Undoubtedly, learning a foreign language can do wonders for one’s career. For this very reason, students have been increasingly interested in Spanish.
Not only is Spanish the second most spoken language in the world, it is also the official language of 21 countries.
This means that it is now being increasingly used for business communication around the world.
But does this mean that Spanish is easy to learn? Is it true that English speakers have an easier time learning Spanish than others? Let’s find out.
Do English Speakers Find It Easier To Learn Spanish?
The short answer is… YES!
Here’s why it is so:
1. Similar Roots
Both Spanish and English have similar roots. As soon as you start learning the language, you will come across many similarities.
For example, familia means family and reunión means… well, reunion. In fact, it is said that there are more than ten thousand Spanish-English cognates.
More often than not, you can simply use your common sense to figure out the meaning of a word. For example, celebración translates to celebration and evaluación translates to evaluation.
Thus, even when certain words are spelled differently, you can easily translate them to English.
2. Phonetic Language
Spanish has a phonetic writing system, which is great for someone who’s learning the language.
This basically means that a word will be pronounced exactly as it is written. Which also means that you can listen to a particular word and instantly know how to spell it.
There aren’t many silent letters in Spanish, except the letter ‘h’ but we can ignore it in the larger scheme of things as it is barely ever used.
3. Easy Grammar
When it comes to grammar, Spanish is surprisingly easy to learn as long as you know a few basic rules. This is because Spanish grammar has more rules than exceptions.
Spanish nouns have only two genders and it is very easy to make a distinction between them. The rule of thumb is that if a word ends with an -o, it is masculine while words that end with an -a are feminine.
However, it does not mean that this rule applies to all words. While there are some exceptions, they are so few in number that you’ll soon learn to recognize all of them!
4. Resourceful Language
It is no joke that Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world. This means that you will come across Spanish speaking communities all around the world, which makes it easy for you to find learning resources.
From guidebooks to soap operas, you’ll find the exposure you’re seeking for without much effort.
Listening to songs, watching a couple of movies and reading a few books will give you a feel of the language and will make it easier for you to master it.
Is Spanish Hard For Hindi Speakers?
While the obvious differences between the two languages will have you thinking that it is going to be an uphill task, you’ll be surprised to know that most Hindi speakers find it reasonably easy to learn Spanish.
This is because both languages come from the Proto-Indo-European family, which means that there are indeed certain similarities between the two languages.
Similar to Hindi, Spanish also has gender differentiations when it comes to nouns and adjectives which makes it easy for Hindi speakers to understand Spanish grammar.
Moreover, you’ll be surprised to know that both languages have quite a few common words! For example, azucar (sugar) becomes shakkar in Hindi while jabón (soap) becomes saabun. Similarly, mesa (table) becomes mez while tú (you) becomes tu.
Is Spanish Hard For Arabic Speakers?
If you are an Arabic speaker, you’re in luck! 8% of Spanish words come from Arabic. This means that you will find it easier to master Spanish than most others.
If you speak Arabic, chances are you already know most of the commonly used Spanish words! For example, alberca (swimming pool) becomes al-birka while arrecife (reef) becomes raṣīf.
It is also to be noted that all the Spanish sounds except the /p/ sound already exist in Arabic. Since the Arabic sound system is more complex, you will find it easy to master Spanish pronunciation, unlike English speakers.
Start Learning Spanish Now!
So is Spanish easy to learn? The bottom line is that whether you are an English, Hindi, or Arabic speaker, chances are you’ll find it relatively easy to learn Spanish.
Coupled with some hard work and diligence, you will soon master the language!
Once you’ve gained proficiency in Spanish, the opportunities are endless. Demand for bilingual workers is on the rise, which means that knowing Spanish will automatically give you an edge.
To learn Spanish quickly, efficiently and at your convenience, sign up for a free demo class with Auriv where you get the utmost flexibility, 1 on 1 class with experts, and only get charged for the classes you take.