Languages in the World

Languages spoken in the world today!

There are approximately 7,139 known languages spoken in the world today. However, the number can vary depending on how languages are classified and the criteria used for determining language status. It's important to note that some languages are spoken by millions of people, while others are spoken by only a few hundred or even fewer.

The origins of language are a subject of ongoing research and speculation among linguists and anthropologists. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly how language started, as it predates recorded history. However, it is widely believed that early human communication likely began with simple vocalizations and gestures that gradually evolved into more complex systems of communication.

Regarding the oldest language still spoken today, it is challenging to determine with absolute certainty. However, some of the oldest languages that have been continuously spoken for thousands of years include:

Tamil: Tamil is one of the classical languages of India and is considered one of the oldest languages in the world. It has a rich literary tradition dating back over two thousand years and is still spoken today by millions of people, primarily in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and parts of Sri Lanka.

Hebrew: Hebrew is an ancient Semitic language that was revived as a spoken language in the 19th century and is the official language of Israel today. It has a history dating back to biblical times and continues to be spoken by millions of people.

Chinese: Chinese, particularly the various dialects of Mandarin, has a long history and is one of the oldest continuously spoken languages. The written form of Chinese, with its characters, has been in use for thousands of years.

Basque: Basque is a language isolate spoken in the Basque region of Spain and France. It is believed to be one of the few surviving pre-Indo-European languages in Western Europe and has roots that trace back several thousand years.

Determining which languages are more popular or easier to understand can depend on various factors, including the number of speakers, global influence, and linguistic similarities. Here are a few languages that are commonly considered popular or widely spoken:

Mandarin Chinese:

With over 1.3 billion speakers, Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in the world. It is the official language of China and is also spoken in various other countries.

Here are some examples of commonly used Mandarin Chinese phrases:

你好 (Nǐ hǎo) - Hello.

谢谢 (Xièxiè) - Thank you.

对不起 (Duìbùqǐ) - Sorry.

再见 (Zàijiàn) - Goodbye.

请问 (Qǐngwèn) - Excuse me/ May I ask?

是的 (Shì de) - Yes.

不 (Bù) - No.

我爱你 (Wǒ ài nǐ) - I love you.

请 (Qǐng) - Please.

没关系 (Méi guānxi) - It's okay/ No problem.

Here are some basic questions and responses:

你叫什么名字？ (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?) - What is your name?

我叫李明。 (Wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng.) - My name is Li Ming.

你会说英语吗？ (Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?) - Do you speak English?

会一点。 (Huì yīdiǎn.) - Yes, a little.

你在哪里工作？ (Nǐ zài nǎlǐ gōngzuò?) - Where do you work?

我在一家公司工作。 (Wǒ zài yī jiā gōngsī gōngzuò.) - I work at a company.

你喜欢什么运动？ (Nǐ xǐhuān shénme yùndòng?) - What sports do you like?

我喜欢打篮球。 (Wǒ xǐhuān dǎ lánqiú.) - I like playing basketball.

你几点起床？ (Nǐ jǐ diǎn qǐchuáng?) - What time do you wake up?

我通常六点起床。 (Wǒ tōngcháng liù diǎn qǐchuáng.) - I usually wake up at 6 o'clock.

早上 (zǎoshang) - morning

下午 (xiàwǔ) - afternoon

晚上 (wǎnshàng) - evening

你好吗？ (nǐ hǎo ma?) - How are you?

我很好 (wǒ hěn hǎo) - I am good.

请问 (qǐngwèn) - Excuse me / May I ask?

谢谢 (xièxiè) - Thank you.

对不起 (duìbùqǐ) - Sorry.

没关系 (méi guānxi) - It's okay / No problem.

请 (qǐng) - Please.

Let's practice some basic phrases:

你叫什么名字？ (nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?) - What is your name?

我叫 [your name] (wǒ jiào [your name]) - My name is [your name].

