The 12 Hardest Languages And Why You Should Learn Them

In a world that grows increasingly interconnected, the ability to communicate across borders and bridge 

cultural gaps is an invaluable skill. Language learning has always been a gateway to new experiences and opportunities, but some languages pose a greater challenge than others. In this article, we explore the twelve hardest languages to learn and uncover the fascinating reasons why you should embark on the journey to master them.

Mastering a difficult language demands dedication, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to understanding its intricacies. While the notion of difficulty may vary from person to person, these twelve languages have earned a reputation for their complex grammar, intricate writing systems, and unique phonetic structures.

Embarking on the arduous journey of learning a difficult language is an endeavor that promises immense rewards. So, whether you're a language enthusiast, an intrepid traveler, or someone seeking a competitive edge in the global job market, join us as we explore the twelve hardest languages and discover the countless benefits that await those who dare to learn them.

12 Hardest Languages

1. Mandarin Chinese

Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world, with over 1.3 billion native speakers primarily in China.  Its origins date back thousands of years, making it one of the oldest written languages. It belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family and has several dialects, but Standard Mandarin is the official language. Mandarin is renowned for its complex writing system consisting of thousands of characters. Additionally, its tonal nature, with four main tones and a neutral tone, poses a significant challenge for learners. The lack of grammatical similarities with Indo-European languages further adds to its difficulty.

2. Arabic

Its roots trace back to the 6th century and it is deeply intertwined with the Islamic religion. Arabic is a Semitic language with over 300 million speakers across the Middle East and North Africa. It is the official language of 26 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Morocco. Arabic has a unique alphabet and a highly intricate grammar system. It has different forms and dialects, making it challenging for learners to grasp. The presence of guttural sounds and a different sentence structure adds to the complexity.

3. Japanese

Japanese is spoken by over 130 million people, primarily in Japan. It belongs to the Japonic language family and has several dialects. Japanese employs three writing systems: kanji (Chinese characters), hiragana, and katakana. The complex honorific system, distinct grammar, multiple levels of politeness, and cultural nuances pose significant challenges for learners, especially those from non-Asian language backgrounds.

4. Korean

Korean is the official language of both North and South Korea, with around 78 million speakers. It is considered a language isolate, not belonging to any specific language family. Korean has an alphabetic writing system called Hangul, which is relatively straightforward to learn. However, the grammar structure, honorifics, and verb conjugation can be complex for non-native speakers.

5. Russian

Russian is an East Slavic language spoken by around 260 million people, primarily in Russia and neighboring countries. It is the largest native language in Europe. Russian uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which may pose an initial challenge for learners. The grammar system, including case declensions and verb aspects, can be intricate. Pronunciation can also be challenging due to the presence of soft and hard sounds.

6. Hungarian

Hungarian is a Uralic language spoken by approximately 13 million people, primarily in Hungary. It is unrelated to neighboring European languages. Hungarian has a unique grammar structure with complex noun cases and verb conjugation. It also features vowel harmony, which requires attention to vowel sounds. The lack of linguistic similarities with widely spoken languages adds to its difficulty.

7. Finnish

Finnish is another Uralic language, spoken by around 5 million people in Finland and parts of Sweden. It is unrelated to the Indo-European language family. Finnish has a complex system of noun cases and verb conjugation. It utilizes vowel harmony and a rich inventory of sounds. The absence of a clear distinction between genders and articles, as well as the agglutinative nature of the language, can make it challenging for learners.

8. Icelandic

Icelandic is a descendant of Old Norse and has been relatively well-preserved over the centuries.The number of Icelandic speakers is estimated to be around 360,000. The majority of speakers reside in Iceland. Icelandic is considered a complex language, both in terms of grammar and pronunciation. Its highly inflected grammar includes four noun cases, three genders (masculine, feminine, and neuter), and strong verb conjugation. Additionally, Icelandic has retained the use of archaic letters and diacritics, such as eth (ð) and thorn (þ).

9. Basque

It is an official language in the Spanish autonomous community of the Basque Country and is co-official with Spanish in the region of Navarre. The number of Basque speakers is estimated to be around 700,000 to 800,000. Basque is considered a language isolate, as it has no known connections to any other language family. Its origin remains a mystery, unrelated to any known language family. The language has complex grammar, including a large number of inflections and a flexible word order.

