It’s always fun learning a foreign language! Not only does it open the way to experiencing new cultures and meeting new people, but it also paves the way for previously undiscovered career opportunities, especially if you’re looking for employment abroad. What’s more, being able to communicate with stakeholders in their native tongue helps foster better trust and relationships.
However, not all languages are the same in this regard. If you’re trying to learn a new language with the precise goal of using it to help advance your business, you’re in luck because, in this article, we’ll be listing the 15 best languages to learn for business! Let’s get to it!
1. English
Spoken in over 94 countries and territories, English is by far one of the best languages to learn for business. More importantly, of the 900 million plus English speakers worldwide, only about half of them are native speakers, making English the most common foreign language in the world.
With English being so widespread around the globe, having a good grasp of the language is essential when conducting international business. In fact, most of the world’s most prestigious institutions, ranging from business firms to financial entities, use English as their official language. Even in budding economies like the Southeast Asian market, English is quickly becoming more widely used, opening up more fiscal opportunities in the region.
More importantly, English remains the main language of the Internet and the digital world in general, with most of the world’s leading websites and software being developed in English. As a result, it’s not far-fetched at all to say that English is the best language to learn for business, at least for now.
Also read: 22 Best Apps to Learn English Fast in 2023
2. Mandarin
Following closely behind English in terms of global use, Mandarin is another one of the best languages to learn for business. In fact (and this isn’t just native speaker bias), I would say that this Asian language is the most crucial language to learn if you’re looking to expand and future-proof your business.
In total, more than a billion people worldwide speak Mandarin, with over 800 million of them being native speakers in China. Boasting a robust economy that ranks as one of the largest in the world based on GDP, China is an imperative market in the business world that cannot be ignored.
In addition to being home to plenty of up-and-coming local-bred global brands, like Lenovo and Xiaomi, China is also increasingly seeing an influx of foreign business entities keen to set up shop in the country. That’s not even mentioning the vibrant e-commerce sector in the country, with online retail giant Alibaba leading the way.
What’s more, Mandarin is also widely spoken in blooming economies like Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and more. Simply put, learning Mandarin definitely gives you a major advantage in expanding your business!
3. Japanese
While there are some analysts who fret over the future of the Japanese economy, it can’t be denied that the Land of the Rising Sun is (currently) still the world’s third-largest economy. That alone should be enough to convince you of the benefits of learning Japanese.
This East-Asian powerhouse is known as a hotbed for technological innovation and creativity, as evidenced by the futuristic lifestyle of its major cities, Tokyo in particular. What’s more, Japan is heavily linked to many different global sectors, ranging from energy and natural resources to finance and IT.
That’s why Japanese is, in my opinion, one of the top five best languages to learn for business as it opens the door to the Japanese market, which generally relies on its native language as the main business language.
4. Korean
Like Japan, South Korea is a stalwart in the global business world when it comes to technological advancement. In fact, I reckon many of you who are reading this now on a Samsung phone or tablet are proof of the far-reaching influence of South Korea’s electronics sector.
While the Korean language isn’t as widely-spoken as many of the other languages on this list (there are only about 79 million native speakers), it is still one of the best languages to learn for business. Learning Korean opens the door to collaborating with well-known, multinational Korean firms in the tech and electronics field, like Samsung, LG, Hyundai, and more.
While English is also spoken widely in Korea, being able to converse in Korean definitely helps local investors warm up to you, especially because of how proud they are of their mother tongue!
Also read: 15 Incredible Benefits of Learning Korean
5. German
For those with aspirations of starting or getting involved with businesses in the automobile industry, there’s no better language to learn for business than German. After all, the country is famous for brands like Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen, and more. It is also one of the strongest economies in Europe!
Aside from its highly-reputable autobahn industry, Germany is also known for its tech and financial sectors. Although English is widely used in all these sectors, being able to speak German makes it much easier to assimilate into the workplace and helps you communicate more efficiently, especially with smaller local businesses.
What’s more, learning German allows you to also explore opportunities in countries like Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium!
6. Italian
Much like German, Italian is one of the best business languages to learn because it is widely spoken in some of the most important business hubs in Europe, including Switzerland, Croatia, Malta, and more, with over 85 million Italian speakers worldwide.
For those who want to get into the fashion and design business, Italian is one of the main languages to learn. That’s because many of the world’s leading design brands (think Gucci, Prada, Armani, etc.) are headquartered in Italy, as well as the well-known automotive brand, Ferrari.
Crucially, Italy is one of the countries in Europe where English isn’t as widely spoken, so mastering Italian is a beneficial step to being able to dive into the local market, as well as for exploring opportunities with some of the biggest global conglomerates. After all, Italy is home to the second-largest manufacturing industry in the continent, behind Spain.
7. Spanish
Speaking of Spain, Spanish for me, is another one of the top five best languages to learn for business, simply because it is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world! Even within the United States, almost 30% of the population speaks Spanish and the number will only continue to rise.
More importantly, there are over 500 million Spanish speakers worldwide (mainly in South America and Spain), with more than 20 countries recognizing it as their official language. Even a sizeable chunk of business transactions in the United Kingdom is conducted in Spanish.
