If español /espaˈɲol/ — Spanish is your home base, you’re already doing life on “language hard mode… but with cheat codes unlocked.” Romance verbs? Check. Rolling your r’s? Double check.
So when you start asking, “OK, what’s the next language I can learn without emotionally relocating to a monastery?”, the good news is: some languages really are friendlier to hispanohablantes /isˌpano.aˈβlan.tes/ — Spanish speakers.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know which languages are genuinely easier for you, why they’re easier, what traps to avoid, and how to start using your Spanish superpowers to learn your next idioma /iˈðjo.ma/ — language faster and with fewer tears (only the good, dramatic telenovela kind).
Quick Primer: What Makes A Language “Easy” For Spanish Speakers?
Before we crown any “easiest” language, you need three key ideas:
- Language distance
Languages that share roots with Spanish (Latin-based, similar grammar) feel familiar from day one. These are mostly Romance languages like italiano /itaˈʎa.no/ — Italian or portugués /poɾtuˈɣes/ — Portuguese. - Cognates
Cognados /koɣˈna.ðos/ — cognates are words that look and mean the same in both languages. The more cognates, the less vocabulary memorization you need. - Pronunciation and spelling rules
Spanish has very regular spelling and pronunciation. Languages that also “say what they spell” feel much more comfortable than those with surprise silent letters and plot-twist vowels.
Here’s a tiny taste of how your Spanish gives you a head start through cognates:
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| nación /naˈsjon/ | nation | |
| información /in.formaˈsjon/ | information | |
| interesante /inteɾeˈsan.te/ | interesting | |
| posible /poˈsi.βle/ | possible |
All of those have near-twins in Italian, French, Portuguese, and even English, so your brain isn’t starting from zero.
Romance Languages: Your Closest Linguistic Cousins
If you want the absolute easiest path, stay in the Romance family. These are your “same parents, different personality” languages.
Italian: Spanish’s Dramatic Sibling
Italiano /itaˈʎa.no/ — Italian is often the top recommendation for Spanish speakers. Vocabulary overlap is huge, grammar feels familiar, and pronunciation is very regular.
Spanish:
La situación es complicada /la sitwaˈsjon es komplikaˈða/ — The situation is complicated.
If you listen to Italian, you’ll hear:
La situazione è complicata — same Latin roots, same rhythm, different accent.
Why it’s easy for Spanish speakers:
- Similar verb conjugations and tenses.
- Lots of recognizable words from day one.
- Clear spelling–pronunciation match, like Spanish.
Common pitfall: Many students speak “Italian with a Spanish accent.” You’ll be understood, but you’ll sound like the cousin visiting for summer. Make time to copy Italian rhythm and vowel length, not just vocabulary.
Portuguese: The Neighbor You Almost Understand
Portugués /poɾtuˈɣes/ — Portuguese is extremely close to Spanish on paper. For reading, it’s almost cheating. For listening… welcome to mushy nasal-vowel land (especially in Brazilian Portuguese).
Why it’s easy:
- Massive vocabulary overlap.
- Verb system and tenses feel familiar.
- Same alphabet, same basic sentence structure.
Why it can still be tricky:
- Nasal vowels and reduced syllables can make spoken Portuguese hard to catch at first.
- Many false friends:
embarazada /em.baɾaˈða/ — pregnant vs. embaraçada in Portuguese — embarrassed.
If you’re in Latin America or Spain, Portuguese also wins on usefulness: travel, work with Brazil, and a ton of media to enjoy.
French: Familiar Grammar, Fancy Pronunciation
Francés /fɾanˈses/ — French shares a lot of vocabulary and grammatical DNA with Spanish, but the pronunciation likes to keep things mysterious.
Why it’s still “easier-ish” for Spanish speakers:
- Thousands of shared Latin-based words.
- Similar tenses and moods (hello again, subjunctive).
- Same SVO (subject–verb–object) word order most of the time.
Where it hurts:
- Silent letters everywhere.
- Nasal vowels that don’t exist in Spanish.
- Spelling–sound relationship is much less transparent.
If you already speak some inglés /iŋˈgles/ — English, French becomes more manageable, because you’ve seen many of those Latinate words twice.
Romanian: The Dark-Horse Romance Language
Rumano /ruˈma.no/ — Romanian is a Romance language wrapped in a Slavic neighborhood.
Why it’s easier than it looks:
- Core grammar is very Romance-like (genders, verb conjugations).
- Many Latin-based words are recognizable.
- Pronunciation is fairly regular.
Where it’s different:
- Has cases (like nominative, accusative), which Spanish doesn’t.
- Slavic influence adds some new vocabulary and sounds.
Romanian is a great choice if you want a Romance language that still feels special and less common.
Catalan And Galician: Extra-Easy If You’re In Spain
Catalán /kataˈlan/ — Catalan and gallego /ɡaˈʝe.ɣo/ — Galician are co-official languages in parts of Spain.
Why they’re extremely accessible for Spanish speakers:
- Huge vocabulary overlap.
