Which foreign language is easier for Greeks?
When we talk about the “ease” of a foreign language for Greeks, we usually mean how quickly someone can learn it based on their native language and the structure of the foreign language. For Greeks, some languages are considered easier than others due to shared characteristics in grammar, vocabulary, or pronunciation.
The “easiest” foreign languages for Greeks:
Italian
-Very close to Greek in phonetics and grammar.
-Shared roots in many words (e.g., “università,” “famiglia”).
-Relatively simple pronunciation.
-Widely known in Greece due to proximity and cultural contact.
Spanish
-Simple and consistent pronunciation.
-Parallel grammatical structures with Greek.
-Many words have Latin roots similar to Greek.
English
-Because it is everywhere, exposure to the language is constant (movies, songs, internet).
-Relatively simple sentence structure for daily use.
-Requires more time for proper pronunciation and vocabulary, but constant exposure helps a lot.
French
-Shared roots in many words, though pronunciation can be initially challenging.
-Grammar is more complex than Italian/Spanish, but its structure is logical and consistent.
General observations:
Languages based on the Latin alphabet, with many shared words and roots with Greek, or with a stable, logical, and simple structure, are easier for Greeks, such as Italian, Spanish, English, and French.
Languages with difficult but consistent grammar that is very different from Greek, with complex cases or compound words (e.g., German), or languages with simple phonetics and grammar but very different vocabulary (e.g., Turkish), present moderate difficulty for Greeks—but with structured teaching, they are clearly accessible.
Languages with a different alphabet (e.g., Russian, Chinese, Arabic), a completely different writing system, tonal features, or grammar are much more difficult. Daily exposure plays a major role in ease of learning, and these languages often sound very “foreign” to Greeks. However, this also makes them a rare skill and a strong comparative advantage for studies or careers requiring these languages.
It’s also worth noting that Greeks have been accustomed since ancient times to a multicultural environment and contact with other peoples. Compared to other nations, Greeks have a particular aptitude for learning foreign languages, even without the advantage of having two official or widely used languages. Foreign languages are an important asset for studies and careers, and there is no reason not to pursue them!
