TOP 10 MOST SPOKEN TOP 10 MOST SPOKEN LANGUAGES OF THE WORLDLANGUAGES OF THE WORLD

Language is perhaps the most Language is perhaps the most important function of the human important function of the human body – it allows us to get sustenance body – it allows us to get sustenance as a child, it allows us to get virtually as a child, it allows us to get virtually anything we want as an adult, and it anything we want as an adult, and it allows us many hours of allows us many hours of entertainment through literature, entertainment through literature, radio, music, and films. This list (in radio, music, and films. This list (in order of least to most spoken) order of least to most spoken) summarizes the most important summarizes the most important languages in use today.languages in use today.

Mandarin\ ChineseMandarin\ Chinese• Number of speakers:Number of speakers: 1 billion+ 1 billion+• Surprise, surprise, the most widely spoken Surprise, surprise, the most widely spoken

language on the planet is based in the most language on the planet is based in the most populated country on the planet. Beating second-populated country on the planet. Beating second-place English by a 2 to 1 ratio, don’t think place English by a 2 to 1 ratio, don’t think Mandarin is easy to learn. Speaking Mandarin can Mandarin is easy to learn. Speaking Mandarin can be really tough, because each word can be be really tough, because each word can be pronounced in four ways (or “tones”), and a pronounced in four ways (or “tones”), and a beginner will invariably have trouble beginner will invariably have trouble distinguishing one tone from another. But if over a distinguishing one tone from another. But if over a billion people could do it, so could you. Try saying billion people could do it, so could you. Try saying hello!hello!

• To say “hello” in Mandarin, say “Ni hao” (Nee To say “hello” in Mandarin, say “Ni hao” (Nee HaOW). (“Hao” is pronounced as one syllable, but HaOW). (“Hao” is pronounced as one syllable, but the tone requires that you let your voice drop the tone requires that you let your voice drop midway, and then raise it again at the end.)midway, and then raise it again at the end.)

EnglishEnglish• Number of speakers:Number of speakers: 508 million 508 million• While English doesn’t have the most speakers, it is While English doesn’t have the most speakers, it is

the official language of more countries than any the official language of more countries than any other language. Its speakers hail from all around other language. Its speakers hail from all around the world, including New Zealand, the U.S., the world, including New Zealand, the U.S., Australia, England, Zimbabwe, the Caribbean, Hong Australia, England, Zimbabwe, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, South Africa, and Canada. We’d tell you more Kong, South Africa, and Canada. We’d tell you more about English, but you probably feel pretty about English, but you probably feel pretty comfortable with the language already. Let’s just comfortable with the language already. Let’s just move on to the most popular language in the world.move on to the most popular language in the world.

• To say “hello” in English, say “What’s up, freak?” To say “hello” in English, say “What’s up, freak?” (watz-UP-freek).(watz-UP-freek).

HindustaniHindustani• Number of speakers:Number of speakers: 497 million 497 million• Hindustani is the primary language of India’s crowded Hindustani is the primary language of India’s crowded

population, and it encompasses a huge number of population, and it encompasses a huge number of dialects (of which the most commonly spoken is dialects (of which the most commonly spoken is Hindi). While many predict that the population of India Hindi). While many predict that the population of India will soon surpass that of China, the prominence of will soon surpass that of China, the prominence of English in India prevents Hindustani from surpassing English in India prevents Hindustani from surpassing the most popular language in the world. If you’re the most popular language in the world. If you’re interested in learning a little Hindi, there’s a very easy interested in learning a little Hindi, there’s a very easy way: rent an Indian movie. The film industry in India is way: rent an Indian movie. The film industry in India is the most prolific in the world, making thousands of the most prolific in the world, making thousands of action/romance/musicals every year.action/romance/musicals every year.

• To say “hello” in Hindustani, say “Namaste” (Nah-To say “hello” in Hindustani, say “Namaste” (Nah-MAH-stay).MAH-stay).

SpanishSpanish• Number of speakers:Number of speakers: 392 million 392 million• Aside from all of those kids who take it in high Aside from all of those kids who take it in high

school, Spanish is spoken in just about every school, Spanish is spoken in just about every South American and Central American country, South American and Central American country, not to mention Spain, Cuba, and the U.S. There not to mention Spain, Cuba, and the U.S. There is a particular interest in Spanish in the U.S., as is a particular interest in Spanish in the U.S., as many English words are borrowed from the many English words are borrowed from the language, including: tornado, bonanza, patio, language, including: tornado, bonanza, patio, quesadilla, enchilada, and taco Grande quesadilla, enchilada, and taco Grande supreme.supreme.

• To say “hello” in Spanish, say “Hola” (OH-la).To say “hello” in Spanish, say “Hola” (OH-la).

RussianRussian• Number of speakers:Number of speakers: 277 million 277 million• Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, and Yakov Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, and Yakov

Smirnoff are among the millions of Russian Smirnoff are among the millions of Russian speakers out there. Sure, we used to think of speakers out there. Sure, we used to think of them as our Commie enemies. Now we think them as our Commie enemies. Now we think of them as our Commie friends. One of the six of them as our Commie friends. One of the six languages in the UN, Russian is spoken not languages in the UN, Russian is spoken not only in the Mother Country, but also in only in the Mother Country, but also in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and the U.S. (to name Belarus, Kazakhstan, and the U.S. (to name just a few places).just a few places).

