While English remains the obvious choice of useful foreign language for the majority of Europeans, there are many other languages which are hugely popular and which make them useful to businesses trading in the region and for individuals to learn.
However, you might be surprised by some of the ‘second’ foreign languages (those which came after English) selected by Europeans in a survey conducted by Eurobarometer and evaluated by Statista which we will look at in more detail later in this article.
Before that, we’ll investigate some of the most popular foreign language choices for businesses using translation services within the European Union.
Languages within the European Union
With numerous indigenous languages, 23 officially recognised languages and many other minority languages and dialects, the European Union is a like a melting pot of diverse languages, cultures and people.
Research shows that many Europeans are able to converse in two languages (54%) and 25% are able to converse in three so making language choices which will fulfil your business’ translations requirements within the European Union can be problematic, especially if you don’t know which languages are most useful or the most dominant within a particular region.
Here we explore three of the most useful languages in the European Union…
1. English
English is the obvious choice of many businesses using translation services within the European union.
It is spoken by almost one and a half billion people worldwide with 360 million people speaking it as their first language.
Within Europe itself, 38% of Europeans speak English as a second language and it is considered the most beneficial second language for individuals to learn.
Choosing English translation services for your business will give access to almost half of Europe’s inhabitants and can help introduce your products or services to a new audience in the most beneficial way.
2. French
With almost one hundred million native speakers, French is another highly popular language within the European Union.
It is also considered to be a ‘world’ language with more than 300 million speakers worldwide, the official language of dozens of countries around the world including Luxembourg, Canada and even parts of Africa.
Businesses using translation services within the Eurozone can be certain that choosing the French language will enhance their reach and return on investment.
3. German
With just under 100 million native speakers, the German language comes close behind French and English languages.
German is the sole official language of Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein, and it’s a co-official language in Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg.
It is a popular second language in countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary and Slovenia.
The German language is a key business and economic language and has strong roots within the EU.
Translating your website into German will help you engage with a European market, giving access to millions of native speakers, and will help promote your brand in a positive way.
Second foreign language choices
Personal preference, lifestyle choices, education, travel, work, family and friends can all have a bearing on the languages we use but there are some languages which are generally considered highly beneficial due to their widespread use, economic importance, or cultural significance.
The languages listed above are all spoken and understood by many people within Europe so businesses can make great inroads into this market by using translation services to translate and localize their website which will then appeal to vast numbers of people within Europe.
However, when considering which languages people within the European Union feel it is most beneficial to learn as a second foreign language (English being the first choice of language) some of the answers are surprising.
Statista have collated information from across Europe and found that Russian is a dominant second choice in Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, while German and French are again high on the list in many countries, and Spanish and Italian are also popular choices.
You can check out the info graphic here for more details.
More information regarding English translation services can be found here, or you can contact us here for help with your translation project.
