Is Spanish hard to learn for English speakers?

Spanish is a relatively easy language for English speakers to learn because the two languages share a lot of similar vocabulary and grammar. Sure, Spanish and English come from different branches of the Indo-European language family; Spanish evolved from Latin, while English is a Germanic language. With that said, Spanish and English use the same alphabet and share very similar pronunciation. There might even be some things that are easier in Spanish than they are in English. So, is Spanish hard to learn for English speakers? ¡No, para nada (Not at all)!

• Comparing the language difficulty of Spanish and English
• How long does it take to learn Spanish?
• What makes Spanish easy to learn? Similarities between English and Spanish
• What makes Spanish difficult? Challenges in learning Spanish
• Effective strategies for learning Spanish
• What is the easiest language to learn for an English speaker?

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Comparing the language difficulty of Spanish and English

The Foreign Service Institute (FSI), renowned for training U.S. diplomats, categorizes languages into difficulty levels based on how long it typically takes an English speaker to achieve proficiency. Spanish is classified as a Category I language, meaning it is among the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. So if you're looking to progress quickly and see results fast, Spanish is your go-to!

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How long does it take to learn Spanish?

According to the FSI, English speakers can reach conversational proficiency in Spanish with approximately 600–750 hours of study.
But beware - how quickly you really learn Spanish depends on how you approach studying. If you already speak another Romance language, like French or Italian, you’re in luck—those shared roots make Spanish much easier to pick up! Even if you don’t, your study habits can make all the difference. Are you setting aside regular time to practice? Are you mixing in speaking, listening, reading, and writing? The more consistent and engaged you are, the faster you’ll see results.

What makes Spanish easy to learn? Similarities between English and Spanish

1. The alphabet and pronunciation

English speakers will find the Spanish alphabet very familiar. It uses the same Roman alphabet and shares all the same vowels and consonants. In fact, Spanish vowels are even more simplified than their English counterparts. In English, vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u) don't follow strict pronunciation rules. For example, the word “banana” is spelled with only one vowel, yet makes two distinct /a/ sounds. 

This generally does not happen in Spanish. Spanish vowels make only one sound each and do so consistently. Therefore, pronouncing words correctly when reading is much easier in Spanish than in English.

2. Vocabulary and cognates 

Spanish and English share a lot of vocabulary. A lot of Spanish cognates are immediately recognizable to English speakers. Cognates are words that share the same or similar meaning and spelling with another language. For example:

English	Spanish
Professional	Profesional
Special	Especial
Elegant	Elegante
Adapt	Adaptar
Cancel	Cancelar
Similar	Similar
Necessary	Necesario

3. Grammar and sentence structure

Spanish and English have similar grammatical components, such as auxiliary or “helping” verbs. These are common verbs like can, should and want. As in English, these verbs follow the structure [subject + auxiliary + infinitive].

English	Spanish
I can run.	Yo puedo correr.
She should buy it.	Ella debe comprarlo.
I want to dance.	Yo quiero bailar.

What makes Spanish difficult? Challenges in learning Spanish

Well, some things can be. Here are a few details that English speakers might find challenging.

1. The rolled “r”

 A unique letter in the Spanish alphabet is the “rr,” or rolled “r.” This is similar to the sound a cat makes when it purrs. Rolling your "r" in Spanish can change a word's meaning, so pronouncing it correctly is crucial. For example:

• Pero = but
• Perro = dog

2. False cognates

 Some words in Spanish look or sound similar to an English word, but do not have the same meaning. These are called false cognates and can be a headache. Here are some common ones to keep in mind.

Spanish	Sounds like…	Actual meaning in English
Discutir	Discuss	Argue
Embarazada	Embarrassed	Pregnant
Molestar	Molest (assault)	Bother (mild annoyance)
Sopa	Soap	Soup
Asistir	Assist	Attend (an event)
Pie	Pie	Foot

3. Listening and regional variances

 Not all Spanish is the same. About 500 million people speak Spanish across 20 countries. There are a lot of differences in the vocabulary, cadence and pronunciation of Spanish around the world. The Chilean accent, for example, is difficult to decipher. For a beginner, listening to and understanding regional differences can be a challenge.

4. Gendered nouns

In Spanish, all nouns are assigned a gender—either masculine or feminine—which can be a new concept for English speakers, as English does not use grammatical gender. This distinction affects not only the noun itself but also the articles (e.g., "el" for masculine and "la" for feminine) and any adjectives that describe the noun. For example, el gato negro (the black cat) uses masculine forms, while la casa blanca (the white house) uses feminine forms.

Effective strategies for learning Spanish

Students experiencing noobie jitters often ask, “Is Spanish easy to learn?” In general, Spanish is not difficult to learn. As with any new skill, the more you study and practice, the better you become. Here are two tips to ensure you progress as quickly as possible:

1. Set a goal

Goal-setting is a great way to keep track of your progress. As a beginner, set an attainable goal, like singing a song in Spanish or watching a Spanish telenovela (soap opera). 

2. Immerse

Immersive practices, such as listening to Spanish podcasts, watching movies, or speaking with native speakers, help build fluency by exposing learners to the natural rhythm and structure of the language. Maybe you will even have the opportunity to travel to a Spanish-speaking country and talk to native speakers.

3. Use a structured learning program

Lingoda’s Flex and Sprint courses provide a guided curriculum with certified teachers, personalized feedback, and flexible scheduling to suit individual learning goals.

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4. Practice consistently

Consistent practice is crucial—setting aside dedicated time each day to study vocabulary, review grammar, or practice speaking ensures steady progress and reinforces long-term retention.

What is the easiest language to learn for an English speaker?

You may be encouraged to hear that Spanish is one of the easiest languages for an English speaker to learn and ultimately master. Apart from Spanish, there are some languages that English speakers might find relatively easy to learn:

• Swedish and Norwegian: These are not-too-distant cousins of English, and their grammar is not so difficult for a native English speaker to understand. With that said, they still take a lot of practice!
• Bahasa Indonesia: There are significant differences between the Indonesian and English languages, but Bahasa Indonesia is generally considered one of the easiest languages to learn among Asian languages.
• French: Like Spanish, French shares a significant amount of words and grammar in common with English. English even borrows many of its words from French.

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Learn Spanish? ¡Sí se puede!

Is Spanish hard for English speakers to learn? Considering all the similarities, no, it’s not. Spanish is certainly more similar to English than languages like Arabic and Mandarin. English speakers will find cognates and the alphabet relatively easy to master, though regional accents may pose a more enduring challenge. You can learn Spanish quickly if you have the time and put in the effort. Lingoda can help you learn Spanish fast.

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