According to Ethnologue, the most comprehensive database of world languages, Spanish is more widely spoken than French. As of 2021, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world with 460 million speakers, while French is in ninth place with 280 million speakers.
Famous writer Robert Lane Greene, in his book “You Are What You Speak: Grammar Grouches, Language Laws, and the Politics of Identity”, explains that “by every measure, Spanish has become the world’s second most commonly spoken language after Mandarin Chinese”.
Here are some interesting facts on the topic:
Spanish is the official language of 20 countries, while French is the official language of 29 countries.
French was once considered the international language of diplomacy.
Spanish is the second most studied language in the world, after English (according to Instituto Cervantes).
Spanish is the third most used language on the internet (after English and Chinese).
To provide a visual representation of the spread of these languages, here is a table showing the top 10 countries with the highest number of French and Spanish speakers:
In conclusion, while both languages have their own unique importance and cultural significance, Spanish has a wider reach and is more widely spoken than French.
Answer in video
In a Babbel video titled “French vs Spanish: Which language should you learn?”, native-speaking teachers discuss the similarities and differences between the two languages. While both languages share grammatical similarities, they also have distinct vocabulary influences and difficulties such as the subjunctive in Spanish and adjective placement in French. The speakers encourage learners to choose a language that interests them and emphasize the importance of exposure and practice. Finally, while both languages are considered romantic, they express their own unique styles that cannot be replicated.
Additional responses to your query
Whereas Spanish is more widely spoken (for now — the African continent’s rising population could boost global French-speaking numbers to over 700 million by 2050), French is also an important language in international diplomacy, travel, tourism and hospitality.
Spanish is more widely spoken than French, but there’s a nuance to this. Spanish is spoken as a first language by some ~460 million people and ~75M as a second language. It’s spoken primarily in Spain and nearly all of Latin America other than Brazil and a couple of other small countries.
I am confident that you will be interested in these issues
Is French more widely spoken or Spanish?
French and Spanish are both among the most widely spoken languages in the world. While Spanish is the fourth most spoken language, spoken by approximately 534 million people, French is the fifth most spoken language in the world, at 280 million speakers.
Which language is most useful Spanish or French?
The answer is: If you live in the United States or plan to travel throughout Latin America, Spanish is probably going to be much more useful to you. However, if you’re in Canada, or planning to travel or do business there, knowing French is going to be more helpful — it’s an official language of the country, after all.
Which is easier to speak French or Spanish?
As an answer to this: Spanish is simpler to pronounce and most English speakers will find it easier to learn speaking fluently Spanish than to learn speakinf fluently in French. In terms of vocabulary, French and English are very close due to their shared history.
What is the most widely spoken language in the world?
Response will be: 1. English (1,452 million speakers) According to Ethnologue, English is the most-spoken language in the world including native and non-native speakers. Like Latin or Greek at the time, English has become the world’s common language.
Is Spanish more widely spoken than French?
Spanish is more widely spoken than French, but there’s a nuance to this. Spanish is spoken as a first language by some ~460 million people and ~75M as a second language. It’s spoken primarily in Spain and nearly all of Latin America other than Brazil and a couple of other small countries.
What is the most spoken language in the world?
In reply to that: In this new video you can see the ranking of the 100 most spoken languages in the world. The most spoken language is Mandarin Chinese with 921 million people. This is followed by Spanish with 463 million and English with 370 million. In fourth place is Hindi with 342 million and Bengali with 228 million.
Why are French and Spanish a second language?
As an answer to this: It is a result of being linguistically similar to your native language. Looking at French and Spanish, we see that they are part of the Romance Language, which directly links Latin and shares a common vocabulary. So if you’re a native English speaker, including those who reside in India, both languages are ideal as a second language.
Where is French spoken in Canada?
Response to this: In fact, French is the first official language spoken by more than 20% of the population, most of whom live in the eastern province of Quebec. Another place where French is more widely spoken than Spanish is in Africa.
Is Spanish more widely spoken than French?
Response to this: Spanish is more widely spoken than French, but there’s a nuance to this. Spanish is spoken as a first language by some ~460 million people and ~75M as a second language. It’s spoken primarily in Spain and nearly all of Latin America other than Brazil and a couple of other small countries.
Which language is most spoken in the world?
French and Spanish are both among the most widely spoken languages in the world . While Spanish is the fourth most spoken language, spoken by approximately 534 million people, French is the fifth most spoken language in the world, at 280 million speakers. You may notice that the gap between fourth and fifth is about 250 million people.
Which language should I choose if I'm French or Spanish?
In reply to that: Your second consideration should be how you personally can relate to the two languages. If you already speak Portuguese, for example, Spanish might come a little easier to you. If you speak Creole, first off, cool! In which case, you may find French easier to pick up.
Where is French spoken in Canada?
In fact, French is the first official language spoken by more than 20% of the population, most of whom live in the eastern province of Quebec. Another place where French is more widely spoken than Spanish is in Africa.
