7 Most Difficult Languages to Learn (and How to Conquer Them!)

Some languages are more challenging to learn than others, especially if you’re a native English speaker. If you’re ready to tackle the challenge, here’s a list of the seven most difficult languages to learn. You may be surprised at how quickly you catch on.

The Most Difficult Languages to Learn

Some languages are simply more difficult for native English speakers to master. This could be for a number of reasons such as tonality, vocabulary, grammatical structure, or a variety of other reasons. Of course, it’s all relative and what one person finds challenging may come easy to another. But if you are looking for a challenge, consider studying one of the seven languages below:

1. Mandarin

Mandarin is one of the languages that are the most spoken globally, so it’s worth the challenge to get it right. As a tonal language, it’s challenging for non-English speakers to catch on, but with the right course, you’ll grasp the technique in no time.

2. Arabic

Arabic letters are written in four different forms, and to make things more confusing; vowels aren’t included when writing Arabic words. This language has many dialects, and it can be difficult to learn since there are so many variations, even among native Arabic speakers. 

3. Korean

The Korean language isn’t comparable to any other, and learning it can be challenging. The grammar rules are complex, and the word order of sentences can seem strange to English speakers since the subject comes first, followed by the object and then the action.

4. Japanese

Similar to Mandarin, Japanese is a language that can be difficult to learn. There are several alphabets to learn and a unique set of writing systems: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.  There are thousands of different characters within these writing systems to comprehend before you can fully understand the language, which can be difficult for non-native speakers.

5. Russian

Russian grammar rules are very complex, with many exceptions (much like English), and the pronunciation of certain words can be challenging to grasp. Additionally, many homonyms exist in the Russian language, and it’s hard to know which syllables to stress in each word.

6. Hungarian

Many English speakers agree that Hungarian has the most challenging grammar to understand, and the language has 26 different cases. Eighteen suffixes depict tense and possession, and the language has 14 different vowels that make it very difficult to sound out words. Many cultural references in this language also make it hard to understand if you aren’t native to the country.

7. Finnish

Finnish seems like it is similar to English when you hear it spoken, but its grammar rules make it very difficult to learn. Once you’ve figured out the complex grammar of Finnish, you’ll need to understand the differences between old-fashioned Finnish and the contemporary version that is spoken more often today.

Are You Ready for the Challenge?

The best way to learn a language is by studying it with a native speaker. If you want to learn a new language but don’t know where to start, explore our current language selection and enroll in a 1-to-1 online language course today. Scheduling is flexible and lessons can be taken from anywhere in the world – even your own home! Download the free resource below to learn more.