Unless you’re a polyglot, it can be super difficult learning a new language. While most people around the world speak English, there is something particularly special about conversing with someone in their native tongue.
If you’re a fan of foreign films, you’ll have likely noticed how quickly people speak in other languages compared to English. It’s not just your imagination. These are the fastest-spoken languages in the world.
French
Emily Cooper can attest to how fast the French can rattle off words. If you’re struggling to catch more than a couple, it’s probably because the language of love has a rate of 7.18 syllables per second. 29 countries consider it as their official language.
Spanish
Spanish is the official language of 20 countries around the world, resulting in more than 487 million native speakers! It is also commonly taught as a second language, with different countries having their own dialect. As an incredibly expressive language, Spanish speakers talk at a rate of 7.82 syllables a second.
Japanese
Just pipping Spanish for the title of fastest spoken language in the world is Japanese. Much like the Shinkansen bullet train, Japanese has a rate of 7.84 syllables per second. It is the native language of 128 million people.