Easiest EU languages to learn for English speakers (2026 ranking)

Last updated: 2026-08-21

The local language can be the difference between feeling at home in a year and feeling like a guest for a decade. The good news for English speakers is that some European languages are far gentler to learn than others. This guide ranks all 27 EU countries by how approachable the local language is.

Why some languages come easier

Closeness to English: shared roots and vocabulary give you a running start.
Simpler grammar and spelling: fewer cases and more predictable rules.
Exposure: a language you already hear in music and film is easier to absorb.

All 27 EU countries by how easy the language is

Here is where MoveMap’s model rates each EU country’s main language for an English speaker, easiest first (illustrative scores only):

Country	Language ease*	Local language
Ireland	70	English
Spain	70	Spanish
Italy	65	Italian
Portugal	60	Portuguese
Denmark	50	Danish
France	50	French
Netherlands	50	Dutch
Sweden	50	Swedish
Austria	45	German
Belgium	45	Dutch, French
Germany	45	German
Luxembourg	45	French, German
Romania	45	Romanian
Malta	40	Maltese, English
Croatia	35	Croatian
Cyprus	35	Greek
Czechia	35	Czech
Greece	35	Greek
Poland	35	Polish
Slovakia	35	Slovak
Slovenia	35	Slovenian
Bulgaria	30	Bulgarian
Latvia	30	Latvian
Lithuania	30	Lithuanian
Estonia	25	Estonian
Finland	20	Finnish
Hungary	20	Hungarian

*MoveMap EU's rough relative score (0-100), illustrative only. Higher means easier for an English speaker to pick up. Difficulty is personal and depends on the languages you already know.

Easy or not, learning still pays

A tougher language is not a reason to cross a country off your list. Even basic local language opens doors that English never will: friendships, jobs, smaller towns and a smoother time with bureaucracy. And many residence and citizenship routes expect a language test anyway, often around A2 to B1. Pick the country first, then commit to the language.

Match it to your plans

How much language ease matters depends on whether you will work in English, need a local job or plan to naturalize. The MoveMap check weighs it alongside everything else to rank all 27 EU countries for you.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest EU language to learn for English speakers?

Spanish, Italian and Portuguese sit at the top of our ranking. They share a great deal of vocabulary with English through Latin, use familiar sentence structure, and have spelling that maps predictably onto pronunciation. Two EU countries score highest of all for a different reason: Ireland and Malta both have English as an official language, so there is no foreign language to learn at all.

What is the hardest EU language to learn?

Finnish and Hungarian, both at 20/100 in our model, followed by Estonian at 25. All three are Finno-Ugric, unrelated to English, and use extensive case systems where English uses prepositions. The Baltic and Slavic languages come next, with Polish, Latvian and Lithuanian demanding real study time before you can hold a conversation.

Can I move to an EU country without learning the language?

For daily life, yes in the high-English countries, where work, healthcare and services run in English. For citizenship, almost never: most member states require a language test at around B1, which is a genuine conversational level and takes most people a year or more of consistent study. The gap between getting by and naturalising is the thing to plan for.

How these numbers are made

Updated 2026-08-21

The 0-100 figures in this ranking are MoveMap EU's own comparative estimates, not official statistics or a third-party index. They are built to rank the 27 countries against each other from public cost, wage, language and institutional data, and they are calibrated to be directionally right rather than precise to the point. Where a figure comes from a dated external dataset, such as the tax pages, the source and check date are named on that page.

The full weighting is written up on our methodology page. Published by Dobreon sp. z o.o., Krakow, Poland (VAT PL6772528744). Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

See which EU country fits you

Answer a quick check and get a personalized report ranking all 27 EU countries for your finances, lifestyle, documents and long-term plans.

Start the relocation check Get personal help