10. Navajo

Navajo is a Native American language spoken by around 150,000 Navajo people in the southwestern United States. It shares linguistic connections with other Athabaskan languages, like Apachean languages.

Navajo is known for its complex grammar and rich linguistic structure. It features a complex system of verb conjugation and extensive use of prefixes, suffixes, and infixes to indicate tense, aspect, mood, and other grammatical features. Navajo also utilizes a unique tonal system, with high and low tones that contribute to the meaning of words.

11. Thai

Thai is the national language of Thailand and has approximately 60 million speakers.

Thai can be considered a moderately difficult language for English speakers to learn. It has a different writing system, complex pronunciation rules, and a unique grammar structure. Thai is a tonal language, with five tones that can change the meaning of words.

12. Georgian

Georgian, spoken by around 4 million people, is a unique language with its own script and complex grammar. It features a rich system of verb conjugations, noun declensions, and irregularities that pose difficulties for learners. To begin with, you have to learn the Elvish-looking alphabet (the word for Georgia, Sakartvelo, is საქართელო), and then real fun begins. In addition to a very unfamiliar, agglutinative grammatical structure, the very sounds in Georgian will throw English speakers for a loop, as they use glottal stops to make sounds that look like the same sound, for example p and p’ (written as ფ and პ, respectively), but which they hear entirely differently

Why do you need to learn these languages

1. Enhancing Communication

Learning languages like Chinese, English, or any other widely spoken language allows you to communicate with a larger number of people. It facilitates meaningful interactions, fosters cross-cultural understanding, and promotes global connections.

2. Career Advancement

Proficiency in widely spoken languages like English or Chinese can significantly enhance your career prospects. These languages are in high demand in various industries, such as international business, tourism, technology, and diplomacy. Being bilingual or multilingual gives you a competitive edge in the job market and expands your professional network.

3. Educational Opportunities

Proficiency in languages like English is often a requirement for studying abroad in many countries. Additionally, learning languages like Chinese can provide access to scholarships and academic programs in Chinese-speaking countries. Being able to study in a foreign language broadens your educational horizons and exposes you to new perspectives.

4. Cultural Appreciation

Learning a language goes hand in hand with understanding the culture associated with it. Language learning allows you to appreciate literature, art, music, and traditions from different cultures. It promotes empathy, tolerance, and a deeper understanding of diverse societies.

5. Travel and Exploration

Knowing the local language of a country you plan to visit enhances your travel experience. It enables you to interact with locals, navigate more easily, and immerse yourself in the local culture. Speaking the language of the destination fosters a deeper connection with the people and the place.

6. Cognitive Benefits

Learning languages has been shown to have numerous cognitive benefits. It enhances memory, improves problem-solving skills, and increases overall mental agility. Bilingual or multilingual individuals often exhibit greater creativity, flexibility, and adaptability in their thinking.

7. Personal Growth

Language learning is a journey of personal growth and self-discovery. It challenges you to step out of your comfort zone, boosts confidence, and develops patience and perseverance. It broadens your worldview and allows you to see the world through different linguistic lenses.

8. Access to Knowledge and Resources

Proficiency in languages like English opens up a vast array of resources, including books, articles, websites, and online courses. It enables you to access a wealth of knowledge in various fields, expanding your intellectual horizons.

Language learning app recommendation

1. Duolingo

Duolingo is a widely recognized language learning app that offers interactive lessons in over 40 languages. It uses a gamified approach with bite-sized lessons, quizzes, and rewards to make learning fun and engaging. The app covers all language skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Duolingo is free to use, but it also offers a premium version (Duolingo Plus) with additional features and an ad-free experience.

2. Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone is a well-established language learning platform that provides immersive language courses in 24 languages. The app focuses on developing conversational skills through interactive lessons, speech recognition, and live tutoring sessions. Rosetta Stone's language courses are known for their comprehensive approach and intuitive learning methods. It offers a subscription-based model with various plans and durations.

3. Babbel

Babbel is another popular language learning app that offers courses in 14 languages. The app focuses on practical vocabulary and real-life conversations, making it suitable for beginners and intermediate learners. Babbel's lessons are designed by language experts and cover various topics, including grammar, pronunciation, and cultural insights. The app offers a subscription-based model with flexible plans.