes a day).
How do I choose between them?
Pick the one that matches where you will use it and what you enjoy. Motivation beats the difference in difficulty over months of study. If you cannot decide, try a week of 15 minutes a day in your top two and keep the one you look forward to.
Can I start for free?
Yes. 4ToSpeak has a free plan with no card and no time limit. Every sentence goes through ordering, translating, listening and saying it out loud.
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