你来自哪里？ (nǐ láizì nǎlǐ?) - Where are you from?

我来自 [your country] (wǒ láizì [your country]) - I am from [your country].

你想吃什么？ (nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?) - What do you want to eat?

我想吃 [food name] (wǒ xiǎng chī [food name]) - I want to eat [food name].

你喜欢什么颜色？ (nǐ xǐhuān shénme yánsè?) - What is your favorite color?

我喜欢 [color name] (wǒ xǐhuān [color name]) - I like [color name].

今天天气怎么样？ (jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng?) - How is the weather today?

今天很热 (jīntiān hěn rè) - Today is hot.

English:

English is one of the most widely spoken languages globally, with around 1.3 billion speakers. It serves as an official language in many countries and is commonly used in international communication, business, and academia.

Commonly used phrases and words in English:

Hello - a common greeting to greet someone.

Thank you - an expression of gratitude.

How are you? - a question asking about someone's well-being.

Goodbye - a farewell expression when parting.

Please - a polite word used to make a request.

Yes - an affirmative response.

No - a negative response.

I love you - an expression of deep affection.

Sorry - an apology or expression of regret.

What is your name? - a question asking for someone's name.

Where are you from? - a question about someone's place of origin.

Food - a general term for edible items.

Friend - a person with whom one has a close relationship.

Book - a written or printed work with pages bound together.

Song - a musical composition with lyrics and melody.

Let's go - an invitation to start or move somewhere.

Everything is fine - an assurance that everything is okay.

I don't understand - a statement indicating a lack of comprehension.

Thank you very much - a more emphatic expression of gratitude.

Goodnight - a farewell expression used before going to sleep.

Hebrew:

Hebrew is a Semitic language with ancient origins and a rich history. It is one of the oldest languages still spoken today and holds significant religious and cultural importance. Hebrew is the official language of Israel and has a special role in Jewish religious texts, including the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and Jewish prayers.

The revitalization of Hebrew as a spoken language in the 19th and 20th centuries is considered a remarkable linguistic achievement. Modern Hebrew, known as Ivrit, is the primary language of communication in Israel and has evolved to incorporate new words and expressions to reflect the modern world.

Hebrew is written from right to left using the Hebrew alphabet, which consists of 22 consonants. Vowels are represented by diacritical marks, called vowel points, placed below or above the consonants.

Hebrew phrases and words:

שלום (Shalom) - Hello/Peace

תודה (Toda) - Thank you

מה שלומך? (Ma shlomkha?) - How are you? (to a male)

מה שלומך? (Ma shlomekh?) - How are you? (to a female)

אני אוהב/אוהבת אותך (Ani ohev/ohevet otakh) - I love you

אני מצטער (Ani mitsta'er) - I'm sorry

כמה זה עולה? (Kama ze oleh?) - How much does it cost?

איך קוראים לך? (Eich kor'im lekha?) - What is your name? (to a male)

איך קוראים לך? (Eich kor'ot lekha?) - What is your name? (to a female)

להתראות (Lehitra'ot) - Goodbye (informal)

בבקשה (Bevakasha) - Please

כן (Ken) - Yes

לא (Lo) - No

ארוחת בוקר (Aruchat boker) - Breakfast

עץ (Etz) - Tree

בית (Bayit) - House

כתובת (Ktavet) - Address

חבר (Chaver) - Friend

ילד (Yeled) - Child

ספר (Sefer) - Book

Spanish:

Spanish is spoken by approximately 460 million people worldwide. It is the official language in many countries across Latin America and Spain.

Spanish phrases and words:

Hola - Hello

Buenos días - Good morning

Buenas tardes - Good afternoon

Buenas noches - Good evening/Good night

Gracias - Thank you

De nada - You're welcome

¿Cómo estás? - How are you?

¿Qué tal? - How's it going?

