Top 10 Most Widely Spoken Languages Across the Globe

Language plays an essential role in human existence – from enabling us to obtain nourishment as children, to fulfilling our desires as adults, and offering countless hours of entertainment through books, radio, music, and movies. This list (arranged from least to most spoken) highlights the most significant languages in use today.

10. French

Speakers: 129 million

Often regarded as the most romantic language in the world, French is spoken across many countries, including Belgium, Canada, Rwanda, Cameroon, and Haiti. And of course, France. We’re quite fortunate that French is so widely spoken because otherwise, we could have ended up with Dutch Toast, Dutch Fries, and Dutch kissing (yikes!).

To greet someone in French, simply say "Bonjour" (bone-JOOR).

9. Malay-Indonesian

Number of speakers: 159 million

Malay-Indonesian is spoken – surprise – in both Malaysia and Indonesia. To be honest, we slightly adjusted the numbers here as there are numerous dialects of Malay, with Indonesian being the most widely spoken. However, they all stem from the same root language, which is why it ranks as the ninth most-spoken language worldwide.

Indonesia is a captivating nation, consisting of over 13,000 islands, making it the sixth most populous country in the world. Malaysia shares a border with two major regions of Indonesia (including Borneo) and is primarily known for its capital city, Kuala Lumpur.

To greet someone in Indonesian, say "Selamat pagi" (se-LA-maht PA-gee).

8. Portuguese

Number of speakers: 191 million

Consider Portuguese as the small language with a big impact. In the 12th century, Portugal gained its independence from Spain and, with the help of explorers like Vasco da Gama and Prince Henry the Navigator, spread its influence worldwide. (Lucky for Henry, he became a navigator... can you imagine "Prince Henry the Florist"?) Due to Portugal's early involvement in exploration, its language became widespread, particularly in Brazil (where it’s the national language), as well as in Macau, Angola, Venezuela, and Mozambique.

To greet someone in Portuguese, simply say "Bom dia" (bohn DEE-ah).

7. Bengali

Number of speakers: 211 million

In Bangladesh, home to over 120 million people, Bengali is spoken by virtually everyone. And since Bangladesh is nearly encircled by India (a country where the population grows so rapidly that just breathing the air might make you pregnant), the global number of Bengali speakers is far higher than most would assume.

To greet someone in Bengali, say "Ei Je" (EYE-jay).

6. Arabic

Number of speakers: 246 million

Arabic, one of the world's oldest languages, is widely spoken throughout the Middle East in countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt. Additionally, as the language of the Koran, millions of Muslims across the globe speak Arabic. The language is so widespread that in 1974, it was designated as the sixth official language of the United Nations.

To greet someone in Arabic, say "Al salaam a’alaykum" (Ahl sah-LAHM ah ah-LAY-koom).

5. Russian

Number of speakers: 277 million

Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, and Yakov Smirnoff are just a few notable examples of the millions of Russian speakers worldwide. Once considered our 'Commie enemies,' today they're more like our 'Commie friends.' As one of the six official languages of the UN, Russian is spoken not only in Russia but also in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and even in parts of the U.S., among other places.

To greet someone in Russian, say "Zdravstvuite" (ZDRAST-vet-yah).

4. Spanish

Number of speakers: 392 million

Beyond the countless high school students learning it, Spanish is spoken across nearly every country in South and Central America, as well as in Spain, Cuba, and the U.S. Spanish holds particular significance in the U.S., where many English words have been borrowed from it, such as: tornado, bonanza, patio, quesadilla, enchilada, and taco grande supreme.

To greet someone in Spanish, say "Hola" (OH-la).

3. Mandarin

Number of speakers: 1 billion+

It may come as no surprise that the world's most spoken language is based in the most populous country. Mandarin beats English by a 2-to-1 margin, but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s easy to pick up. Learning Mandarin can be a challenge, as each word has four different pronunciations (or ‘tones’), and beginners often struggle to differentiate them. But if over a billion people can master it, so can you. Want to give it a shot and say hello?

To greet someone in Mandarin, say "Ni hao" (Nee HaOW). (Remember, the word “Hao” is one syllable, but its tone requires your voice to drop midway, then rise again at the end.)

Contributor: flamiejamie

2. English

Number of speakers: 508 million

Although English doesn't claim the title for the most native speakers, it holds the record for being the official language of more countries than any other. Its speakers span the globe, from New Zealand and the U.S. to Australia, England, Zimbabwe, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, South Africa, and Canada. We’d dive deeper into English, but chances are, you already know it well. Let's move on to the world's most popular language instead.

To say “hello” in English, say “What’s up, freak?” (watz-UP-freek).

1. Hindustani

Number of speakers: 497 million

Hindustani is the main language of India’s vast population and includes a wide variety of dialects, with Hindi being the most widely spoken. While India’s population is on track to surpass China’s, the widespread use of English in the country keeps Hindustani from claiming the title of the world’s most spoken language. If you’re looking to pick up some Hindi, a great way to do so is by watching an Indian movie. India’s film industry is the largest in the world, churning out thousands of action, romance, and musical films annually.

To greet someone in Hindustani, say “Namaste” (Nah-MAH-stay).