10 Hardest Languages to Learn: Expert Tips for Learning Easily

The hardest languages to learn often come with tricky grammar, unfamiliar sounds, and writing systems, but with the right tips and strategies, anyone can make surprising progress—even with the world’s most challenging languages. If you’re curious about which languages top the “hardest” list and want friendly, real-world advice for tackling them, you’re in the right place. Let’s dig into what makes these languages tough and how you can make your learning journey smoother, less stressful, and even enjoyable.

What Makes a Language Hard to Learn?

Languages can be tough for all sorts of reasons, and a lot depends on your native language. English speakers, for example, usually find languages related to English (like Spanish or Dutch) easier to pick up than ones with completely different roots, scripts, or sounds.

The main things that make a language hard include:

• Grammar that’s very different from your own
• New writing systems (like Chinese characters or Arabic script)
• Pronunciation that’s tricky or has sounds you’ve never used
• Tons of new vocabulary with little overlap to what you know

It’s worth noting that difficulty is subjective. What’s brutal for one person might feel manageable to someone else, especially if they’ve learned similar languages before. But certain languages consistently show up as challenging in studies and surveys, and that’s where our list comes in.

The 10 Hardest Languages to Learn for English Speakers

According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the U.S. Department of State, some languages require at least four times as much study as Spanish or French to reach fluency. Here’s a look at the big ten, along with what makes each one a beast—and what you can do to make things easier.

(Source: FSI Language Difficulty Rankings)

1. Mandarin Chinese: Tackling Tones and Characters

Mandarin tops nearly every list of hard languages, mostly because of its tones (four of them!) and the daunting writing system. Unlike English, where changing the pitch of your voice doesn’t change a word’s meaning, in Mandarin, it can turn “mother” into “horse.” That’s a lot of pressure for beginners.

The characters are another big hurdle. There’s no alphabet, just thousands of unique symbols. But don’t let that scare you off: With consistent practice and tools like spaced repetition apps (such as Anki), you can start to recognize and remember the most common ones.

A great tip is to focus on listening and speaking first. Pimsleur’s method, which emphasizes speaking and understanding before reading, has helped countless learners get started without being overwhelmed by characters.

2. Arabic: Dealing with Script and Dialects

Arabic is tricky for several reasons. The script is written right to left, and many letters change shape depending on their spot in a word. Plus, the language spoken in Morocco is quite different from what you’ll hear in Egypt or the Gulf region.

One way to ease into Arabic is by picking a specific dialect based on your interests or travel plans. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is used in news and formal settings, but everyday conversations often use local dialects. Don’t be afraid to start with the one you’re most likely to use.

Pronunciation can be tough, but listening to Arabic music or watching children’s shows can help you get used to the sounds in a fun, low-pressure way.

3. Japanese: Kanji Overload and Politeness Levels

Japanese can feel overwhelming because of its three writing systems: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. Kanji, borrowed from Chinese, are especially challenging since you need to memorize thousands of characters to read newspapers or novels.

On top of that, Japanese grammar is totally different from English, and the language has built-in levels of politeness that change how you speak depending on who you’re talking to.

To make things more manageable, focus on mastering one writing system at a time. Start with Hiragana, then add Katakana, and finally Kanji. And don’t stress about learning all the Kanji at once. Many language learners recommend starting with the most common 300–500 characters.

4. Korean: Grammar Twists and a Unique Alphabet

Korean’s reputation for being tough is well deserved, but there’s good news: The alphabet (Hangul) is logical and takes only a few hours to learn. The hard part is the grammar, honorifics, and sentence structure, which are quite different from English.

Korean is also full of “politeness levels,” so the way you say “thank you” or “hello” changes depending on the situation. It can feel intimidating, but don’t let that stop you. Practice with language partners or tutors who can gently correct you and explain the cultural context.

Apps like Talk To Me In Korean break down grammar into bite-sized lessons and are a favorite among self-learners.

5. Russian: Cases, Consonants, and Culture

Russian isn’t as far removed from English as Chinese or Arabic, but its grammar makes up for it. Russian has six cases, so the endings of words change depending on their role in a sentence. Pronunciation can also be tricky, with consonant clusters and sounds that don’t exist in English.

The Cyrillic alphabet only takes a few days to learn, but don’t rush it. Take your time with cases—practice with real-life examples, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

A helpful strategy is to label items around your house in Russian, using the correct case endings, to help cement those tricky grammar rules.

6. Vietnamese: Mastering Tones and Regional Variations

Vietnamese is notorious for its tones—there are six in the northern dialect and five in the south. Even small differences in pitch can completely change the meaning of a word.

What helps is that Vietnamese uses the Latin alphabet, so you don’t need to learn a new script. But listening practice is key, especially with native speakers from different regions, as accents and slang can vary a lot.

Watching Vietnamese YouTubers or listening to podcasts can help tune your ear and make the tones feel less intimidating over time.

7. Turkish: Suffixes and Vowel Harmony Can Make Your Head Spin

Turkish stands out because of something called “agglutination.” This means you can build really long words by adding a string of suffixes to a root word. For example, “evlerinizden” breaks down as “from your houses,” and every piece (house + plural + your + from) stacks up at the end. This can be a lot to take in if you’re used to the way English works.