Mucho gusto - Nice to meet you

Adiós - Goodbye

Por favor - Please

Perdón - Excuse me/I'm sorry

Sí - Yes

No - No

Amor - Love

Casa - House

Comida - Food

Amigo/a - Friend

Libro - Book

Feliz - Happy

Here are some basic questions and responses:

¿Cómo te llamas? - What's your name?

Me llamo [your name] - My name is [your name].

¿Dónde estás? - Where are you?

Estoy en [location] - I am in [location].

¿Qué hora es? - What time is it?

Son las [hour] - It is [hour].

¿Qué te gusta hacer? - What do you like to do?

Me gusta [activity/hobby] - I like [activity/hobby].

¿Dónde está el baño? - Where is the bathroom?

El baño está [direction] - The bathroom is [direction].

Hindi:

Hindi is spoken by around 380 million people, primarily in India. It is one of the official languages of India and is widely understood in the country. Hindi is a vibrant and widely spoken language primarily in India and is one of the official languages of the country. It belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family and is written in the Devanagari script, which is characterized by its distinctive script and phonetic structure.

Hindi has a rich literary and cultural heritage, with a vast collection of literature, poetry, and scriptures. It has been influenced by various languages, including Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic, which adds to its linguistic depth and diversity.

Common Hindi phrases and words:

नमस्ते (Namaste) - Hello/Greetings

शुक्रिया (Shukriya) - Thank you

कैसे हो? (Kaise ho?) - How are you?

बहुत अच्छा (Bahut acchā) - Very good

क्षमा कीजिए (Kshama kījīye) - Excuse me/I'm sorry

हाँ (Hān) - Yes

नहीं (Nahīn) - No

मेरा नाम [your name] है (Mera nām [your name] hai) - My name is [your name]

खाना (Khānā) - Food

दोस्त (Dost) - Friend

किताब (Kitāb) - Book

गाना (Gānā) - Song

चलो (Chalo) - Let's go

सब ठीक है (Sab thīk hai) - Everything is fine

मुझे यह समझ नहीं आ रहा है (Mujhe yah samajh nahīn ā rahā hai) - I don't understand this

बहुत धन्यवाद (Bahut dhanyavād) - Thank you very much

आपका स्वागत है (Āpkā svāgat hai) - Welcome

सौभाग्यशाली (Saubhāgyashālī) - Good luck

खुश रहो (Khush raho) - Stay happy

अच्छी रात्रि (Acchī rātri) - Good night

Arabic:

Arabic is spoken by around 310 million people and serves as the official language in several Middle Eastern and North African countries. It is also the liturgical language of Islam.

commonly used phrases and words in Arabic:

مرحبا (Marhaba) - Hello

شكرًا (Shukran) - Thank you

كيف حالك؟ (Kayf halak?) - How are you? (to a male)

كيف حالك؟ (Kayf halik?) - How are you? (to a female)

جيد جدًا (Jayyid jiddan) - Very good

عفوًا (Afwan) - Excuse me/I'm sorry

نعم (Naam) - Yes

لا (La) - No

اسمي [your name] (Ismi [your name]) - My name is [your name]

طعام (Ta`am) - Food

صديق (Sadiq) - Friend

كتاب (Kitab) - Book

أغنية (Ughniyah) - Song

هيا (Haya) - Let's go

كل شيء على ما يرام (Kull shay'un 'ala ma yurām) - Everything is fine

لا أفهم هذا (La afham hatha) - I don't understand this

شكرًا جزيلاً (Shukran jazilan) - Thank you very much

أهلاً وسهلاً (Ahlan wa sahlan) - Welcome

مبروك (Mabruk) - Congratulations

ابق بخير (Ibqā bikhair) - Stay well

Persian/ Farsi:

Persian, also known as Farsi, is a beautiful language with a rich history and cultural significance. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. Persian belongs to the Indo-Iranian language family and is written in an adapted Arabic script, known as Perso-Arabic script.

