Is French or German Easier to Learn?

The question is fully subjective and it relies on the learner and on what their first language is.

For an English speaker, French is easier to learn than the German language due to the fact that English has a similarity to the French language and this is predominantly because of the complexity of German grammar.

Learning a second language is extremely worthwhile to anyone because of the communication skills that are produced during the procedure.

The essence of being bilingual or polyglot grant you build deep connections and multicultural friendships.

The French and German languages are deemed to be levelled one language for the native English speakers. The French language is not solely easier to study compared to German, but much better useful.

English and German belong to the Germanic language system. Its syntax is nearly represented that of a Romance language when it comes to subjecting-helping and verb action than any other Germanic languages.

Comparison based on the language family:

French is one of the Romance languages of the Indo-European family. Like Romance languages, it falls from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire and expand from Gallo-Romance, and more particularly in Northern Gaul.

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While German language is classified as a West Germanic language that is primarily spoken in Central Europe. It is extensively used as the official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, South Tyrol in Italy, the German-speaking society of Belgium and Liechtenstein. Also, one of the standard languages of Luxembourg and other.

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What makes French easy to learn?

English and French have almost the same when it comes to Vocabulary, it is highly similar to English for about 75% of French words can be meant for the English, or, when reading, can be presumed.

The German language has a complicated case system like Russian language and other. It is a wholly different system for a language and get you a while to encasing your head around if you’re not familiar with it.

Speaking in French is slightly easier because of the comparisons between English and French, and this is demonstrable in the way it is spoken.

German frequently need more cautious thinking, specifically when occurring problems with, such as grammar cases and word order, which learners having the difficulty in speaking.

You can spot the difference when listening – the fluent French is hard to understand for a learner compared to German because of the character of the language. The sounds are frequently pressed together and shortened for a quicker fluency.

While, the German can be easily grasped even when produced by a native tongue due to the tougher sound of the words when spoken moderately. Also, you can grasp each German word when delivered in a sentence, even though you can’t understand the entire sentence.

French is widely spoken by around 76 million people around the world so, you are already at least fairly familiar with it. When you heard the French word ‘soe,’ like in the native English language, you are prepared for the cases of pronouncing the word gruff which pronounced ‘r’ at first, not ‘g.’ You are already aware that many words end on silent letters, particularly on contractions that are obligatory in the French language.

The differences in genders pronunciation (feminine and masculine) and the silent letters make a French language to grasp at first.

Furthermore, the seven rules in French pronunciation make English speakers have problems with. But, these struggles will be easy to beat if you have the focus and determination in learning French.

To sum up, it would be hard to say that a language is inevitably easier than the other because each language initiate aspects which the English language doesn’t have, or skips over an important part of the English language completely.

What makes the German language hard to learn?

As mentioned above German language belongs to the Germanic-Western languages. Meaning it shares with most western languages in terms of Alphabet with the deviations of Ă€, ĂŒ, ö, ß. But, it is easy to pronounce and you can mainly read what you see.

Most learners find German language hard to learn because of the word order, accent, different suffixes, verbs and any other. Take a glance how these things make the German language complicated.

Word Order

In German you can’t rearrange the words in a sentence as freely like in English and in French due to the fact that every sentence has a certain order. Because the verb is placed at the end, you can’t disrupt your oppose in a course of a debate.

Per sequence has one or two potential arrangements of words, or else, you won’t be understood by the people you spoke with.

In some instances, the verb is placed at the end of the sentence. This is very tricky for most learners.

Distinct Suffixes

The German words have distinct suffixes like the Latin language. It doesn’t matter if they are possessive phrases, nouns, adjectives, attribute, etc. It takes a longer time to remember and grasp as a reflex and permits less speaking expression when it comes to communication.

Accent

Like in English, German language has an accent as well, but the accents are not always the same. While French accents are failing at the end of the word. You can change accents to indicate your words in a sentence.

Verbs

Verbs are connected which is very forthright with exceptions. German has fewer tenses than in English, but it has irregular verbs. The verb is placed on the second part of the sentence, but in subordinate sentences like “because” and “that” it occur on last place, which can be tricky.

Gender

There are 4 cases – Nominativ, Akkusativ, Dativ, Genitiv and where many learners find problems. Mainly, the definitive/indefinite words and adjectives modify, from the gender of the word and how the rules affect in the sentence.

So, how hard it is?

In German, few changes in what you say can make a great difference in meaning.

At the start of learning, German is a very hard language. It’s confusing and you need to take a pause and hardly think how to create or compose the sentence in a proper way where to place the verb, build the conjugation and declension, however, it’s getting easier in the long run.

Related Questions:

How long does it take to learn German?

Learning any language has many factors to consider. If you want to learn a specific language and more interested to finish quickly is a different story.

This is the first question asked by many when learning a new language, but unfortunately there’s no simple way to answer it.

Learning a foreign language is a complicated process that is distinct to the individual person who wants to learn the language and it depends on various factors.

Whether it is easy or hard a language is, it has different levels. So, when scaling how long does it take in learning the German language it depends on the time duration, dedication, commitment, and goal. Of course, it also relies on the method you are using on learning the language.

Time and dedication

Learning any different skills need efficiency and commitment. All in all, it needs time and dedication.

Examine two students that have similar ability and using the same procedure of the language program. The student that invests 15 hours a week for a year will surely get further advances in learning than a student spending an hour weekly for only four months. Do the math.