Another thing that trips people up is vowel harmony. Suffixes need to “match” the vowels in the root word, so you can’t just tack on any ending you want. But don’t worry—once you see the patterns, it actually starts to feel kind of logical.

One of the best ways to get comfortable with Turkish is by reading short stories or listening to simple podcasts. Seeing and hearing those suffixes in action helps everything click. And remember, Turkish pronunciation is pretty consistent, so once you learn the alphabet, you’re set!

8. Hungarian: Cases Galore and Little Familiarity

Hungarian is famous (or infamous) for its 18 grammatical cases, which can make even basic sentences look complicated at first glance. Every noun can take on multiple endings, depending on its function in the sentence—so “house” could turn into “házban” (in the house), “házhoz” (to the house), and so on. This isn’t something most English speakers deal with, so it definitely takes time to adjust.

The vocabulary is also a challenge since Hungarian isn’t closely related to most European languages. That means fewer “freebie” words you might recognize, and more memorization up front.

If you’re learning Hungarian, focus on the most common cases first—don’t try to tackle all 18 at once! Many learners also find it helpful to use color-coding or charts to keep the cases straight until the patterns start to make sense.

9. Finnish: Regular Rules, But 15 Cases to Master

Finnish is another language with a reputation for being tough, mainly because of its 15 cases and long, compound words. The good news? Finnish is super consistent—once you learn how a rule works, you’ll see it again and again, with very few exceptions. That’s a relief for anyone who’s struggled with the “exceptions to the rule” in other languages.

Those cases can feel overwhelming at first, but Finnish tends to follow a logical structure, so you can predict how words will change. The language also forms lots of long words by sticking smaller words together, which can look intimidating, but once you break them down, they’re not so scary.

To make things easier, try focusing on simple, everyday Finnish—things like signs, menus, or kids’ books. Listening to Finnish radio or watching Finnish YouTubers can also help you get used to the rhythm and flow of the language.

10. Polish: Consonant Clusters and Grammar Hurdles

Polish is famous for tongue-twisting words and grammar that can stump even seasoned language learners. Words like “chrząszcz” (beetle) or “źdźbło” (blade of grass) look intimidating but get easier with practice.

While Polish grammar has many cases and verb forms, focusing on the most common structures first will keep you from getting overwhelmed. Pronunciation videos and slow audio can help you master those tricky sounds.

Many learners swear by practicing with native speakers, even if you only know a few words. Poles are usually patient and proud when foreigners try to speak their language.

Tips and Expert Advice for Tackling Any Hard Language

Learning a tough language might seem impossible at first, but with the right strategies, it’s absolutely doable. Here’s what experts and successful learners recommend:

• Break it down: Set small, realistic goals—like learning 10 new words a day or practicing pronunciation for 15 minutes.
• Practice every day: Even short daily sessions are more effective than long, infrequent study marathons.
• Use spaced repetition: Apps like Anki or Memrise help you remember vocabulary by showing it to you right before you’d forget.
• Speak early and often: Don’t wait until you’re “ready.” Start speaking from day one, even if it’s just a few phrases.
• Immerse yourself: Listen to music, podcasts, or watch shows in your target language to get used to sounds and rhythms.
• Find a partner: Language exchanges or tutors give you real-life practice and feedback you can’t get from books alone.
• Be patient: Progress can feel slow, especially at first. Remember, even native speakers make mistakes!

FAQ

Which language is considered the hardest for English speakers?
Mandarin Chinese and Arabic are often rated the hardest due to their complex writing systems, tones (for Mandarin), and completely different grammar structures from English.

How long does it take to become fluent in these languages?
The U.S. Foreign Service Institute estimates 2,200+ classroom hours for languages like Mandarin, Arabic, and Japanese to reach professional working proficiency. That’s about four times longer than for Spanish or French.

Is it possible to learn one of these languages on your own?
Yes, many people successfully learn hard languages through self-study using apps, online courses, language exchanges, and immersion. Consistency and real-life practice are key.

Do I need to learn all the writing systems to speak the language?
Not always. For Japanese, you can start speaking using just Hiragana and Katakana, and gradually add Kanji. For Chinese, you can focus on Pinyin (the Romanized spelling) at first, then add characters as you progress.

What’s the best way to remember vocabulary in tough languages?
Spaced repetition apps (like Anki or Memrise) are highly effective. Also, using new words in real sentences and speaking them out loud helps with memory.

Are there any shortcuts to make learning easier?
While there are no real shortcuts, you can use “language hacks” like learning the 1000 most common words first, mimicking native pronunciation, or watching children’s shows for simpler language.

How do I choose which dialect or variation to learn?
Pick the variety spoken where you plan to travel, work, or connect with people. For Arabic, this might mean Egyptian or Levantine; for Chinese, Mandarin is the most widely spoken.

Is pronunciation more important than grammar at first?
For many hard languages, getting the sounds right early on is crucial, especially in tonal languages where pronunciation changes meaning. Don’t ignore grammar, but give extra time to listening and speaking at the start.

Conclusion

Learning a hard language isn’t a race—it’s about steady progress, patience, and enjoying the process. If you’ve got tips, stories, or questions about your own language journey, share them in the comments below. And if you found this helpful, please pass it along to friends who might be tackling a tough language too!