If you’re planning to travel the world, one of the most valuable tools you can carry with you is a language. While apps, hand gestures, and translation tools can help in a pinch, nothing beats the human connection of speaking to someone in their native tongue. Whether you’re wandering the streets of Tokyo, negotiating prices in Marrakech, or making friends in Buenos Aires, speaking the local language opens doors that tourists often never see.
But before diving into the best languages to learn for travel, let’s clear one thing up: if English is not your first language, English should be your priority. Like it or not, English is the global fallback for tourism, business, and international exchange. In many parts of the world, preeminent cities, airports, tourist hubs, and even remote spots that see regular tourism, you’ll find road signs, menus, and public information in English. It’s not universal, but it’s more widespread than any other language.
Table of Contents
- 9 Languages Besides English to Learn When Traveling The World
- Spanish: The Most Practical Language for the Western Hemisphere
- French: The Passport to Africa and Beyond
- Portuguese: For Brazil and a Few Hidden Gems
- Arabic: A Key to the Middle East and North Africa
- Mandarin Chinese: Powerful, but Limited in Travel Use
- Russian: Access to Eastern Europe and Central Asia
- German: Handy for Central Europe
- Japanese and Korean: Great for Cultural Immersion
- Hindi and Urdu: Limited but Worth Considering
- The Accent Challenge: Dialects Within Countries
- Related Questions
9 Languages Besides English to Learn When Traveling The World
That said, English alone won’t get you everywhere.
Even in English-friendly destinations, knowing a second (or third) language can drastically improve your experience, helping you navigate more confidently, build relationships, and show respect to the local culture. But here’s where it gets tricky: not all widely spoken languages are functional everywhere.
Let’s break down the best languages to learn for world travelers, region by region, and help you understand when a language is an asset and when it might leave you hanging.
Spanish: The Most Practical Language for the Western Hemisphere
Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with over 460 million native speakers and millions more who speak it as a second language. For travelers heading to Latin America, Spain, or parts of the United States, Spanish is a handy tool.
Where it helps:
Mexico, Central America (excluding Belize), almost all of South America (except Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana), Spain, and parts of the Caribbean.
Where it won’t:
Portugal (Portuguese is distinct and not mutually intelligible), Brazil (where Portuguese is spoken), and regions of Latin America with strong indigenous language presence.
Important note:
Even within Spanish-speaking countries, accents and vocabulary vary widely. Argentine Spanish is distinct from Mexican Spanish. Still, the core language remains understandable across regions, and your efforts will be appreciated anywhere.
French: The Passport to Africa and Beyond
French is a global language, thanks to France’s colonial history. It’s spoken not only in France but across West and Central Africa, parts of the Caribbean, and even Southeast Asia.
Where it helps:
France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada (especially Quebec), Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Haiti, Madagascar, and parts of Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam and Laos (primarily among older generations).
Where it won’t:
Most of Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Asia (outside the former colonies).
French pronunciation can be a hurdle, but basic phrases go a long way, especially in rural parts of Africa where English is less prevalent.
Portuguese: For Brazil and a Few Hidden Gems
Spanish often overshadows Portuguese, but it holds its own in the travel world, especially if you’re planning to explore Brazil.
Where it helps:
Brazil (which occupies almost half of South America), Portugal, parts of Mozambique, Angola, and Cape Verde.
Where it won’t:
Everywhere else. Portuguese and Spanish are not mutually intelligible. If you speak Spanish and land in Lisbon, you’ll find the written language somewhat familiar, but understanding spoken Portuguese can be surprisingly tricky.
Arabic: A Key to the Middle East and North Africa
Arabic is spoken across more than 20 countries and is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. It opens doors in the Middle East and North Africa.
Where it helps:
Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and more.
Where it won’t:
Most Arabic dialects are not mutually intelligible. Egyptian Arabic is widely understood due to its influence on film and media, but dialects vary significantly. Learning Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) will aid in reading and formal situations, but not necessarily in casual conversation.
Mandarin Chinese: Powerful, but Limited in Travel Use
Mandarin is the world’s most spoken language by several native speakers. It’s essential for doing business in China and can be incredibly useful for navigating cities like Beijing or Shanghai.
Where it helps:
Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore (in part).
Where it won’t:
Southeast Asia in general. While there are ethnic Chinese populations across Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, Mandarin will not be of much help. Vietnamese, Thai, Khmer, and others are entirely different language families with different scripts and grammar.
Even within China, regional dialects like Cantonese in Hong Kong or Shanghainese in Shanghai can complicate communication.
Russian: Access to Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Russian remains a lingua franca across many parts of the former Soviet Union. While it’s not as widely used globally as Spanish or French, it can unlock unique travel experiences.
Where it helps:
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, parts of Ukraine, and other Central Asian countries.
Where it won’t:
Western Europe, the Americas, and Africa.
In post-Soviet states, Russian is often understood even if not officially spoken, especially among older generations.
German: Handy for Central Europe
German is not a global giant, but in Central Europe, it can be surprisingly helpful.
Where it helps:
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. Also helpful in tourist-heavy areas of Eastern Europe, where German tourists frequently visit.
Where it won’t:
Southern Europe, Scandinavia, or any non-European countries.
Japanese and Korean: Great for Cultural Immersion
If you’re planning an extended trip to Japan or South Korea, knowing the local language can significantly enhance your experience.
Where they help:
Japan (Japanese), South Korea (Korean).
Where they won’t:
Anywhere else. These are highly country-specific languages, with very little mutual intelligibility outside their borders.
Hindi and Urdu: Limited but Worth Considering
Hindi (and its close relative Urdu) is spoken by hundreds of millions of people in India and Pakistan.
Where they help:
Northern India, parts of Nepal, and Pakistan.
Where they won’t:
Southern India (where Dravidian languages like Tamil or Telugu dominate) and most other countries. English is also widely spoken in India, particularly in cities.
The Accent Challenge: Dialects Within Countries
Even if you learn a language, be ready for variations. For instance:
- Spanish in Spain (Castilian) sounds different from Spanish in Chile or Cuba.
- Arabic dialects may make it hard to understand speakers from another region.
- Chinese has many spoken dialects that are not mutually intelligible.
- Even within English, accents can be a barrier: think Scottish vs. Australian vs. Indian English.
Understanding local accents and regional vocabulary takes time and exposure, but don’t let that stop you. Locals usually appreciate any effort to speak their language, even if it’s not perfect.
The Smart Traveler’s Language Strategy
- Start with English if you don’t already speak it. It’s still the most helpful travel language on Earth.
- Choose your second language based on your travel goals. Going to Latin America? Learn Spanish. Heading to Morocco and Tunisia? French or Arabic.
- Don’t overestimate language overlap. Just because Portuguese and Spanish are both Romance languages doesn’t mean knowing one makes you fluent in the other. The same goes for Chinese in Vietnam or Russian in Poland.
- Learn travel essentials. If you’re short on time, pick up 50-100 words and phrases: greetings, directions, numbers, food, emergency phrases. This effort alone can smooth many travel bumps.
- Use tech, but don’t depend on it. Apps like Google Translate are helpful backups, but they’re not perfect. Offline dictionaries and phrasebooks still have value.
Final Thoughts
Learning a language isn’t just about communication. It’s a sign of respect. It’s a way to connect more deeply with people and places. It opens up parts of the world that monolingual tourists miss.
So if travel is your passion, language learning should be part of your toolkit. Choose wisely based on your destinations, manage your expectations, and always stay curious. Even a few words can change the way the world responds to you.
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