- Similar verb systems and syntax.
- You’re surrounded by signage, TV, and speakers if you live in those regions.
If you’re in Barcelona, Valencia, Galicia or nearby, you can collect a “free” extra language just by paying attention to the world around you.
English: The Global Superpower (And Not As Hard As It Looks)
Inglés /iŋˈgles/ — English can feel messy: irregular verbs, weird spelling, chaotic pronunciation. But for Spanish speakers, it’s still one of the most strategic and surprisingly reachable languages.
Why English is relatively accessible once you commit:
- Tons of shared vocabulary from Latin and French (organization, information, international).
- Very simple verb endings compared to Spanish (I speak, you speak, we speak… easy).
- No gender for nouns, no agreement on adjectives.
Big advantages:
- It opens doors for work, travel, study, and media everywhere.
- You’re surrounded by English music, movies, series, games, and memes.
Real talk: English won’t feel as “instant-easy” as Italian or Portuguese, but the return on investment is huge. Treat it as your global toolkit language.
A Few “Surprise” Easier Options
Once you’ve looked at the obvious choices, there are some languages that are not Romance but still surprisingly manageable for dedicated Spanish speakers.
Dutch: If You Already Know English
Holandés /olanˈdes/ — Dutch sits in the Germanic family with English and German.
Why it can be approachable:
- If you speak English, you already know hundreds of similar words.
- Grammar is less complex than German.
- Regular spelling rules once you learn them.
From Spanish, Dutch is not “super easy,” but with good English, it’s like learning a cousin of a cousin.
Esperanto: The “Built To Be Easy” Language
Esperanto /espeˈɾan.to/ — Esperanto is an artificial language designed to be simple.
Why Spanish speakers do well with it:
- Regular grammar, no exceptions.
- Many roots come from Latin and Romance languages.
- Spelling and pronunciation are very predictable.
If your goal is to experience “how it feels to learn a language fast,” Esperanto is a fun laboratory.
Tagalog And Others With Spanish Influence
Tagalo /taˈɣa.lo/ — Tagalog (Filipino) isn’t an easy language overall, but Spanish speakers get a small bonus because of historical contact:
mesa /ˈme.sa/ — table, zapato /saˈpa.to/ — shoe, and other borrowed words exist there too.
Think of these languages as “interesting medium challenges,” not your first stop if you want maximum ease.
How To Choose The Right Language For You
Instead of asking “Which language is objectively easiest?”, ask these three better questions:
- Where will I actually use this language?
If you live in Spain, Catalan or Galician may be the lowest-friction extra language. In Latin America, Portuguese and English are often the most practical. - Which culture excites me enough to keep going when it gets boring?
If you love Italian food, movies, and music, italiano /itaˈʎa.no/ — Italian will feel lighter. If you’re obsessed with K-pop but don’t want a “hard” language yet, maybe English first, Korean later. - Where do I already have contact?
Friends, colleagues, travel plans, favorite TV shows—these give you real-life reasons to practice. Motivation beats theoretical “ease” every time.
Usage Notes & Common Mistakes
A few patterns trip up many Spanish speakers, no matter which language they choose.
False Friends
Falsos amigos /ˈfal.sos aˈmi.ɣos/ — false friends look familiar but betray you.
- embarazada /em.baɾaˈða/ — pregnant (not embarrassed).
- asistir /a.sisˈtiɾ/ — to attend (not to assist).
You’ll find similar traps between Spanish–Portuguese, Spanish–French, and Spanish–English. Always check new words in context, not just by appearance.
Pronouncing Everything Like Spanish
Your Spanish accent is beautiful, but cada idioma /ˈka.ða iˈðjo.ma/ — each language needs its own music.
- For Portuguese, work on nasal vowels and reduced syllables.
- For French, practice nasal vowels and silent-ending consonants.
- For English, accept that spelling will not always help you.
Mixing Grammar Rules
Ser /seɾ/ — to be and estar /esˈtaɾ/ — to be are not used the same way in English’s single “to be,” and other languages may split or merge concepts differently. Don’t force Spanish logic onto every new sentence; instead, treat each language like its own game with its own rules.
Region Notes
Your “easiest” practical language changes a bit depending on where you live.
- Spain
Catalán /kataˈlan/ — Catalan and gallego /ɡaˈʝe.ɣo/ — Galician give you an immediate advantage because you see and hear them daily. French is also nearby geographically, and English is very present in tourism and media. - Latin America
Portugués /poɾtuˈɣes/ — Portuguese is a natural choice because of Brazil. English is crucial for international business, tech, tourism, and studying abroad. - United States
Many Spanish speakers in the US are already exposed to inglés /iŋˈgles/ — English from school, work, and media. Strengthening English first often unlocks better jobs and makes later languages much easier.
The key idea: pick the language that combines similarity, motivation, and real-life exposure for you personally.
Mini Dialogues
Here are a few Spanish mini-dialogues you can actually use when talking about learning new languages.
