The easiest languages to learn depend on whether you mean spoken languages or programming languages. Here is a summary for both:

Easiest Spoken Languages for English Speakers

• Norwegian : Shares Germanic roots with English, similar grammar and vocabulary, forgiving pronunciation. Estimated 24 weeks (600 hours) to learn

• Spanish : A Romance language with Latin roots, phonetic spelling, and many cognates with English. Grammar can be tricky but follows predictable patterns. About 30 weeks (750 hours) to learn

• Dutch : Similar to English in grammar and vocabulary, making it relatively easy to pick up

• Swahili : Phonetic with no silent letters, some vocabulary resembles English, though sentence structure can be challenging. Around 36 weeks (900 hours)

• Tagalog : Pronunciation straightforward, vocabulary borrows from English and Spanish, but sentence structure and verb conjugation differ from English. About 44 weeks (1100 hours)

• Indonesian : Uses Latin alphabet, phonetic, no verb conjugations or plural forms, logical sentence structure. Around 36 weeks (900 hours)

• Italian, French, Romanian, Portuguese, Swedish : Also considered relatively easier for English speakers due to shared roots or phonetic spelling

Easiest Programming Languages for Beginners

• Python : Widely regarded as the easiest programming language due to its simple, human-readable syntax, minimal setup, and versatility in applications like web development, data science, and automation. Strong community support makes it ideal for beginners

• JavaScript : Essential for web development, beginner-friendly with instant visual feedback in browsers, and widely used

• Ruby : Designed for accessibility with easy-to-follow syntax and clean code, often used in web development, especially with Ruby on Rails framework

• Racket : Low entry barrier for absolute beginners, with strong educational resources, though less common commercially

• OCaml and Julia : Functional and multi-paradigm languages that are practical and readable, good for learners interested in functional programming

Summary Table

Language Type| Language(s)| Key Features| Approximate Learning Time (weeks)
---|---|---|---
Spoken (easiest)| Norwegian, Spanish, Dutch, Swahili, Tagalog, Indonesian| Similar grammar/vocab to English, phonetic spelling, logical structure| 24–44 weeks
Programming (easiest)| Python, JavaScript, Ruby| Simple syntax, beginner- friendly, versatile, strong community support| Varies, but beginner-friendly

In conclusion, for spoken languages, Norwegian and Spanish are among the easiest for English speakers due to linguistic similarities and phonetic spelling. For programming, Python and JavaScript stand out as the easiest to learn, thanks to their readable syntax and broad applicability