Which Language(s) Should You Learn?

- Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the literary standard across the Middle East, North Africa, Horn of Africa and one of the official six languages of the United Nations. Most printed matter in the Arab League—including most books, newspapers, magazines, official documents, and reading primers for small children—is written in MSA. "Colloquial" Arabic refers to the many regional varieties derived from Arabic spoken daily across the region and learned as a first language. They are not typically written, although a certain amount of literature (particularly plays and poetry) exists in many of them. Literary Arabic is the official language of all Arab League countries and is the only form of Arabic taught in schools at all stages. Additionally, some Christian Arabic speakers recite prayers in it, as it is considered the literary language.

- With over a billion speakers around the world, Chinese is the most widely spoken language on earth. As China has grown in power over the past several decades, there has been a big push worldwide for foreigners to study Chinese. Chinese people are notoriously warm and welcoming, and whether you're in Taiwan or Malaysia, you will encounter a wonderful culture through Chinese language.

- Japanese is spoken by more than 100 million native speakers worldwide. Learning Japanese can be tough, although there is a trend to use more English loanwords. Its vibrant culture is certainly worth a visit or a longer stay.

The leading Japanese companies are among the largest, most efficiently run, and most well-known firms in the world. Familiar names like Sony, Toshiba, Sanyo, Casio, Canon, Minolta, Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi, and many others have infiltrated the world market in a variety of sectors.

(sources: wikipedia.org/vistawide.com)

- Spoken by over 70 million people, Italian will help you navigate the streets of Rome on your next big trip abroad. Italian is the archetypical romance language, and a great starting point to learn other languages derived from Latin.

- Learn the language of love and discover why France is one of the most visited countries in the world! Climb the Eiffel tower and impress the Parisians with your knowledge of French. You'll be understood by the 220 million French speakers across the globe.

- Portuguese is among the world's most spoken languages, with over 200 million natives worldwide. Because Portugal got in so early on the exploring game, the language established itself all over the world; Brazil, Macau, Angola, and Mozambique. Pack your bags and start exploring!

- Romanian is spoken by close to 30 million people worldwide. It is the national language of Romania and is also spoken in Moldova. If you already learned Italian, you may consider trying out Romanian, which has many linguistic similarities.

- Spoken in 21 countries, many with beautiful beaches and ancient cultures, Spanish is one of the most important languages in the western hemisphere and the third most spoken language in the world. On Duolingo, you'll learn a version of Spanish closer to what you'd hear in Latin America than in Spain, but the differences are relatively small and everybody will be able to understand you.

(source: duolingo.com)

- Danish is spoken by around 6 million people, principally in the notoriously beautiful and happy country of Denmark. They're so happy, they have a special word just for "cozy togetherness" (Hygge).

Find out for yourself why Denmark is often ranked as one of the countries with the highest quality of life in the world, watch the Little Mermaid in its original language, and surprise yourself as you begin to understand some Swedish and Norwegian too.

- German is spoken by over 200 million people around the world, primarily in Europe. When you speak German, you'll be able to visit Berlin and sound authentic with all your recently learned skills! We teach 'Hochdeutsch' or 'High German,' the most widely spoken version of German.

- Swedish is spoken by about 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland. Visit the home of the Nobel prize, get ready to attend a traditional crayfish party in the summer and meet some of the most peaceful people in the world - Sweden celebrates 200 years of peace this year! Swedish speakers can also understand some Danish and Norwegian, since all three languages are derived from Old Norse, the language of the vikings.

(source: duolingo.com)

- Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. Finnish does not resemble any of the other Scandinavian languages!

- Hungarian is an official language of the European Union and spoken by 15 million people worldwide. Learn one of the only non-indo European languages in Europe!

(Sources: Duolingo.com; wikipedia.org)

- Russian is the 5th most spoken language in the world with over 285 million speakers. It is also the most spoken Slavic language in the world. You'll learn a whole new alphabet and be able to use your newly learned skills in any situation whether it be business, travel or pleasure. You'll also gain a new appreciation for Russian literature.

- Polish is one of the most widely spoken Slavic languages in the world. Over 50 million people speak the language and inhabit not just Poland, but countries across Latin America, North America and beyond.

(source: duolingo.com)

English is a West Germanic language that was first spoken in early medieval England and is now a global lingua franca.

It is an official language of almost 60 sovereign states, the most commonly spoken language in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand, and a widely spoken language in countries in the Caribbean, Africa, and southeast Asia.

It is the third most common native language in the world, after Mandarin and Spanish. It is widely learned as a second language and is an official language of the United Nations, of the European Union, and of many other world and regional international organisations.

(source: Wikipedia.org)

Turkish is the national language of Turkey and is spoken by over 75 million people as their first language. Learn standard Turkish so you can be understood when you sightsee in Istanbul or meet Turkish speakers on your world travels!

(source: duolingo.com)

Greek holds an important place in the histories of Europe, the more loosely defined Western world, and Christianity; the canon of ancient Greek literature includes works of monumental importance and influence for the future Western canon such as the epic poems Iliad and Odyssey. Greek was also the language in which many of the foundational texts of Western philosophy, such as the Platonic dialogues and the works of Aristotle, were composed; the New Testament of the Christian Bible was written in Koiné Greek. Together with the Latin texts and traditions of the Roman world, the study of the Greek texts and society of antiquity constitutes the discipline of Classics.

The language is spoken by at least 13 million people today in Greece, Cyprus, Italy, large parts of Albania, the Balkans, and the Greek diaspora.

Greek roots are often used to coin new words for other languages; Greek and Latin are the predominant sources of international scientific vocabulary.

(source: wikipedia.org)