Unlock a world of opportunities by learning the most useful languages! From business and travel to cultural exploration, we'll reveal the top languages that can transform your personal and professional life. Discover which languages are game-changers in today's global landscape.
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00:00Hi, Alma!
00:01You're late for English!
00:02Pfft.
00:03English?
00:04Who needs that?
00:05I'm never going to England.
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the handiest dialects to
00:09have tucked away in that mental Rolodex.
00:11I'd like to say hi to my friends in China.
00:13Wadu, Zhang Wadu, Peng You, Ni Hao.
00:19Number 20.
00:20Tamil
00:21No one will catch me.
00:22And if they do, I'll pretend I have dementia and babble in Tamil.
00:25There are a lot of reasons why someone might want to learn a new language.
00:28One that comes up time and again is for travel.
00:31Okay, so, when you want to tell people what's your name, you say,
00:34Yen peru.
00:35Yen is mine.
00:36Peru is name.
00:38Those with wonderlust will likely want to brush up not only on the local customers of
00:43wherever they happen to be traveling, but also on the language.
00:46Tamil is spoken by over 80 million people around the world, with many of them centered
00:50in areas like India, Singapore, and Malaysia.
00:52Naan is me.
00:53Unnai is you.
00:54Kaadhalikkire is love.
00:55Naan unnai kaadhalikkire.
00:56It's one of the oldest surviving dialects with a history that dates back thousands of
01:03years.
01:04Accounts vary as to the actual number, but most can agree that the Tamil language is
01:08definitely worth exploring.
01:09We all make mistakes, so it's very important to remember this word, mannikavum, sorry.
01:15Number 19.
01:16Korean
01:17You speak Korean?
01:18Fluently.
01:19Oh, really?
01:20What are they saying?
01:21Bon appetit.
01:22She did not say bon appetit.
01:23Oh, you speak Korean too?
01:24Well, I don't like to show off, but yes.
01:25Another great reason for expanding one's language portfolio is the ability to connect
01:26with more people on a global scale.
01:27Those in the business world know this particularly well, so it makes sense to be as prepared
01:28as possible when conducting affairs abroad.
01:29Let's first look at an informal way to introduce yourself.
01:30Annyeong, Amy-ah.
01:31Bangawo.
01:32Hi, Amy-ah.
01:33Hi, Amy-ah.
01:34Hi, Amy-ah.
01:35Hi, Amy-ah.
01:36Hi, Amy-ah.
01:37Hi, Amy-ah.
01:38Hi, Amy-ah.
01:39Hi, Amy-ah.
01:40Hi, Amy-ah.
01:41Hi, Amy-ah.
01:42Hi, Amy-ah.
01:43Hi, Amy-ah.
01:44Hi, Amy-ah.
01:52Hi, Amy-ah.
01:53Nice to meet you.
01:54South Korean culture has expanded greatly over recent years, and over 80 million people
01:58speak this language around the globe.
02:01Traveling to North Korea may not be on the average person's agenda, but learning this
02:04interesting and complex language may make it easier to adapt to the vibrant culture
02:09of South Korea.
02:10See you then.
02:11Next time.
02:12Number 18.
02:13Punjabi.
02:14Sorry, mate.
02:15Just getting our bearings we're not from round here.
02:17Yeah, no kidding.
02:18The Punjabi's not bad for foreigners, though.
02:20Hello?
02:21Have you ever worked in an industry that put you into contact with a wide variety of people?
02:24Did it feel frustrating or helpless to be put into a situation where there was a language
02:28barrier?
02:29Hello is Sat Sri Akaal, Sat Sri Akaal.
02:36An astonishing 150 million people speak Punjabi natively, particularly in areas like Pakistan
02:42and India.
02:43Those numbers alone make it a beneficial language to learn, if only to be prepared should a
02:47work situation necessitate some translation.
