Despite being the second smallest continent in the world, Europe is one of the most linguistically diverse ones, with over 200 known languages spoken. In the midst of this diversity, some languages have managed to record more speakers and make communication easy across countries. That’s excellent for businesses looking to enter or target the region as a whole or specific countries within. However, which languages are the most popular in Europe, and which should businesses prioritize? We’ll cover that as we rank them by number of speakers, main countries spoken, and cultural/business relevance.
1. Russian
Russian tops the list as the most popular language in Europe, with over 140 million native speakers across the European continent. It is also arguably one of the toughest to learn. Non-native speakers find it a bit tough since it uses the Cyrillic alphabet instead of the Latin one used by other languages.
Apart from Russia itself, Russian is the official language of Belarus, and it is widely spoken in other Eastern parts of the continent. Schools had to teach the language during the Soviet Era, so many Europeans learned it. By the way, if you are looking to start a business in Russia, only 5% of its population speaks English, so it might be a good idea to start learning the language prior to launching.
2. German
German follows next as the official language of over 100 million people or 13.3% of Europeans. It is the official language in Germany, Liechtenstein, and Austria. It is also the co-official language in Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Belgium. Even the European Union uses German as its third procedural language apart from English and French.
Since it is relatively easier to learn than Russian, it is the most widely spoken language after English. You’ll also find it as a second, third, or fourth language in Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, Slovenia, and the Netherlands. If you’re visiting any of these countries, you can add German classes to your list of activities to try.
3. French
The next on the list of most spoken languages in Europe is French, with more than 80 million speakers. Of course it is the official language of France, but it is co-official in Luxembourg, Belgium, and Switzerland. Globally, about 29 countries claim French as an official language, so it does have a great international reach outside Europe.
No wonder it is the primary language of many international organizations. If you already understand English, then French will be easy to learn, since many English words are of French origin anyway. Businesses looking to include French as their second transactional language, or just integrate it into their content, can easily find translation services to help. It saves time even as you and your team practice your pronunciation.
4. Italian
Italian isn’t just the language of romance; it is second nature to over 60 million native speakers in Europe. Outside Italy, Italian is the second language in Switzerland and the Vatican. It makes it to this list of top languages spoken in Europe because it is also a minority language in Croatia, Slovenia, San Marino, and Switzerland.
The most authentic things about Italian culture are the art, food, and classical music, but even business can benefit from learning the language before launching in parts of Europe.
5. English
It’s a pretty tight one between Italian and English because there are 60 million English speakers in Europe. With 360 million speakers across the world, English is the global lingua franca. It is the de facto language of the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom; even foreigners living in Europe add to the number.
If you are already proficient in English, you can survive and build a business in parts of Europe. However, the political complexities of Brexit might weaken the language’s dominance in the region in the near future. That’s another reason you might want to pick up another language.
6. Spanish
You probably expected Spanish to be somewhere higher, but it takes the 6th spot with 43 million native speakers. It has been the top destination for Europeans looking to enjoy warm summer vacations. It is also quite popular outside Europe, with about 20 countries using it as an official language. Currently, it stands as the second most spoken native language globally, with about 470 million speakers.
7. Polish
There are around 36 million Polish speakers in Europe, mostly living in Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Belarus, and Czechia. It is not exactly the most popular language, but it is one that’s good to know just in case you need it. Collectively, nearly 6% of Europeans speak Polish both as a native tongue and as a second or third language.
8. Ukrainian
Ukrainian is the official language of Ukraine, with 27 million speakers throughout Europe. If you understand Russian, you’ll find Ukrainian very familiar and vice versa. For a country with the largest landmass in Europe, it often comes as a surprise when people first hear that it is the 8th most popular language.
9. Romanian
Primarily spoken in Moldova, Transnistria, and of course Romania, this is the 9th most popular European language. There are 23 million native speakers and it is a relatively easy language to learn. It might not be the top priority language for business if you’re not targeting Romania itself, but if you’re visiting for the gothic art in Transylvania, then maybe learn a few words.
10. Dutch
Finally, Dutch takes the 10th spot of the most spoken languages in Europe, slightly lower than Romanian by 1 million speakers. Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands and is also co-official in Belgium, which accounts for the 22 million native speakers. That’s a small number but the language is very easy to learn, just in case you’re visiting Amsterdam.
Conclusion
The diversity of European languages is both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses. Once a brand is able to communicate effectively in these native tongues, it’s a recipe for longevity in specific markets.
At EC Innovations, we help businesses adapt their content into Europe’s top languages with 100% native linguists and industry experts. Whether you’re expanding into one country or multiple European markets, our localization solutions ensure accuracy, cultural relevance, and business impact.
Contact us today for a consultation and start reaching your European audiences with confidence.
