How hard is German for English speaker?

With plenty of straightforward rules, German is not actually as hard to learn as most people think. And since English and German stem from the same language family, you might actually be surprised at the things you pick up without even trying! And on top of it all, it's definitely a useful one, too.

Why is German so hard for English speakers?

Because German has rules to which one can abide to, whereas in English the grammar is more 'flexible', so to say. Although English is one of the most learned and used languages globally, the English grammar remains a mystery to much of the native and foreign speakers alike.

How long does it take to be fluent in German as an English speaker?

So, how long do you need to learn German if you want to reach this level of fluency? According to the U.S. Foreign Service Institute (FSI), you'll need about 750 hours of study to become fluent in German. This means that if you study 12-15 hours a week, you'll be able to speak like a pro in just a year!

Is German harder than English?

Some parts of German grammar are particularly tricky for English speakers to get to grips with, but German grammar is actually arguably easier to learn than English grammar because it follows set rules that are laid down by the three regional authorities, in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (with small differences ...

Is German easier if you know English?

It turns out, yes. Especially if you're a native English speaker. But it gets more complicated than that. There are components of the German language that may be hard to learn, and components that are easy to learn.

Is German easy or difficult to learn? | 5-Minute Language

Can an English speaker understand German?

You would think, for example, that conversational German would be somewhat (can't say easily) accessible to a native English speaker, but aside from conversational pleasantries afforded us all by UG, most anglophones do not understand German.

Is English closer to German or French?

By linguist criteria English is more similar to German, both belong in the West Germanic languages and its vocabulary has been influenced by other Germanic languages as well.

What is the hardest language to learn for English speakers?

Is German worth learning?

Germany has some of the most prestigious universities in the world. The country enrolls the third-highest number of international students. The country's capital, Berlin, was also recently voted one of the best student cities in the world. That's just one reason among many why you should learn German fast!

Is German pronunciation hard?

The German language has a reputation for being hard to pronounce, but, to be fair, it's somewhat undeserved. It might sound strange at first, but German has very consistent rules of spelling and pronunciation.

Can I learn German in 1 year?

German is a complex yet highly systematic language. It is possible to learn German in one year, but it will take a near full-time commitment and immersion learning.

Can I learn German in 3 months?

You can learn be fluent in German in 3 months. If you, like me, follow the works of the productivity gurus on the internet you might be under the impression, as I once was, that you can learn a language in as little as three months.

What are Level 5 languages?

Why is German so harsh?

So what exactly makes a language “harsh”? There is no singular defining element, but the languages that English natives tend to view as harsh, including German, Dutch, and Russian, incorporate many noises made at the back of the throat –– these are called uvular fricatives.

Is German or French harder?

Nitty-gritty things like these can make getting started a bit of a challenge – but between the two, French will be a little easier, with (slightly) fewer endings to learn. That said, experts largely agree that the more German you learn, the easier it gets, while French gets more complicated the deeper you dive in.

Which language is the most logical?

Lojban's name is formed from the roots of its own words for “logical language”—so you can see why it might get a place on this list! It's an obvious contender for the most logical language. Primarily built for the purpose of linguistic research, Lojban's unambiguous grammar is based on the principles of formal logic.

Is German or French more useful?

It is also a lingua franca of Central and Eastern Europe. While German is a distinct third in the category, it is still the most widely spoken native language in Europe. If you have something to do with Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, German would statistically be more helpful.

Does learning German Make You Smarter?

You see, when you study a foreign language you improve your memory, problem-solving skills and cognitive reasoning. It even delays the onset of brain degenerating complications such as dementia, which means you will keep your memory well into old age and keep speaking German.

How long does German take to learn?

German is rated as a category 2 language and considered to be similar to English. The FSI estimates that German takes approximately 30 weeks, or 750 classroom hours to learn.

Which European language is easiest for English speakers?

1. Norwegian. This may come as a surprise, but we have ranked Norwegian as the easiest language to learn for English speakers. Norwegian is a member of the Germanic family of languages — just like English!

What is the closest foreign language to English?

However, the closest major language to English, is Dutch. With 23 million native speakers, and an additional 5 million who speak it as a second language, Dutch is the 3rd most-widely spoken Germanic language in the world after English and German.

What is the 2nd hardest language to learn?

2. Arabic. Arabic is the queen of poetic languages, the 6th official language of the UN and second on our list of toughest languages to learn.

Is English more Romance or Germanic?

In the case of English, it developed from Proto-Germanic, alongside German, Dutch, Yiddish, and a few other languages. The main reason English seems closer to Romance languages than it does other Germanic languages is because its vocabulary has been highly influenced by Romance languages over the years.

What's the easiest language for an English speaker to learn?

Easiest (about 600 hours of study)

Of these, Spanish and Italian are the easiest for native English speakers to learn, followed by Portuguese and finally French.

Does English sound like German to foreigners?

'Americans speak slower,' the 21-year-old said. 'British English is a lot quicker and much more aggressive. ' However, both agree English does not sound similar to any other language – despite it belonging to the same family as German, Dutch and Afrikaans.