02:50Beyond this, however, Punjabi is also a lovely language in its own right, and more than worth
02:54the time, training, and investigation.
02:56There's no actual word for you're welcome in Punjabi, so koi gal nahi roughly translates
03:02to don't worry about it.
03:04Number 17.
03:05Telugu.
03:10India is one of the most populous nations in the world, containing over a billion people.
03:14This population density means that this country hosts a number of languages.
03:20Nearly 100 million people speak Telugu, and evidence of its history has been reported
03:24to date back more than 2,000 years.
03:28Learning Telugu also makes it easier to comprehend some of the other related Indian languages,
03:32including Bengali and Hindi.
03:40This will become particularly important if any travels plan to this area, while those
03:44conducting business in India will likely do so with a leg up on their competition.
03:53Number 16.
03:54Marathi.
03:55The next language on our list is another one that's spoken in India, albeit perhaps not
03:58on the scale of Telugu, Bengali, or Hindi.
04:02Still over 80 million people speak Marathi today, and learning it is both useful and
04:06easy, thanks to the availability of online language courses.
04:15Those seeking to try their hand at Marathi might want to become more knowledgeable and
04:19accustomed to other Indian languages first.
04:21This will make mastering Marathi easier in the long run, and give visitors to the nation
04:25a deeper appreciation of India's wide and varied cultural tapestry.
04:35Number 15.
04:36Wu Chinese.
04:37The Chinese language is another one with a number of different dialects, including this
04:40entry.
04:41Whenever you learn a language, you not only learn words, you know, but you get a little
04:47bit more insight into, I think, a local mindset, you know."
04:52Mandarin may be more commonly spoken, and a better first choice for those with little
04:55to no knowledge of Chinese.
04:57That said, areas like Shanghai feature a dense population of Wu Chinese speakers, to the
05:02point where this language is often simply labeled as Shanghainese to newcomers.
05:10Elsewhere, the Jinhua variation of Wu Chinese is notable for its softer-sounding approach
05:18and numerous distinct vowel sounds.
05:20Wu Chinese is a wonderful language to learn, in addition to being a valuable cultural asset.
05:27Number 14.
05:28Turkish.
05:29While it's often said that learning a new language was easy, this goes double for a
05:32language like Turkish, which is among the more complicated for English speakers.
05:42The end results are worth it, however, since there's an entire world of interesting music
05:45and movies from this country's vintage history.
05:59Turkish cinema was known for its weird and wild exploitation elements during the 1970s
06:03and 80s, while the country's musical heritage has experimented with everything from psychedelia
06:09to fuzzed-out funk.
06:16As a result, learning the Turkish language lends explorers into this realm a whole new
06:20appreciation as to what exactly was going on back in the day.
06:24Until next time, kendine iyi bak, görüşürüz.
06:27Number 13.
06:28Vietnamese.
06:29A language such as Turkish might be difficult for average English speakers to pick up right
06:40away, but thankfully this isn't the case with Vietnamese.
06:47Although it's an Asian language, it uses the traditional Roman alphabet, which means that
06:51it may come a little bit easier for those planning a trip to Vietnam.
06:54When you need to ask for the price, how much is it, you would say bao niu tien.
07:00The language is also spoken in areas like Laos, China, and Cambodia, with over 85 million
07:05Vietnamese speakers in the world.
07:06A knowledge of Mandarin Chinese might help those seeking to start a course in Vietnamese,
07:11since both languages share some basic similarities.
07:17Please speak slowly.
07:18Number 12.
07:19Yu Chinese.
07:20There are a lot of modern amenities found in Hong Kong and the rest of southern China,
07:24together with plenty of history and culture.
07:26The most common informal greeting is ha lo, ha lo, just as you can guess, ha lo is just
07:35hello with a Cantonese pronunciation.
07:37This region receives lots of visitors and tourists as a result of this interesting combination,
07:42with many of them probably practicing Yu Chinese prior to their trip.
