French vs German: Which Is Easier, and How Similar Are They?

Key takeaways

• French is the easier of the two for English speakers (Foreign Service Institute Category I against II).
• Their everyday vocabulary overlaps in places: roughly 2 in 10 everyday words look alike, so some French words will feel familiar if you know German, but most will not.
• Start with the one you will actually use; if speed is the goal, French asks for fewer hours.

How hard is each one?

For an English speaker French is the easier of the two: the Foreign Service Institute puts it at 552–690 class hours against 828 for German. These are the figures behind the how long does it take to learn a language calculator, from the US Foreign Service Institute's published language training times.

The hours are for a native English speaker in full-time classes aiming at professional working proficiency. Useful everyday conversation comes sooner, and the calculator breaks the time down by level.

How much do the words overlap?

Their everyday vocabulary overlaps in places: roughly 2 in 10 everyday words look alike, so some French words will feel familiar if you know German, but most will not.

A few everyday words that look alike in French and German:

And a few everyday words that look completely different:

Writing system and grammar

• Both use the Latin alphabet, so neither asks you to learn a new script, though each has its own spelling rules and special letters.
• Noun cases are a bigger part of the grammar in one than the other (see the table).

Which should you learn first?

If your main aim is the fastest route to holding a conversation, French asks for fewer hours. If you want to reach a particular place, a person or a job, start with the one you will actually use: steady motivation counts for more than the difference in hours.

Frequently asked questions

Is French easier than German?

For an English speaker French is the easier of the two: the Foreign Service Institute puts it at 552–690 class hours against 828 for German. Hours are for a native English speaker reaching professional working proficiency in full-time classes; casual learning gets you to useful conversation well before that.

How similar are French and German?

Their everyday vocabulary overlaps in places: roughly 2 in 10 everyday words look alike, so some French words will feel familiar if you know German, but most will not.

Should I learn French or German first?

If your main aim is the fastest route to holding a conversation, French asks for fewer hours. If you want to reach a particular place, a person or a job, start with the one you will actually use: steady motivation counts for more than the difference in hours.

Keep going

• How long does it take to learn French?
• Free French vocabulary lists
• French vocabulary test
• French quiz
• How long does it take to learn German?
• Free German vocabulary lists
• German vocabulary test
• German quiz
• Why 'Der, Die, Das' Matters More Than the Noun

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