There are 5 main languages that are used around the world more than any other. English, Spanish, French, Chinese, and Arabic. As these are listed as world languages, they are used in numerous countries but hundreds of millions of people!
80% of travelers can speak one of these 5 languages, but, if a traveler is fluent in 3 of the 5 languages, they have given themselves verbal access to a massive share of the world's population.
ENGLISH
An English-speaking individual can travel to places such as England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Jamaica, Liberia and many more with expectations of being completely understood.
English is considered to be the most versatile language of the world - it is one of the most commonly spoken language is business and communal circles.
There are about 360 million people around the world who have learned English as a first language and 700 million who speak English as a second language.
As being the number 1 world language, English is also the world's most common second language and is one of the most languages studied at universities.
SPANISH
Spanish, known as the language of romance to some - is spoken in about 20 countries.
Over 400 million people speak Spanish as either a first for second language! As a very expansive and widespread language, it is quickly becoming the second language of America.
Spanish is very similar to the French language and to Portuguese, so having some foundation in the Spanish language will surely help you travel.
Official Spanish Countries: Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, El Salvador, Panama, and more!
FRENCH
Another language of love and romance, French has been the first or second language to most Africans. As a European Union Language, it is the native language of many!
In countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Haiti, France (of course), Belgium, Switzerland, and Tunisia, there is a count of about 220 million French speakers.
French covers a large portion of Africa, and is also a very common second language to learn while traveling. It has been proven to help an individual communicate in numerous places where local languages are unknown.
In places like Morocco, learning French is a requirement when being raised in the school systems. So, on top of being fluent in Arabic, most Moroccans have French as a second language!
ARABIC
Arabic is spoken in both Africa and Asia. Some countries include: Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar and the Islamic countries.
Arabic is a language that is rooted with its culture and religion. If you were to be a traveler who wants to fully understand and comprehend the Arab world, then learning Arabic would almost be a necessity.
Some factors within the Arab culture coincide with the language. Plus, Arabic is the actual language of the Quran.
There are about 300 million Arabic speakers - most of these speakers know Arabic as a first language. It ranges from the Middle East to North Africa.
Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin is one of the two major languages of Mainland China. It is considered to be the business language of China, but it is spoken in other locations such as Macau, Singapore, and North America.
With nearly 1 BILLION Mandarin natives, there is no language in the world with that many speakers! With such a large population, Mandarin Chinese trumps all.
As one of the most popular business languages, it would be wise to have a common ground with this language when traveling for business rather than for luxury.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
