Discovering the Easiest Languages to Learn After Spanish

Learning a new language may seem like a big challenge, but if you speak Spanish, you already have a major advantage! Some languages share similarities with Spanish in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, making them easier to learn.

In this article, we’ll explore what makes a language easier for Spanish speakers and which languages are the most accessible to learn when you already know Spanish.

Factors That Make a Language Easier To Learn for Spanish Speakers

Not all languages are equally difficult to learn. For Spanish speakers, certain factors can make the learning process much simpler:

1. Shared Linguistic Roots

Spanish belongs to the Romance language family, which also includes Portuguese, Italian, French, Catalan, and Romanian. These languages evolved from Latin, so they share grammatical structures and many similar words.

For example:

• Family → Spanish: Familia → Portuguese: Família → Italian: Famiglia → French: Famille
• Nation → Spanish: Nación → Portuguese: Nação → Italian: Nazione → French: Nation

2. Similarities in Grammar and Conjugation

The easiest languages for Spanish speakers often have similar verb tenses and sentence structures, making them easier to understand and use in daily life.

For example, in Spanish we say:

• "Yo hablo español" (“I speak Spanish”)
  Italian: "Io parlo spagnolo"
  Portuguese: "Eu falo espanhol"
• "Estoy bien" (“I am fine”)
  Italian: "Sto bene"
  Portuguese: "Estou bem"

As you can see, the differences are minimal. This simplifies comprehension and makes it easier to memorize the words and grammatical rules.

3. Use of the Latin Alphabet

Languages that use the Latin alphabet are more accessible for Spanish speakers because they don’t require learning new characters.

In contrast, languages like Japanese, Chinese, or Arabic present an additional challenge because they have entirely different writing systems. For example, learning Arabic or Persian requires memorizing an entirely new alphabet:

أ ب ت ث ج ح خ د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ع غ ف ق ك ل م ن هـ و ي

Additionally, these languages have writing rules that differ from the Latin alphabet. For example, they are written from right to left, the alphabet is mostly consonantal, and the letters connect to each other within words.

And, while learning a new alphabet certainly isn’t impossible, it’s much more complex and time-consuming than simply learning a language that already uses the familiar Latin alphabet:: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

4. Similar Sounds and Pronunciation

The closer a language’s sounds are to Spanish, the easier its pronunciation will be. Some languages, like Italian and Portuguese, have sounds that are almost identical to Spanish, making pronunciation easier for learners.

For example:

• Tomato → Spanish: Tomate → French: Tomate 
• City → Spanish: Ciudad → Catalan: Ciutat

Easiest Languages to Learn for Spanish Speakers

As promised, and now that we know which factors make learning easier, let’s look at the most accessible languages for Spanish speakers:

1. Portuguese

Portuguese is undoubtedly the closest language to Spanish, with a very similar grammatical structure and nearly identical vocabulary in many cases. For example:

• I like Latin music → Spanish: Me gusta la música latina. → Portuguese: Eu gosto de música latina.
• Her house is very pretty → Spanish: Su casa (de ella) es muy bonita. → Portuguese: A casa dela é muito bonita.

As you can see, while there are some differences in spelling, most Spanish speakers can understand Portuguese without ever having studied it before.

The biggest challenge is pronunciation, especially European Portuguese, which has nasal sounds that don’t exist in Spanish. However, Brazilian Portuguese tends to be easier to understand due to its clearer pronunciation.

2. Italian

Italian is another Romance language with many similarities to Spanish. Its vocabulary, grammar, and verb conjugations are very similar, making learning much smoother.

For example:

• Maria’s house is very pretty → Spanish: La casa de María es muy bella. → Italian: La casa di Maria è molto bella.
• The restaurant is close to the hotel → Spanish: El restaurante está cerca del hotel. → Italian: Il ristorante è vicino all’hotel.

Additionally, Italian is pronounced almost exactly as it’s written, which makes listening comprehension easier. The key is to learn the subtle differences in similar-looking words and understand some verb tenses that aren’t commonly used in Spanish.

3. French

French pronunciation is different from Spanish due to nasal sounds and silent letters, which require extra practice. However, it still shares a lot of vocabulary with Spanish, making it one of the easiest languages for Spanish speakers.

For example:

• She prefers coffee without sugar. → Spanish: Ella prefiere el café sin azúcar. → French: Elle préfère le café sans sucre.
• He speaks three languages: French, Spanish and Italian. → Spanish: Él habla tres idiomas: francés, español e italiano. → French: Il parle trois langues: français, espagnol et italien.

While the differences are more noticeable compared to Portuguese or Italian, don’t let that intimidate you! The grammar and verb conjugations are still quite similar, and since the alphabet is the same, mastering French won’t be as difficult with regular practice.

4. Catalan

Catalan is spoken in some parts of Spain and, therefore, shares many structures with Spanish. While it has some grammatical differences and its pronunciation varies by region, its vocabulary is quite easy for Spanish speakers to understand.

For example:

• My father cooks really well → Spanish: Mi padre cocina muy bien. → Catalan: El meu pare cuina molt bé.
• This book is very interesting → Spanish: Este libro es muy interesante. → Catalan: Aquest llibre és molt interessant.

5. Romanian

Although it may seem distant and unusual, Romanian is another Romance language that shares a grammatical base with Spanish. Its structure and verb conjugations resemble Spanish, though it has influences from Slavic languages.

