10 Best Languages to Learn for Traveling

Learning a language is a very valuable skill. If you plan on traveling or taking a study abroad trip, then learning a new language to communicate with locals can be really helpful for assimilating into the culture. In some professions, speaking multiple languages can also be extremely useful for communicating in the business world.

Knowing which languages to learn can be difficult, however. There are some more useful languages to learn because they have more speakers or are used more often in business. This guide will cover the ten best languages to learn based on these factors.

Learn the Languages Most Useful to You

There is no single "most useful language" to learn. The language you should learn depends on your plans and several other factors. Take into account:

The number of speakers: Often, it's more useful to learn a language that has many speakers.
Geographic region: Depending on where you live/where you are traveling, there may be a more useful language to learn. For example, Swahili can be one of the more useful languages to learn if you plan on traveling to East Africa.
Versatility: Some languages are used in multiple settings. Mandarin Chinese, for example, can benefit you if you travel to China, but you might also use it at home in the U.S. in a business setting.
Career: Some careers call for more specific languages. If you often find yourself on business trips to Germany, for example, then German could be the language for you. Generally, those who speak other languages are more employable and may earn more money.

The key is to consider which languages you will use most often and focus your attention there. For example, if you often travel to a particular country, learning the native language will get you far, even if it's not one with many speakers.

1. Spanish

According to Ethnologue, Spanish is the fourth most widely spoken language in the world, with a Spanish-speaking population of 548 million speakers worldwide. Spanish-speaking countries include Spain and those in Latin America.

Spanish speakers are spread far and wide. It's the official language throughout South America in all countries apart from Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. It's also widely spoken in the U.S., with around 40.7 million Spanish speakers in the states, which means it's useful both at home and abroad.

It's also a relatively easy language to learn if you speak English. As a phonetic language, you speak Spanish as it's written, and some words are similar to English. That said, English speakers must get to grips with more complicated verb tenses.

2. French

Similar to Spanish, the French language is relatively easy to learn because a lot of English words come from French. However, the spelling system is more complicated than Spanish, making it harder to pick up. Like Spanish, it also has a more complicated conjugation system than English.

French is the fifth most common language, with 274 million speakers. It's the official language in France, but it's also one of several official languages in countries worldwide, including Canada, Haiti, and much of West Africa.

French speakers have a lot of opportunities abroad thanks to the widespread nature of the language.

3. Mandarin Chinese

After English, Mandarin Chinese is the second most spoken language in the world, with over a billion Chinese speakers. Notably, there are twelve Chinese languages, with Mandarin being the most common language in China.

As one of the six official languages of the UN, Chinese is a useful second language to have, especially in the global business sector. China has the second-largest economy in the world, too.

Keep in mind that native English speakers might struggle to learn Chinese. It has a different writing system, complex tones when speaking, and multiple moods and registers. That said, the payoff is worth it, as American Express lists it as a particularly useful language for business.

4. German

German is one of the top ten import and export countries for both the U.S. and the U.K. As a result, German is one of the most important languages to learn for international business.

As an official language in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, and more, it's also a language with many native speakers. Although comparatively few countries speak German as a primary language (most speak other languages alongside German), it is still essential for international business.

It is a tricky language that's a challenge to learn, thanks to its challenging grammar rules. If you plan to learn German, give yourself ample time to master it.

5. Arabic

There are over 274 million Arabic speakers worldwide, making it the 6th most commonly spoken language in the world. Politically speaking, Arabic is one of the most important languages to learn since Arabic-speaking countries provide the western world with natural resources like oil.

It's becoming increasingly important in international business, too, as the Middle Eastern economy grows. Countries in the Middle East are becoming more prevalent in many industries, including sports. As a result, it's an incredibly useful language for people in this industry.

English speakers have to overcome the hurdle of learning a new alphabet to speak Arabic, and it is also considered one of the most challenging languages to learn.

Notably, there are many dialects belonging to native speakers in different regions. Egyptian Arabic is widely understood, in part due to the film industry, so it's a good place to start.

6. Japanese

Japanese is the thirteenth most commonly spoken language globally. It's an essential language in business since Japan is an economic powerhouse.

Japanese speakers are especially valued in technology industries. Many tech giants hail from Japan, and as the country releases more advanced tech, workers who speak Japanese are incredibly valuable.

Although it's only an official language in Japan, there are communities of native speakers in Hawaii, Taiwan, South Korea, and Brazil. Many people in the United States also speak it at home, making English their second language.

7. Russian

The Russian language is the eighth most spoken in the world, and it's one of the six languages of the UN. It's spoken in numerous countries throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia, making it one of the most useful languages to learn if you plan on traveling to this area.

Russian is somewhat of a lingua franca in this area, so it's helpful to speak it if you plan on exploring anywhere around Russia or Eastern Europe. Furthermore, Russian is one of the more important languages to learn if you plan to work in politics.

8. Portuguese

Portuguese speakers exist in geographically diverse regions, including South America, Africa, and, of course, Portugal. It's more widely spoken than many people realize, as it's the ninth most common language in the world.

Brazil has a huge economy, so Portuguese is another language that's great for business. It's also a language on the rise, so Portuguese speakers are likely to enjoy higher demand in the near future. Thanks to Brazil's rapidly growing economy, those who speak Portuguese will prove increasingly useful for future business.

9. Hindi

Hindi recently became the third most spoken language in the world, with 602 million speakers. Hindi-speaking communities exist in India, Pakistan, and beyond. Sometimes, 'Hindi' also refers to mutually-intelligible Urdu.

Widely spoken languages like this are really beneficial in a variety of settings, as you never know when you'll run into native speakers. Plus, Hindi is easier to learn than you think - bungalow, shampoo, and jungle are all English words borrowed from Hindi.

10. Italian

Italian lies outside the top 20 languages in the world. However, it's still a useful language for a variety of people. For those who speak more than one language already, Italian can be an easy one to learn.

Those learning French or Spanish, for example, might find it easy to pick up the Italian language because they belong to the same language family.

Italian is one of the best languages to learn for anyone working in art and culture or even history and food.

Plus, Italy is the second-largest manufacturing economy in Europe, so it remains one of the most important languages for business.

Learning a Language to Study Abroad

Speaking a foreign language is considered a valuable skill. Language skills can help you with applications to study abroad and valuable languages also improve your resume. The best language to learn depends on your field of work and where you spend the most time.

Depending on time constraints, you might also want to consider which are the easiest languages to learn. For English speakers, a romance language like French or Spanish is often the easiest.

Of course, knowing a foreign language is not essential for studying abroad, but it can help. If you want to learn more about study abroad programs, check out our sample itineraries.