07:45And to say see you soon in a way that's formal and informal, say ha ci gin.
07:51It's also commonly known as Cantonese, and speakers can be found in other Chinese regions,
07:55like Macau and Guangdong.
07:56Meanwhile, the number of Chinese speakers that use Cantonese numbers more than 80 million.
08:02Interestingly, though, it's not mutually intelligible with Mandarin Chinese.
08:05I'll be waiting for you in our next 3-Minute Cantonese Lesson.
08:09Ha ci gin.
08:10Number 11.
08:11Bengali.
08:12A lot of attention is often paid to Romance languages such as French, Italian, and Spanish
08:16and rightfully so.
08:17Yet learning Bengali can also prove beneficial for language addicts, especially if a trip
08:20to India is in your future.
08:22Good morning.
08:23Shubh roo bhat.
08:24The number of people that claim Bengali as their primary language is an astonishing 237
08:29million.
08:30How are you?
08:31Aapni kaamon achin?
08:34This includes not only people living in India, but also countries like Bangladesh.
08:38The linguistic roots of Bengali also lie in Sanskrit, which is often labeled by others
08:42as beautifully lyrical and pleasing to the ear.
08:45What's new?
08:47Noo tun ki.
08:48Number 10.
08:49Portuguese.
08:50Volta.
08:51Azeita florinda como su esposa para comerse fin de vida?
08:56I do.
08:57This Ibero-Romance language can be traced back to the kingdom of Galicia and is rooted
09:02in variants of Vulgar Latin with a splash of Celtic phonology for good measure.
09:06Repeat after me.
09:07Bom dia, boa tarde, boa noite.
09:14This thereby makes it unique from the language it is most often compared to, Spanish.
09:18While it is considered more difficult than Spanish, it isn't much harder than English
09:21or French and should not offer too much trouble to those interested in learning.
09:25With over 230 million speakers and the official language of many countries across the globe,
09:30including the upcoming economic force of Brazil, it is fast becoming a very attractive language
09:34to master.
09:35Tchau for now.
09:36Number 9.
09:37You speak Russian?
09:38Oh, yeah.
09:39I can only say two things, eto bez glutena and the other one.
09:46Considered the easiest of the hard languages, Russian is spoken by over 250 million people.
09:51Your very first word is Privet, Privet, and it means hi.
09:56Understanding Russian and the Cyrillic alphabet can also aid in the learning of other languages
10:00and is a great foundation to have.
10:02Moving on, let's learn how to say thank you in Russian.
10:06The way to say it is spasiba.
10:08It is also considered a politically important language.
10:11Furthermore, if you're into scientific and technical literature, then Russian is for
10:15you, as some of the world's largest collections on both those subjects is in this East Slavic
10:19tongue.
10:20Or you could stick with the works of Tolstoy, Bulgakov, and Dostoevsky.
10:23Geographically the most widely spoken language of all the Slavic languages, you can find
10:27native speakers throughout Eurasia.
10:29Next word is dosvidanya.
10:31Dosvidanya, and it means goodbye.
10:35Number 8.
10:36Japanese
10:37It's a samurai.
10:38Anybody speak Japanese?
10:39Nani ga mokete kita?
10:42Tell me he did not just speak Japanese.
10:44I can do things.
10:46Spoken by 125 million people, Japanese remains useful not only for business and Asian studies,
10:51but also with the ever-increasing influx of Japanese media and Western culture, and it
10:55has become an enjoyable language to learn.
10:57Ohayou.
10:58Good morning.
10:59Ohayou.
11:01On top of all that, you'll be able to watch your favorite anime and Kurosawa films with
11:05the subtitles off.
11:06There is a catch, however.
11:08Japanese is arguably the most difficult language going, so get ready to study.
11:11A lot.
11:12Wakarimashita.
11:13I understand.
11:14Wakarimasen.
11:15I don't understand.
