Which language is most spoken in the world?

English is the most spoken language in the world when counting both native and non-native speakers, with over 1.45 billion total speakers as of 2025/2026. If considering only native speakers, Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken, with approximately 900 million to 1.3 billion native speakers.

What are the top 5 languages spoken in the world?

The top 5 most spoken languages in the world by total speakers are English, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, and French/Arabic, though rankings can shift slightly between French and Arabic depending on the source and how dialects are counted, with English leading due to its global reach and Mandarin having the most native speakers. These languages dominate due to large populations, historical influence, and international communication needs.
 

What is the oldest language?

The inscription translates to: “He has united the Two Lands for his son, Dual King Peribsen,” and it is considered the earliest-known complete sentence. Historians and linguists generally agree that Sumerian, Akkadian and Egyptian are the oldest languages with a clear written record.

Who has 37 languages?

When Bolivia adopted its 2009 constitution, 37 languages were elevated to “official” status.

Which country speaks the most languages?

Papua New Guinea is the world's most multilingual country, with a total of 840 languages spoken.

Top 10 Most Spoken Languages in the World!

What's the prettiest language to speak?

And the most beautiful languages in the world are…

• FRENCH – MOST BEAUTIFUL SPOKEN LANGUAGE. If there is a language which draws a unanimous worldwide consent regarding its beauty, it is French. ...
• GERMAN – MOST BEAUTIFUL SUNG LANGUAGE. ...
• ARABIC – MOST BEAUTIFUL WRITTEN LANGUAGE. ...
• ITALIAN – MOST BEAUTIFUL BODY LANGUAGE.

Who can speak 42 languages fluently?

The person known for speaking 42 languages fluently is Canadian polyglot Powell Alexander Janulus, who received the Guinness World Record in 1985 after passing fluency tests in those languages, working as a court interpreter and learning new languages continuously. While Janulus is the most specific answer for 42 languages, other hyperpolyglots like Ziad Fazah and historical figures like Cardinal Giuseppe Mezzofanti have claimed even higher numbers, though with varying levels of verification.

What language is growing the fastest?

The 6 Languages With The Most Significant Growth Rates Worldwide

• #1 Urdu. Originating in the 12th century in North India around Delhi, the Urdu language boasts a rich and extensive history. ...
• #2 Indonesian. ...
• #3 Hindi. ...
• #4 Bengali. ...
• #5 English. ...
• #6 Portuguese.

Which language is the most useful to learn?

English

It is the dominant language in global business, international travel, diplomatic relations, and technology. Many of the world's top economies, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, are English-speaking countries.

Which country has 500 languages?

With more than 200 million people, Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and its largest democracy. With more than 300 ethnic groups, over 500 languages, and many distinct religious and regional differences, it's also one of the world's most culturally diverse countries.

Is English still the dominant language?

English is the largest language by number of speakers, spoken by communities on every continent. Estimates of second language and foreign-language speakers vary greatly depending on how proficiency is defined, from 470 million to more than 1 billion.

What language is hardest to learn?

UNESCO is giving credit where credit is due: Chinese is officially the most difficult language in the world. To give you an idea of the complexity of this language: The written form gives no clues as to pronunciation… And pronunciation and intonation completely change the meaning of a word.

What country has 800 languages?

Papua New Guinea has about eight million people, but more than 800 languages.

Who is the boy who speaks 400 languages?

🌍 Meet 19-year-old Mahmood Akram from Chennai, India! 🇮🇳 This incredible young man has reportedly mastered 400 languages, being able to read, write, and type in all of them, and is said to be fluent in 46! He started learning languages at a very young age, inspired by his father who is also multilingual.

What is the mother of all languages?

As such, Sanskrit is the Divine mother language of the world.

What language did Adam and Eve speak?

Middle Ages. Traditional Jewish exegesis such as Midrash says that Adam spoke the Hebrew language because the names he gives Eve – Isha and Chava – only make sense in Hebrew. By contrast, Kabbalah assumed an "eternal Torah" which was not identical to the Torah written in Hebrew.

What language did humans first speak?

The Proto-Human language, also known as Proto-Sapiens, Proto-World, or the Urlanguage is the hypothetical direct genetic predecessor of all human languages.

What is the 80/20 rule in Japanese?

The Japanese 80/20 rule, known as Hara Hachi Bu, is a Confucian principle encouraging people to stop eating when they are about 80% full, leaving 20% of the stomach empty to promote mindful eating and better digestion, linked to the longevity and lower disease rates of Okinawan people. It involves slowing down, chewing thoroughly, and recognizing fullness signals, preventing overeating and reducing risks for chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and stroke. 

How to say in Chinese 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10?

To count from 1 to 10 in Chinese, use these numerals and pronunciations: 一 (yī), 二 (èr), 三 (sān), 四 (sì), 五 (wǔ), 六 (liù), 七 (qī), 八 (bā), 九 (jiǔ), 十 (shí).