Farsi is known for its poetic and lyrical nature, with a long tradition of celebrated poets such as Rumi, Hafez, and Saadi. The language is known for its expressive vocabulary, intricate grammar, and nuanced literary forms.

Commonly used phrases and words in Persian (also known as Farsi):

سلام (Salam) - Hello

ممنون (Mamnoon) - Thank you

حال شما چطور است؟ (Hāl-e shomā chetor ast?) - How are you?

خیلی خوب (Kheili khub) - Very good

ببخشید (Bebakhshid) - Excuse me/I'm sorry

بله (Bale) - Yes

نه (Na) - No

نامم [your name] است (Nāmam [your name] ast) - My name is [your name]

غذا (Ghaza) - Food

دوست (Doost) - Friend

کتاب (Ketāb) - Book

آهنگ (Ahang) - Song

بیا (Biyā) - Let's go

همه چیز خوب است (Hame chiz khub ast) - Everything is fine

من این را نمی‌فهمم (Man in rā nemifahmam) - I don't understand this

بسیار متشکرم (Bisyar moteshakeram) - Thank you very much

خوش آمدید (Khosh āmadid) - Welcome

تبریک می‌گویم (Tabrik miguyam) - Congratulations

خوش باشید (Khosh bāshid) - Be well

شب خوبی داشته باشید (Shab khubi dāshteh bāshid) - Have a good night

Urdu:

Urdu is a beautiful language spoken by millions of people primarily in Pakistan and India. It has its roots in the Indo-Aryan language family and is heavily influenced by Persian and Arabic. Urdu uses a modified version of the Arabic script called Nastaʿlīq, which lends it a unique and elegant appearance. Known for its poetic expressions and rich literature, Urdu has been the language of renowned poets such as Mirza Ghalib and Allama Iqbal. It serves as a cultural bridge, bringing people together through its melodic tones and expressive vocabulary.

Commonly used phrases and words in Urdu:

سلام (Salaam) - Hello/Greetings

شکریہ (Shukriya) - Thank you

آپ کیسے ہیں؟ (Āp kaise hain?) - How are you?

بہت اچھا (Bohat achha) - Very good

معاف کیجئے (Maaf kījiye) - Excuse me/I'm sorry

ہاں (Hān) - Yes

نہیں (Nahīn) - No

میرا نام [your name] ہے (Mera nām [your name] hai) - My name is [your name]

کھانا (Khānā) - Food

دوست (Dost) - Friend

کتاب (Kitāb) - Book

گانا (Gāna) - Song

چلو (Chalo) - Let's go

سب ٹھیک ہے (Sab theek hai) - Everything is fine

مجھے یہ سمجھ نہیں آ رہا ہے (Mujhe yeh samajh nahīn ā rahā hai) - I don't understand this

بہت شکریہ (Bohat shukriya) - Thank you very much

آپ کا استقبال ہے (Āp kā istaqbāl hai) - Welcome

بہت بہت مبارک ہو (Bohat bohat mubārak ho) - Congratulations

خوش رہو (Khush raho) - Stay happy

شب بخیر (Shab bakhair) - Good night

Korean:

Korean is the official language of South Korea and North Korea, spoken by around 80 million people worldwide. It has a unique alphabet called Hangul, which was created in the 15th century. Korean grammar follows a subject-object-verb (SOV) word order, and honorifics play an important role in addressing others based on age, social status, and relationships. The Korean language has gained popularity due to the influence of K-pop and Korean dramas, making it an intriguing language to learn and explore.

Commonly used phrases and words in Korean:

안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo) - Hello

감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida) - Thank you

어떻게 지내세요? (Eotteoke jinaeseyo?) - How are you?

