So, you’ve decided to learn a language and have settled on either French or Spanish. They are two of the most widely spoken languages in the world and they have a lot in common…but which is the easier and better option?
Which Language Is Better: French Or Spanish?
There is no “better” option here. It really all comes down to which language you prefer and which one will benefit you more.
Both France and Spain have a great cinematic and literary history, and they are also two of the most popular second languages, so there’s no shortage of learning resources for English speakers.
There are more Spanish speakers than French speakers, but both languages are spoken in dozens of countries (Spanish in Latin America and Spain; French in France, parts of Canada, and large parts of Africa).
In terms of usefulness, the best option largely comes down to your location, social circle, profession, and vacation habits.
If you live among Spanish speakers in the United States and regularly visit Central and South America, Spanish is probably the best option. If your job or hobbies regularly take you to France, Canada, or Africa, then French may be better.
It doesn’t have to be useful, either. You could just learn Spanish because you really like the sound of it or learn French because you have a crush on a French actor.
It’s your decision to make.
Which Language Is Easiest: French Or Spanish?
Many English speakers who have learned both French and Spanish argue that Spanish is the easier language. But there are also those who insist French is more natural for English speakers.
It’s debatable, and it’s largely down to personal preference and learning style. Check out the following pros and cons to get an idea of which language would be easier for you:
Easy Things About Learning French
- You Know Lots of French Vocabulary: English has been heavily influenced by the French language over the years. Over 40% of all English words are rooted in French, and these make the learning process much easier.
- French Pronunciation is Simple: French pronunciation is much simpler than you might think. It’s not quite as phonetically sound as Spanish, but it’s much less confusing than English in this respect.
- Two Words for “You”: In French, there are just two words for “You”, including a singular/informal and a plural/formal. There are four variations in Spanish.
- There are Fewer Verb Tenses: French has just 15 verb tenses/moods compared to the 17 in Spanish. What’s more, four of them are rarely used, so in practice, there are only 11.
Difficult Things About Learning French
- Specific Word Order: French has a very specific and demanding word order. Mix it up and you risk being misunderstood.
- Two-Part Past Tense: There are two parts to past tense in French, including a past participle and an auxiliary verb. It can be difficult to know when and how to use these tenses.
- Accent Marks: There are 5 different accent marks in French and these change the pronunciation and meaning of the words.
Easy Things About Learning Spanish
- It is a Phonetic Language: Spanish is a phonetic language, which means the words are written how they are pronounced. After learning basic Spanish pronunciation, you’ll be able to pronounce brand new words even before you know what they mean.
- It Has a Flexible Word Order: Spanish word order is a little more flexible than English and French, which means you don’t need to worry so much about the placement of Subject, Verb, and Object.
- Familiar Words: Many Spanish words, just like French words, will be familiar to you. They are not as common, but there are still hundreds of them strewn throughout the Spanish language.
Difficult Things About Learning Spanish
- Verb Conjugations Can be Tough: There are over 100 verb conjugations in Spanish, and this can be very overwhelming for a native English speaker approaching their first foreign language.
- False Cognates: Although there are a lot of Spanish words that sound the same as their English counterparts, there are also many “false cognates”. These words sound/look the same but mean something else, such as carpeta, ropa, and fabrica, which mean folder, clothes, and factory, as opposed to carpet, rope, and fabric.
- Pronouns are Often Omitted: As with Greek, Spanish often omits the pronoun in a sentence. It’s inferred by the conjugation, but this means you need to be paying close attention to those conjugations at all times.
Can You Learn French and Spanish Together?
You can, but it’s not recommended for inexperienced learners.
It’s easy to get carried away when you first start learning languages. You pick up a few words and then start dreaming of conversing with locals. Before you know it, you’re trying to consume native content, have an obsession with online polyglots, and are already thinking about your next language.
But there are a few issues with this.
Firstly, if you have 5 hours a week to devote to a language, that’s 260 hours a year. Based on estimations by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), you can expect to be proficient in your chosen language within 3 to 4 years. After a year, you should be conversational and within a couple of years, you could be watching native content without much issue.
If you split that time between two languages, it’ll take twice as long to reach all of those goals. It’s a long time to wait, and it’s also a long time to stay motivated.
Anything can happen in those 8 years that could demotivate you; the longer you wait and slower you go, the more likely you are to have such an issue.
Secondly, French and Spanish are both romance languages and there’s a good chance you will confuse them. This is more common in beginner learners, but it happens to everyone.
After all, you’ll be learning at the same pace and may learn the same things. One day you could be learning how to order a drink in Spanish and the next you’ll be learning the same phrases in French.
If you’re going to learn two languages at once, it may be better to wait until you’re at different levels and to choose languages that don’t have many things in common.
Summary: Is It Better To Learn French Or Spanish?
As you can see, there are benefits to learning French and Spanish and both are considered to be comparatively easy languages for English speakers to learn.
Choose the one that feels right to you and don’t worry so much about whether one is easier than the other. It really all depends on the individual and their level of exposure and interest.
Spanish might be slightly easier than French on a purely technical level, but if your husband/wife and in-laws are French, the added immersion will make French the easier option.