11:18Mixing three complex writing systems, levels of formality, and speaking and complex grammar,
11:23there's much to know.
11:24Don't let all that discourage you.
11:25Ganbatte.
11:26That's good luck to you.
11:27Your question is really difficult.
11:29Let me think.
11:30Muzukashii.
11:31Number 7.
11:32Hindi.
11:33Bahot phook lagi hai.
11:34Secondary speech arrest.
11:35What did he say, Dr. Shah?
11:37Dr. Shah is our patient in distress?
11:39Uh, uh, I don't speak Hindi.
11:44That much was clear from your terrible accent.
11:47Along with English, this Indo-Aryan language is one of the government of India's two official
11:52languages, and it is also one of the republic's 22 scheduled languages.
11:55Mera naam, then your name, and then say hai.
12:00Boasting over 260 million native speakers, it is one of the top 10 most spoken languages
12:05in the world.
12:06So, in short, you'd have a lot of people to talk to.
12:08To ask a man in a formal situation if he knows English, we'd say, kya aap angrezi bolte hai?
12:15While most commonly found in India, it's Fiji's official language and is spoken significantly
12:19throughout Mauritius, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
12:23So, if your travel plans see you venturing to any of those countries, Hindi suddenly
12:27becomes a useful language to learn, or at least to master a couple of its phrases.
12:31I'll be waiting for you in our next Hindi in 3 Minutes lesson.
12:34Phir milenge.
12:35See you then.
12:36Number 6.
12:37Arabic
12:46We can speak English.
12:48This ancient Central Semitic language was first spoken in Northwestern Arabia all the
12:53way back in the Iron Age.
12:54Hi.
12:56Marhaban.
12:57Arabic continues its robust tradition and remains an important and well-used language
13:01with up to 422 million speakers.
13:04Nice to meet you.
13:06Tasharroftubik.
13:07It is in increasingly high demand, especially in the energy and security sectors.
13:12However, with its difficult writing system and very complex grammar and dialects varying
13:16greatly, it's an incredibly difficult language to learn.
13:19However, it's not as foreign as you may think, having already influenced Spanish and given
13:22loanwords to English.
13:24Bye-bye.
13:26Ma'a salama.
13:27Number 5.
13:28German
13:29What does it say?
13:30Mein Kleine Leberknudel.
13:33I'm sorry, I don't speak German.
13:35It means, my little liver dumpling.
13:38That used to be his pet name for me.
13:41While previously thought to be a language in decline, German is becoming more useful
13:45than ever as Germany gains a foothold as a major powerhouse in the EU.
13:48Hallo.
13:49Ich heiße Laura.
13:50Schön, dich kennenzulernen.
13:52Hi.
13:53I'm Laura.
13:54Nice to meet you.
13:56Spoken as a first language in several European countries, it is the most used native language
13:59in the European Union.
14:01There are several ways to thank someone.
14:03Let's start with the easiest.
14:05It's just one word.
14:06Danke.
14:08After English, Spanish, and sign language, it's one of the most studied languages in
14:10the US.
14:11Furthermore, understanding German will help to increase your comprehension of other Germanic
14:15languages.
14:16It is considered on par with English in terms of learning difficulty.
14:19Its grammar is more complex, but then it's also more logical as well, so it balances
14:23in the end.
14:24I'll be waiting for you in our next Deutsch in drei Minuten lesson.
14:27Bis bald.
14:29Number 4.
14:30French
14:31How's school going?
14:32Fine.
14:33Never been better.
14:34Yeah?
14:35And French?
14:36Doing better in French?
14:37So, yeah.
14:38Before English started to take over, French was the lingua franca of much of Europe.
14:39Salut.
14:40Je m'appelle Ingrid.
14:41Enchantée de te rencontrer.
14:43While the lion's share of the 80 million native speakers of the language of love are in France,
14:47others can be found in North America, such as the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New
14:51Brunswick, as well as Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of South America.