잘 지내요 (Jal jinaeyo) - I'm doing well

실례합니다 (Sillyehamnida) - Excuse me/I'm sorry

네 (Ne) - Yes

아니요 (Aniyo) - No

제 이름은 [your name]입니다 (Je ireumeun [your name]imnida) - My name is [your name]

음식 (Eumsik) - Food

친구 (Chingu) - Friend

책 (Chaek) - Book

노래 (Noraee) - Song

가자 (Gaja) - Let's go

다 잘 될 거예요 (Da jal doel geoyeyo) - Everything will be fine

이해하지 못해요 (Ihaehaji mothae yo) - I don't understand

정말 감사합니다 (Jeongmal gamsahamnida) - Thank you very much

환영합니다 (Hwan-yeonghamnida) - Welcome

축하합니다 (Chuk-ha-hamnida) - Congratulations

건강하십시오 (Geon-gang-ha-sip-si-yo) - Stay healthy

안녕히 주무세요 (Annyeonghi jumuseyo) - Goodnight

German:

German is a West Germanic language and is spoken by over 100 million people worldwide. It is the official language of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Additionally, it holds regional or minority status in several neighboring countries.

The German language is known for its precise grammar and complex word formation. It has a reputation for having long compound words, allowing speakers to combine multiple words into a single term. German uses the Latin alphabet with some additional letters and diacritical marks.

Commonly used phrases and words in German:

Hallo - Hello

Danke - Thank you

Wie geht es Ihnen? - How are you? (formal)

Wie geht es dir? - How are you? (informal)

Gut - Good

Entschuldigung - Excuse me/I'm sorry

Ja - Yes

Nein - No

Mein Name ist [your name] - My name is [your name]

Essen - Food

Freund - Friend

Buch - Book

Lied - Song

Los geht's - Let's go

Alles ist in Ordnung - Everything is fine

Ich verstehe das nicht - I don't understand that

Vielen Dank - Thank you very much

Herzlich willkommen - Welcome

Herzlichen Glückwunsch - Congratulations

Bleiben Sie gesund - Stay healthy

Russian:

Russian is an Eastern Slavic language and one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. With over 260 million speakers, it is not only the official language of Russia but also holds official or significant status in several other countries and international organizations.

Russian is known for its rich literary tradition, with famous works by renowned writers like Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky. The language uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which consists of 33 letters and includes both consonants and vowels.

Russian grammar can be complex, featuring cases for nouns, adjectives, and pronouns, which indicate their roles in sentences. It also has a gender system with masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns. Additionally, Russian is an inflectional language, with verb conjugations that take into account aspects such as tense, mood, and person.

commonly used phrases and words in Russian:

Привет (Privet) - Hello

Спасибо (Spasibo) - Thank you

Как дела? (Kak dela?) - How are you?

Хорошо (Khorosho) - Good

Извините (Izvinite) - Excuse me/I'm sorry

Да (Da) - Yes

Нет (Net) - No

Меня зовут [your name] (Menya zovut [your name]) - My name is [your name]

Еда (Eda) - Food

Друг (Drug) - Friend

Книга (Kniga) - Book

Песня (Pesnya) - Song

Поехали (Poekhali) - Let's go

Всё в порядке (Vsyo v poriadke) - Everything is fine

Я не понимаю (Ya ne ponimayu) - I don't understand

Большое спасибо (Bol'shoye spasibo) - Thank you very much

Добро пожаловать (Dobro pozhalovat') - Welcome

Поздравляю (Pozdravlyayu) - Congratulations

Будьте здоровы (Bud'te zdorovy) - Stay healthy

Спокойной ночи (Spokoynoy nochi) - Goodnight

At the same time, there are numerous minority and indigenous languages spoken by smaller populations within specific regions or communities. These languages are crucial for preserving cultural heritage, identity, and unique ways of expressing ideas and beliefs.

The diversity of languages reflects the rich tapestry of human cultures and the complex ways in which languages shape and are shaped by societies. It is important to recognize, respect, and preserve linguistic diversity as an integral part of our global heritage.

Note: If the readers of this article comment in their own language they speaks the author will love to hear from them all.