Learning Spanish for business is even more beneficial for business opportunities when one considers the largely untapped potential of the South American market, which is the fourth-biggest GDP in the world.Â
Also read: 13 Most Spoken Languages in South America
8. Portuguese
Despite Spanish being widely used in South America, the biggest business opportunities in the continent are often found in Brazil, where Portuguese is the main language. In fact, there are more Portuguese speakers in Brazil than in Portugal itself!
But why is learning Portuguese so important when it comes to business dealings in Brazil? Simply because of the country’s position in (potentially) determining the future direction of the world economy. Along with China, Russia, India, and Saudi Arabia, Brazil is part of the BRICS economic alliance seeking to reduce the influence of the US Dollar.
Beyond global politics, being able to speak Portuguese in Brazil, where English is far from being a common language, opens a pathway into the country’s agriculture, mining, and manufacturing industries, where plenty of fiscal opportunities can be discovered.
Also read: Should You Learn Brazilian or European Portuguese? A Decision Guide
9. Russian
Another prominent member of the BRICS alliance is Russia, the sixth-largest economy in the world, and one of the leading market players when it comes to engineering, agriculture, petroleum, and energy. In fact, despite the ongoing conflict, Russia is poised to overtake even Germany in terms of economic growth by 2030.
Crucially, learning Russian as a business language also enables you to seek out business opportunities in countries like Belarus, Uzbekistan, and other countries surrounding Russia, where over 260 million people speak the language.
Even in the United States, there are large Russian-speaking communities which makes Russian an extremely useful language to learn, not just for business, but also for daily communication.
10. Hindi
Even if it weren’t part of the BRICS alliance, India is undoubtedly one of the leading global economic markets, poised for unprecedented growth in the coming few years. And if you’re planning on expanding your business or working in India, the language you should learn is Hindi.
While Hindi isn’t the national language of India per se, it is one of the officially recognized languages in the country, widely used in many different sectors and official documents. It’s also one of the more common languages used in India, allowing you to reach out to a vast portion of the domestic consumer market, especially in the manufacturing industry.
English is popular as a second language in major urban cities in India, but not so much in other areas, where most locals aren’t fluent in the language. So if you’re looking to enjoy a piece of the domestic market pie, you’ll do well to master Hindi.
11. French
For many, French is often considered one of the most romantic and sophisticated languages in Europe. It is the official language of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, making it one of the best languages to learn for international business.
However, learning French isn’t just so you can delve into businesses in France, Belgium, Canada, and other French-speaking Western countries. What many people forget is that French has over 230 million global speakers, many of whom are based in African nations like Rwanda, Tanzania, CĂ´te d’Ivoire, and more.
With Africa poised to kickstart the next Industrial Revolution, the future of businesses and job opportunities lies on the continent. So learning how to speak French will certainly stand you in good stead!
12. Swahili
Alternatively, if you want to be able to communicate well in the workplace in Africa, consider learning Swahili instead! The language is widely spoken in the eastern and central regions of Africa, meaning countries like Kenya, Uganda, the Congo, Burundi, and more.
In total, there are an estimated 200 million speakers of Swahili, so picking it up as a second language is definitely a major plus if you want to expand your business in Africa! It’s actually pretty easy to master, as it contains plenty of borrowed elements of English, Arabic, and Portuguese!
13. Arabic
There’s no denying that some of the richest nations in the world are found in the Middle East. Off the top of my head, I’m thinking of countries like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and more.
With such a strong GDP, it’s no surprise to learn that the Middle East is an ideal destination for business expansion and investment. The region is also home to many foreign expats who seek employment there, which makes Arabic, statistically, one of the best languages to learn for business!
Over the past few years, the use of Arabic has been greatly increasing, with now over 400 million speakers worldwide! Naturally, speaking Arabic gives you an edge when trying to dive into the global oil and gas industries in the Middle East.
More importantly, many Arabic-speaking countries are now also expanding their tourism and manufacturing sectors, opening up even more employment opportunities to the world! So, if you’ve always wanted to learn Arabic, now is the best time to start!
14. Bahasa Indonesia/Melayu
One of the top underrated languages to learn for business is Bahasa Indonesia (spoken in Indonesia) and Bahasa Melayu (spoken in Malaysia, and Brunei). That’s because this region in Southeast Asia isn’t just populous, but most of these countries are also huge contributors to the global oil and gas industry.
While English is spoken widely in these countries, speaking Bahasa Indonesia and Melayu helps you reach these rapidly developing markets better, allowing you to connect with even small local businesses.
What’s more, with Bahasa Indonesia and Melayu being the national languages of the respective countries, having a firm grasp of these languages makes it easier to secure employment opportunities in these countries. Plus, given that the phonetic nature of both languages is similar to English, Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Melayu are some of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn!
15. Dutch
Another easy language for English speakers to learn that’s widely used in international business is Dutch, widely spoken in the Netherlands, a country that is famous for being a major transit and trade hub in Europe, and an early adopter of groundbreaking technologies.
The Netherlands’ biggest industries include food and beverage, energy production, and machinery. While English is a well-known second language in major cities like Amsterdam, having a firm command of Dutch is necessary to reach out to the wider domestic market if you’re planning to expand your business or work in the country.
Final thoughts
And there you have it — 15 of the best languages to learn for business! Given how the business landscape of the world today is deeply interconnected, breaking the language barriers in your workplace by learning a new language is a huge advantage for those who fancy a foray into international markets.
Which language will you be learning first? Let us know! In addition, check out these 10 best languages to learn to prepare yourself for the future!