Dutch or German which is easier to learn? - Flowently (2024)

FAQs

Dutch or German which is easier to learn? - Flowently? ›

It's also the official language of several countries, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Both Dutch and German have their challenges, but Dutch is generally considered easier to learn than German.

Dutch grammar is easier than German

One of the biggest differences between Dutch and German is in the definite articles. In German there are three, whereas Dutch has two.

There are several challenges to consider when asking if Dutch is hard to learn? Dutch has a unique sound system, including vowel sounds and guttural consonants, which may be unfamiliar to English speakers. The grammar can be complex, with various verb forms and word order rules.

Dutch is generally considered a moderately challenging language for English speakers to learn, but its difficulty can vary depending on individual factors and your language-learning experience.

About 40% of German and English vocabulary are very similar to each other, which makes German one of the easiest languages to learn for native English speakers. So, basically, if you already know English, it should be a piece of cake for you to learn German.

With regular daily practice, this milestone falls well within a 12–24 month timeframe. Similarly, the United States Foreign Service Institute suggests 600 hours of classroom time is needed for fluency.

When it comes to grammar, Dutch is easier. German grammar is hard it has many rules, and is even hard for native German speakers to write correctly.

For English-speakers with no background in either language, Dutch will be easier to learn than French. Because Dutch has Germanic roots, like English, it will come easier to English speakers. That said, if you have background in a romance language (like Spanish or Italian), French may actually be easier to learn.

Learning the language will give you an insider's view of the culture; for example, it will become clear why Dutch people can sometimes come across as rude when they speak English. The Dutch prefer a direct style of communication, and a literal translation in that style can often seem very blunt to a foreigner.

The Fastest Ways to Learn to Speak Dutch. Immerse Yourself: Immersion is a potent technique for learning any language rapidly. Surround yourself with the Dutch language as much as possible. Watch Dutch TV shows, movies, and listen to Dutch music.

Why is Dutch so easy to learn? ›

English students frequently say to me that Dutch is the easiest language to learn. It makes sense because Dutch is part of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European family of languages, just like English. And if you compare it to another language of that family, German, it's much easier.

You can definitely learn to speak great Dutch by yourself. However, if you've never done it before then you'll also be learning how to teach yourself at the same time! Get exposure to the language, listen, read about grammar, ask for feedback and practise as much as you can!

There I met many people, speaking several foreign languages, who told me stories about how they had learned a new language in their 40s, 50s and beyond. The conclusion then came to me all by itself. The answer to the question “Can you learn English or any other language at any age?” is: definitely yes!

The FSI estimates that German takes approximately 30 weeks, or 750 classroom hours to learn. This study was conducted on a group of language students who spent 25 hours per week in class, and three hours daily on individual practice.

For many, Esperanto is the easiest language in the world and considered a stepping stone for learning other ones. While no country has adopted Esperanto as an official language, it's been widely supported by the European Union and organizations like PEN International.

Dutch has even been described as a combination of the English and German languages! This makes it one of the easiest languages to learn for speakers of either language. That said, learning Dutch will take some time and effort, no matter what your native language is.

Although Dutch and German are related, it is very difficult for speakers of the two languages to understand each other.

How hard is it to learn? Dutch is probably the easiest language to learn for English speakers as it positions itself somewhere between German and English. For example, you may know that German has three articles: der, die and das, and English only one: the.

If you're highly motivated and have high-quality resources, you might be able to become proficient in fewer than 600 hours. If you're learning part-time and don't have access to high-quality resources or native speakers, it might take you closer to 750 hours or more.