Nowadays, lists seem to be all the rage. The 10 best looking men, the 10 worst-dressed models, the 5 wildest animals… One of the most searched-for lists online is the one showing the most widely spoken languages in the world. Why is that?
It makes sense that we would be interested, since language is the main tool used for human communication. So today, we have gone “fishing” in the sea of information and brought you the most up-to-date list of the 10 most spoken languages across the globe.
Some of these languages will come as no surprise (we all know how many Chinese people there are, and not just in China), but others might seem a little… unexpected.
List of the 10 most spoken languages in the world
1. English.
With 1.5 billion speakers, English is without a doubt the most widely known language internationally and the lingua franca in most international business.
2. Chinese.
In China, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan, nearly 1.3 billion people speak Mandarin Chinese. This language clearly takes second place by an overwhelming margin.
3. Spanish.
This is good news for Spanish speakers. Spanish is currently spoken by 600 million people across around thirty countries.
4. Hindi.
Fourth place goes to the native language of Gandhi. This language, not widely known in the West, is spoken by 600 million people.
5. Arabic.
Fifth place goes to this language which is spoken by around 400 million people, mainly in countries across the Middle East and North Africa.
6. Portuguese.
Considering how small this country next to Spain is, you might find it hard to believe that around 270 million people speak this language. The reason lies in former Portuguese colonies such as Mozambique, Brazil and Angola.
7. Bengali.
This ancient language ranks number 7 on our list as the native language of 265 million people.
8. Russian.
With 260 million speakers, Russian is the eighth most spoken language in the world. It is the official language of Russia, but it is also spoken in countries like Kazakhstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.
9. Japanese.
In second-to-last place on our list is Japanese. This ancient language is spoken by 125 million people across many countries around the world.
10. Javanese.
At the bottom of the list, and pushing traditional German out of the top 10, is Javanese. Although it is fairly unknown in Europe and the Americas, this language is spoken by nearly 82 million people in Indonesia, the fourth most populous country in the world.
The 3 essential languages for success in the business world
Since we know you are hungry for more, let’s keep the lists coming! Now that you have discovered the 10 most widely spoken languages in the world, it is time to focus on you and your business. We are about to share some insights you may not have considered when choosing a translation company to help you continue growing.
The second most important language in the business world is…
Arabic. Yes, you read that correctly. Arabic is currently the second most important language in the business world. It is one of the key languages for building commercial relationships in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Keep in mind that these regions are extremely wealthy and hold significant influence in the global business arena. Arabic has seen moderate growth beyond its borders due to the region’s economic boom and migration trends. Nowadays, many companies specifically request it when ordering translation services.
The ultimate language for personal and professional relations
English has always been the go-to language for communication. Today, it is rare for companies not to request English when translating a website. Its global success is largely due to the colonial expansion of the British across much of the world. On top of that, a vast amount of cultural and scientific content is available in English. Over time, it has firmly established itself as a global lingua franca, leading to increasingly widespread use.
The most important language in cultural terms
If we shift our focus to a more cultural and artistic field, we find French. Although its educational importance has declined in recent years in favour of English, French still enjoys international prestige. It is a highly significant language within the European Union and plays an important role in business across the region. In addition, within the cultural and artistic world, it remains the dominant language.
And now, the question is, what language will you need a translation into?