The time duration is very important because brief learning seldom works. It takes more time for our mine to make grasp in a short period of time if the language is new and mostly claimed the hardest.

So, how much time are you willing to invest in your learning journey?

Method used

Method and Techniques are very vital to be successful in learning a foreign language. High standard method or techniques and working hard combined together works effectively.

So, it needs to go both the duration of time you consume and the method you used in learning a new language.

Though using textbooks, watching movies and any other resources can help, but the most efficient way is to practice the new language through communicating with a native speaker.

Advantage of the hacking rules

Victory doesn’t often happen by relying the traditional rules in studying. You have to

Pull or take every possible benefit that you can use to achieve your goal faster.

For the best way is to take the so-called language hacking shortcuts. It includes techniques in learning cognate rules that top up thousands of words in your set of vocabulary and by utilizing mnemonics to remember quickly.

There are more effective ways you can apply into your language learning through taking master classes or taking the lessons on language online programs.

Know your Goal

What is your goal to learn German?

Whether for travel, for promotion, for migration or for any other purposes, you must know your goal nobody can define it but only you.

Though this is one of the most useful languages to choose from, you have a personal reason why you need to take this language.

Being conversationally good is significantly reachable than being mastered. Meaning, it’s very significant to any learners who had zero knowledge and reach the percentage between 80% to 90% proficiency as it is worth the time spent than a 100% level of proficiency.

The results depend on the amount of actions you put into. If you want to be fluent or conversational good don’t ignore interacting with native speakers to practice your new language. When it comes to improving your written texts, focus or concentrate on practicing a daily journal in German.

The point is, each of us has different reasons, motivations, and timelines for learning German. The faster we can understand that there’s no perfect way to define this, the sooner you can enjoy the journey.

Why learn French?

French a top International language

The French maintain its rank as a top International language. This language is used on five continents and the official language in 29 countries such as Haiti, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Belgium, Niger, Monaco, Canada, Senegal and a lot more.

Also, French is one of the official languages in the UN.

The French language is significantly accepted universally, no matter what happens in the coming future French language is widespread spoken globally is no danger of diminishing its language in the future.

French Culture can give you access to the world

Expected that French ancient culture and its exposure to other cultures can certainly connect the world.

Learning French allowing you to open many major media resources, you can find French Newspapers and other broadcast channels like BBC and CNN will greatly help broaden your point of view of the world news and events keeping you well informed.

Furthermore, learning French brings the Art to your senses as they are the amazing curators in an international level. France is the womb of the Cannes Film Festival from every corner of the world held every year.

To add more, through French language you can be able to communicate and comprehend a lot of people around not only in Paris and the other part of France but to the other amazing destinations in Polynesia, Switzerland and Quebec.

French is easy to learn and one of the favourite languages

For most learners French is second to the English language most-learned language globally. This means there are numerous possibilities, resources, and societies accessible to the French learners.

Through learning French allow you to communicate not only native speakers but also to the other people who have learnt French.

An opportunity to be equipped when travelling to the French speaking countries. To surprise you, there are billions of people speaking French as their official language.

French is a true international “lingua Franca” which is the greatest benefit to learn the language.

French less popular but more valuable

For the whole time we mentioned about French huge impact on culture and a great option for the future, but when it comes to popular perception French hasn’t placed in the ranked. This time we are opting to strategy – French is less popular but more significant.

The employment in your place is looking for Spanish speaking person may more in demand than French speakers. When hiring may come to find French speakers they find fewer eligible aspirants.

So, you have a head start here and come more skilled, chances are you’re more equipped than non-speaking French. It will make you more valuable at work.

After English, French is the most-learned language worldwide. This means that there are a huge number of resources and communities available to the French learner.

It also means that by learning French you’re opening the door to communicate not just with native French speakers, but other people like yourself who have studied French. This can especially come in handy when traveling. If you already speak English, and add French to your repertoire, you might be surprised how many people you can talk to, even in countries where neither English nor French is an official language.

One of the greatest benefits to learning French is that it remains a real international lingua franca.

French is the best confidence builder as a doorway to more challenging languages. The hard part of the French language to learn lie in tricky grammar rules that you’ll work hard to perfect it, but that won’t essentially slowdown your ability to use the language at the same time.

In that way French shape you to the higher linguistic difficulty and at the same time it provides you a swift satisfaction along the way.

If you like to get started in studying French, don’t let anyone stop you. If a bunch of people will block your way or discourages you on learning French, ignore them and think about the importance and benefits of the French language for you to stay motivated.

Conclusion:

To answer the question above, depending on what language does a learner know; how early she started; how the learner grasp the language and other aspects.

Broadly speaking, French is assessed to be one of the easiest languages to learn for native English speakers. The pronunciation might be hard, but with a lot of practice, everything will be fine.

However, if you have the skills of speaking other languages like the bilingual or polyglot, this may impact things. For instance, if you know how to communicate or speak Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, or any other Romance languages you will surely fall into French.

On the other hand, when choosing between English, French, Chinese and German languages – German is the hardest to learn. It is recommendable to take only the B1 (Threshold) and B2 (Vantage) levels if C1 (effective operational proficiency) and C2 (mastery) certificates are not merely important to you.

Search the country and culture that you are fascinated about as language rely also not primarily, on the matter of culture and the people form part of it.

Learn whatever language you truly interested in and invest a ton of time and commitment into learning something you love; one particular person finds easy language but to another person it is a difficult one.

So, making a verdict on that footing might not aid you much. Narrowly, find and learn the language you love.

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