5 Hardest Languages To Learn For English Speakers

2. Arabic  

Insider Monkey Score: 4  

Arabic, a Semitic language spoken in the Middle East and northern Africa, presents challenges for English speakers. Its right-to-left script, complex grammar, and unfamiliar sounds make it super hard to learn. Arabic includes Modern Standard Arabic for print and media and various regional dialects. Pronunciation is difficult due to back-of-the-mouth consonants.

The Arabic script, derived from the Phoenicians, features shape-changing letters and right-to-left reading. Grammar differs from English, with plural forms and irregular verbs. Despite the challenges, learning Arabic offers cultural insights and career prospects.