• To say “hello” in Russian, say “Zdravstvuite” To say “hello” in Russian, say “Zdravstvuite” (ZDRAST-vet-yah).(ZDRAST-vet-yah).

ArabicArabic• Number of speakers:Number of speakers: 246 million 246 million• Arabic, one of the world’s oldest languages, is Arabic, one of the world’s oldest languages, is

spoken in the Middle East, with speakers found in spoken in the Middle East, with speakers found in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt. Furthermore, because Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt. Furthermore, because Arabic is the language of the Koran, millions of Arabic is the language of the Koran, millions of Moslems in other countries speak Arabic as well. So Moslems in other countries speak Arabic as well. So many people have a working knowledge of Arabic, many people have a working knowledge of Arabic, in fact, that in 1974 it was made the sixth official in fact, that in 1974 it was made the sixth official language of the United Nations.language of the United Nations.

• To say “hello” in Arabic, say “Al salaam a’alaykum” To say “hello” in Arabic, say “Al salaam a’alaykum” (Ahl sah-LAHM ah ah-LAY-koom).(Ahl sah-LAHM ah ah-LAY-koom).

BengaliBengali• Number of speakers:Number of speakers: 211 million 211 million• In Bangladesh, a country of 120+ million In Bangladesh, a country of 120+ million

people, just about everybody speaks Bengali. people, just about everybody speaks Bengali. And because Bangladesh is virtually surrounded And because Bangladesh is virtually surrounded by India (where the population is growing so by India (where the population is growing so fast, just breathing the air can get you fast, just breathing the air can get you pregnant), the number of Bengali speakers in pregnant), the number of Bengali speakers in the world is much higher than most people the world is much higher than most people would expect.would expect.

• To say “hello” in Bengali, say “Ei Je” (EYE-jay).To say “hello” in Bengali, say “Ei Je” (EYE-jay).

PortuguesePortuguese• Number of speakers:Number of speakers: 191 million 191 million• Think of Portuguese as the little language that Think of Portuguese as the little language that

could. In the 12th Century, Portugal won its could. In the 12th Century, Portugal won its independence from Spain and expanded all over independence from Spain and expanded all over the world with the help of its famous explorers like the world with the help of its famous explorers like Vasco da Gama and Prince Henry the Navigator. Vasco da Gama and Prince Henry the Navigator. (Good thing Henry became a navigator . . . could (Good thing Henry became a navigator . . . could you imagine if a guy named “Prince Henry the you imagine if a guy named “Prince Henry the Navigator” became a florist?) Because Portugal got Navigator” became a florist?) Because Portugal got in so early on the exploring game, the language in so early on the exploring game, the language established itself all over the world, especially in established itself all over the world, especially in Brazil (where it’s the national language), Macau, Brazil (where it’s the national language), Macau, Angola, Venezuela, and Mozambique.Angola, Venezuela, and Mozambique.

• To say “hello” in Portuguese, say “Bom dia” (bohn To say “hello” in Portuguese, say “Bom dia” (bohn DEE-ah). DEE-ah).

Malay-IndonesianMalay-Indonesian• Number of speakers:Number of speakers: 159 million 159 million• Malay-Indonesian is spoken – surprise – in Malay-Indonesian is spoken – surprise – in

Malaysia and Indonesia. Actually, we kinda Malaysia and Indonesia. Actually, we kinda fudged the numbers on this one because there fudged the numbers on this one because there are many dialects of Malay, the most popular of are many dialects of Malay, the most popular of which is Indonesian. But they’re all pretty much which is Indonesian. But they’re all pretty much based on the same root language, which makes it based on the same root language, which makes it the ninth most-spoken in the world.the ninth most-spoken in the world.

• Indonesia is a fascinating place; a nation made Indonesia is a fascinating place; a nation made up of over 13,000 islands it is the sixth most up of over 13,000 islands it is the sixth most populated country in the world. Malaysia borders populated country in the world. Malaysia borders on two of the larger parts of Indonesia (including on two of the larger parts of Indonesia (including the island of Borneo), and is mostly known for its the island of Borneo), and is mostly known for its capital city of Kuala Lumpur.capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

• To say “hello” in Indonesian, say “Selamat pagi” To say “hello” in Indonesian, say “Selamat pagi” (se-LA-maht PA-gee).(se-LA-maht PA-gee).

FrenchFrench• Number of speakers:Number of speakers: 129 million 129 million• Often called the most romantic language in the Often called the most romantic language in the

world, French is spoken in tons of countries, world, French is spoken in tons of countries, including Belgium, Canada, Rwanda, including Belgium, Canada, Rwanda, Cameroon, and Haiti. Oh, and France too. Cameroon, and Haiti. Oh, and France too. We’re actually very lucky that French is so We’re actually very lucky that French is so popular, because without it, we might have popular, because without it, we might have been stuck with Dutch Toast, Dutch Fries, and been stuck with Dutch Toast, Dutch Fries, and Dutch kissing (ew!).Dutch kissing (ew!).

• To say “hello” in French, say “Bonjour” (bone-To say “hello” in French, say “Bonjour” (bone-JOOR JOOR