14:55Je is I, and vous is the formal word for you.
14:59Remerci means give thanks.
15:02I give thanks to you.
15:03Je vous remercie.
15:05It's also a very important language in the European Union.
15:08Outside of travel, it's very useful to those studying philosophy and for diplomats.
15:12On top of all that, it's also just a very lovely language in general, giving any speaker
15:16a certain je ne sais quoi.
15:21Number 3.
15:22Spanish
15:23You dumbass bitches!
15:24Shut up!
15:25Oh my gosh!
15:26I speak Spanish!
15:27No, you don't.
15:28I'm speaking in English.
15:30A must for travelers to Latin America, South America, the Southern United States, and
15:34Spain, this is the language of Borges, Marques, and Cervantes.
15:38Hola.
15:39Soy Lucia.
15:40Mucho gusto.
15:41Hi, I'm Lucia.
15:42Nice to meet you.
15:43As a bonus, this language, with the second greatest number of native speakers after Mandarin
15:47Chinese, is considered one of the easiest to learn, with straightforward grammar, pronunciations,
15:52and writing system.
15:53Good morning in Spanish is buenos dias.
15:56Of all the Romance languages, Spanish is thought to be one of the closest branches from the
16:00Latin roots.
16:01Although it went through an evolution when the Moors brought over roughly 4,000 Arabic
16:06loanwords during the time of Al-Andalus.
16:09The basic phrase for excuse me is disculpe.
16:13Disculpe.
16:14The official language of 20 countries all over the world, Spanish is a very accessible
16:18and desirable language to have in your repertoire.
16:21Hasta la proxima.
16:22See you soon.
16:23Number 2.
16:24Mandarin Chinese
16:31You speak Mandarin?
16:32Not as well as I'd like you.
16:34Not as well as my mother would like.
16:36Mandarin Chinese is the official language of the People's Republic of China, with over
16:40950 million native speakers.
16:42So we say ni hao to say hello.
16:47Ni hao.
16:53Ni yu hao.
16:57It literally means good, well, or okay.
17:01With China on the rise as the next global superpower, Mandarin is becoming increasingly
17:05desirable as a language for both business and travel.
17:08Once you master the tricky tones, which can drastically change the meaning of a sentence,
17:12it is considered relatively easy to speak with practice.
17:15Ni ji sui is for asking younger kids, roughly under 10 years old, or no more than about
17:2315 or 16.
17:26And ni duo da is for asking people older than that, except for people who are around
17:32or older than 60 years old, when you want to be polite to them.
17:36Likewise, the grammar system is considered easier than some of the other difficult languages.
17:40However, the writing system is notoriously tough.
17:42But, if you get this one down, Pat, you've earned some serious bragging rights.
17:46Thanks a lot, and I'll see you next time.
17:48Xie xie, zai jian.
17:50Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
17:54about our latest videos.
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18:05Number one, English.
18:06English, mother f***er, do you speak it?
18:09Nearly anywhere you go, anywhere in the world, most people will understand at least a little
18:13bit of this beautiful mess of a language.
18:15A true hodgepodge, modern English has adapted a little of everything.
18:18You might know the expression, what's up?
18:21This just means, how are you?
18:23While Old and Middle English are almost incomprehensible even to native speakers,
18:27modern English is now the language of international business.
18:30And in many countries, it is hard to hold down high-level business and diplomatic jobs
18:34without knowing at least a little of this new lingua franca.
18:37Good morning.
18:38I appreciate you taking the time for our one-on-one session today.
18:42Shall we dive into your recent project performance?
18:46Good morning.
18:47Absolutely.
18:48I'm looking forward to your insights.
18:50I'm eager to discuss my progress and areas for improvement.
18:53Good thing it's relatively easy to learn if you ignore the nonsensical grammar and spelling rules.
19:08Which language would you love to learn?
19:10Let us know in the comments.
19:15Did you enjoy this video?
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