For example:

• I have a problem with my phone →  Spanish: Tengo un problema con mi teléfono. → Romanian: Am o problemă cu telefonul meu.
• We are going to the beach with friends tomorrow → Spanish: Mañana vamos a la playa con los amigos. → Romanian: Mâine mergem la plajă cu prietenii.

Even though these languages are easier to learn if you already speak Spanish, that doesn’t mean the learning process is automatic. Mastering any foreign language requires time and constant practice and dedication.

Languages That Are Somewhat Challenging but Still Accessible for Spanish Speakers

There are also some languages that aren’t as similar to Spanish as the ones mentioned above, but still contain enough familiar elements to make them easier to learn than others. Let’s explore a few of them:

1. English

Although English isn’t a Romance language, it has many words derived from Latin and French, making it somewhat familiar to Spanish speakers.

For example:

• Spanish: Ella estudia en la universidad todos los días. → English: She studies at the university every day.
• Spanish: Mi hermano trabaja en un hospital como médico. → English: My brother works in a hospital as a doctor.

In some aspects, English grammar is simpler than Spanish grammar, but the main challenges lie in learning its pronunciation and irregular rules like phrasal verbs.

2. Dutch

Dutch (one of the dialects of Netherlandic) has a pronunciation that can be tricky, but it also contains words that resemble English vocabulary and some structural similarities to Spanish.

For example:

• The museum is interesting and famous. → Spanish: El museo es interesante y famoso. → Dutch: Het museum is interessant en beroemd.
• The family eats together on Sundays → Spanish: La familia come junta los domingos. → Dutch: De familie eet samen op zondag.

While the pronunciation might take practice, the familiar vocabulary makes Dutch more approachable than other Germanic languages.

3.3. German

German uses the Latin alphabet and has some words of Latin and Greek origin, making certain terms recognizable for Spanish speakers. However, it also has some major differences, such as a more complex pronunciation and a challenging grammar system (with cases and different gendered nouns).

For example:

• The concert was fantastic! → Spanish: ¡El concierto fue fantástico! → German: Das Konzert war fantastisch!
• The restaurant is very popular in this city → Spanish: El restaurante es muy popular en esta ciudad. → German: Das Restaurant ist sehr populär in dieser Stadt.

Although these languages aren’t as closely related to Spanish as Portuguese or Italian, they still contain many familiar elements that make them easier to learn than languages like Chinese or Japanese.

With dedication, practice, and immersion, learning any of these languages is definitely achievable for Spanish speakers! 

Tips for Learning a New Language Effectively

While learning a second (or even third) language is something that requires time and dedication, it doesn’t have to be a boring or tedious process. Here are some tips to optimize your learning and make it more enjoyable:

1. Set a clear study plan and stick to it: Having a consistent routine will help you stay focused and motivated every day. Set specific goals, such as learning five new words per day or practicing for 30 minutes daily.
2. Practice with native speakers: Real communication will help you improve fluency and confidence. For example, if you’re learning English, you can join Promova’s free conversation club and practice with trained tutors and students from around the world.
3. Read a lot: Start with children’s books and other simple texts to get used to the language structure. Then, progress to novels and more complex materials. This will enhance your vocabulary, comprehension, and grammar.
4. Learn a few new words every day: Create a list of new words you learn daily and associate them with their Spanish equivalent. Make sure to review their spelling and pronunciation, use them in sentences to reinforce learning, and regularly revise them until you master them completely.
5. Take advantage of multimedia content: Immerse yourself in the language through music, podcasts, TV shows and movies in your target language. You can also use interactive apps like Promova to reinforce your knowledge. The more exposure you have, the easier it will be to absorb the language naturally.
6. Surround yourself with the language: Completely immerse yourself in the language by consuming audiobooks, social media content, and videos in that language. And if you have the means to actually visit a country where the language is spoken—even better!
7. Consistency is key: Dedicate a little time every day to learning new words or topics. Even 15–30 minutes daily will lead to faster progress than long, infrequent study sessions

By following these tips, you’ll reach fluency more effectively and without feeling overwhelmed. Most importantly—enjoy the process! Learning a new language should be fun, engaging, and an exciting journey of discovery.

Learn Spanish and Other Romance Languages with Promova

While Romance languages are easier to learn for Spanish speakers, having the right resources will make the process more efficient and engaging.

Promova is the ideal platform to help you improve your grammar and vocabulary with a guided and structured approach:

• Access Promova via the web or app and enjoy courses designed by language experts.
• Learn flexibly with interactive lessons that adapt to your schedule and pace.
• Focus on useful topics that align with your personal goals, practice consistently, and stay motivated to achieve fluency.
• Explore new words and take quizzes daily with the free version.
• Upgrade to Premium for deeper content and additional learning resources.

Download the Promova app today and start your journey toward fluency. The language you’ve always wanted to learn is within reach! 

Conclusion

Spanish speakers often take their time when choosing a second language, and most learners look for the easiest option to make the learning process smoother.

So, if you’re wondering "what is the easiest language to learn for Spanish speakers?"—the answer is languages from the same linguistic family, such as Italian, French, and Portuguese. These languages share many similarities with Spanish, making them easier to understand and learn.

However, we also recommend not overlooking other interesting languages like English and Dutch. While they belong to different linguistic families and may pose more challenges, both share multiple similarities with Spanish, making them relatively accessible.

Regardless of the language you choose, the key to success is consistent practice and using high-quality resources to improve fluency effectively. Most importantly, pick a language that excites you! The learning process should be fun, motivating, and an enjoyable journey toward a new way of communicating.

Ánimo! You’ve got this!