- Talking About Which Language To Learn Next
¿Qué idioma quieres aprender ahora? /ke iˈðjo.ma ˈkje.ɾes apɾenˈdeɾ aˈo.ɾa/
Which language do you want to learn now?
Estoy entre italiano y portugués. /esˈtoj ˈen.tɾe itaˈʎa.no i poɾtuˈɣes/
I’m torn between Italian and Portuguese.
Para los hispanohablantes, dicen que el portugués es muy fácil. /ˈpa.ɾa los isˌpano.aˈβlan.tes ˈdi.sen ke el poɾtuˈɣes es ˈmuj ˈfa.sil/
They say Portuguese is very easy for Spanish speakers. - Explaining Why You Chose A Language
Empecé con francés porque se parece mucho al español escrito. /empeˈse kon fɾanˈses ˈpoɾ.ke se paˈɾe.se ˈmu.tʃo al espaˈɲol esˈkɾi.to/
I started with French because it looks a lot like Spanish in writing.
Pero la pronunciación es otra historia. /ˈpe.ɾo la pɾo.nun.sjaˈsjon es ˈo.tɾa isˈto.ɾja/
But the pronunciation is a different story.
Sí, pero ya entiendes muchas palabras desde el principio. /si ˈpe.ɾo ʝa enˈtjen.des ˈmu.tʃas paˈla.βɾas ˈdes.ðe el pɾinˈsi.pjo/
Yes, but you already understand lots of words from the beginning. - Talking About English As A Tool
Estoy mejorando mi inglés para tener más oportunidades de trabajo. /esˈtoj mexoˈɾan.do mi iŋˈgles ˈpa.ɾa teˈneɾ mas opoɾtuniˈða.des ðe tɾaˈβa.xo/
I’m improving my English to have more job opportunities.
Buena idea; con inglés, después cualquier idioma es más fácil. /ˈbwe.na iˈðe.a kon iŋˈgles ðesˈpwes kwalˈkjeɾ iˈðjo.ma es mas ˈfa.sil/
Good idea; with English, any language afterwards is easier.
Quick Reference
Screenshot-friendly summary in Spanish you can keep on your phone.
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| El italiano es muy parecido al español. | el itaˈʎa.no es ˈmuj paɾeˈsi.ðo al espaˈɲol | Italian is very similar to Spanish. |
| El portugués es fácil de leer para los hispanohablantes. | el poɾtuˈɣes es ˈfa.sil de leˈeɾ ˈpa.ɾa los isˌpano.aˈβlan.tes | Portuguese is easy to read for Spanish speakers. |
| El francés comparte mucho vocabulario con el español. | el fɾanˈses komˈpaɾ.te ˈmu.tʃo βokaβuˈla.ɾjo kon el espaˈɲol | French shares a lot of vocabulary with Spanish. |
| El inglés es muy útil para el trabajo y los viajes. | el iŋˈgles es ˈmuj ˈu.til ˈpa.ɾa el tɾaˈβa.xo i los ˈbja.xes | English is very useful for work and travel. |
| Las lenguas romances suelen ser las más fáciles para nosotros. | las ˈleŋɡwas roˈman.ses ˈswe.len seɾ las mas ˈfa.si.les ˈpa.ɾa noˈso.tɾos | Romance languages tend to be the easiest for us. |
Five-Minute Practice Plan
- One-minute reflection
In Spanish, say out loud cuál idioma /ˈkwal iˈðjo.ma/ — which language you want to learn next and why. Record yourself on your phone. - Cognate hunt
Choose italiano /itaˈʎa.no/, portugués /poɾtuˈɣes/, or francés /fɾanˈses/. Write 10 words in Spanish ending in -ción /sjon/ and find (or guess) their version in that language. Notice how similar they are. - Mini-dialogue repeat
Pick one mini-dialogue above. Read each line slowly in Spanish, copying the IPA rhythm. Then repeat it with more natural speed like you’re talking to a friend. - Accent awareness
Watch or listen to one short clip (30–60 seconds) in your chosen language. Don’t try to understand everything—just focus on the “music”: intonation, rhythm, how long vowels are. - Motivation note
In Spanish, write two short sentences explaining what you’ll be able to do in one year with that language (travel, job, relationships). Put it somewhere you’ll see every day. - Commitment sentence
Say out loud:
Voy a aprender [idioma] poco a poco, sin compararme con nadie. /boj a apɾenˈdeɾ iˈðjo.ma ˈpo.ko a ˈpo.ko sin kompaɾˈmaɾ.me kon ˈna.ðje/ — I’m going to learn [language] little by little, without comparing myself to anyone.
Yak-Style Closing Spark
Think of your Spanish as a big friendly trampoline: the stronger it is, the higher you can jump into new languages. Whether you’re flirting with italiano, getting nosy with portugués, or finally making peace with inglés, you’re not starting from zero—you’re starting from “already awesome.” Pick one language, give it real attention, and watch how your Spanish superpowers quietly do half the work for you.