LANGUAGE CHALLENGES

Which Are The 10 Most Difficult Languages To Learn? 10 Contenders

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Remember those Spanish classes back in school? Or maybe you tried with French? Whether you've studied aforeign language or not, one thing's for sure: learning how to speak, read, and write in new languages is no easy task. But some of them are simply a true challenge! Do you know which language is written from right to left? Have you heard that in Europe, there's a language whose origins are still a mystery?

If you want to discover the 10 most challenging languages for native English speakers and understand why they are so tough, this article is for you!

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You can find Finnish-speaking communities in Sweden, Estonia, Norway, Canada, and even the United States. However, most Finnish speakers live in the beautiful country of Finland. If you love cold winters, you'll probably find life in this small country quite enjoyable. But what might give you a real headache is trying to learn the language!

Finnish, spoken by approximately 5 million people, has several characteristics that make it a challenge for many of us. Among them are its complex grammatical structure, which uses suffixes instead of prepositions, and its vowel harmony, where pronunciation can completely change the meaning of words. Additionally, Finnish lacks a separate future tense, having to add auxiliaries to past and present verb forms or relying on contextual clues to express future actions!

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At some point in your life, someone probably has said, "Don't talk to me in that tone!" While this is a common scene for many of us, it takes on a different meaning for Mandarin Chinese speakers.

This is because Mandarin is a tonal language, which means that the definition and intention of words can change depending on the tone used when pronouncing them. Each sound in its phonetic system can have multiple different meanings! For example, the word gong can mean "palace," "work," "together," or "achievement." Fascinating, right?

Being one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, it is also among the most complex to learn. But don't let this discourage you! Mandarin is a beautiful language that is worth trying.

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Around 300 million people speak Arabic as their first language. That's a lot of people! With so many different regions and people using it, the language has developed many dialects and regional peculiarities, making it pretty complex. But it's not just the diversity of dialects that makes Arabic hard to learn.

In addition to its distinct characters, Arabic also has a special feature that sets it apart from many other languages: it is written and read from right to left, unlike the left-to-right direction of Western writing systems.

And there's more! There is an interesting exception to its right-to-left rule. When it comes to currency signs accompanying numbers, the order is reversed, with the symbol on the left and the number on the right, just as we do.

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While Navajo is a familiar name to many, mastering this complex language is no small feat. It can be a unique challenge for English speakers, thanks to a couple of distinctive characteristics.

Besides being a tonal language, Navajo has a complex grammar that structures sentences quite differently from English. It's also agglutinative, which means it forms new words by adding prefixes and suffixes, much like Turkish or Finnish.

Navajo also features a unique verb conjugation system. And as if all that wasn't enough, it also includes sounds not found in English, making pronunciation particularly tough.

Yet, despite its fascinating complexity, Navajo stands out as the most widely spoken Native American language in the United States today, especially in the southern regions of the country.

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Japanese, like Mandarin and other languages of the East, is acclaimed for its beauty and complexity.

Firstly, Japanese presents a unique challenge with its three scripts: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji,each one with its characters and specific uses. In addition, Japanese is an agglutinative language, meaning it forms complex words by adding suffixes and combining terms.

Like Navajo, Japanese includes sounds that are not native to English speakers. But it doesn't end there! Japanese also stands out for having only two verb tenses: past and non-past, with the latter serving for present and future expressions.

However, despite its challenges, many brave people make the rewarding decision to learn this ancient and rich oriental language. You can do it, too!

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Basque, also known as Euskera, is a European language spoken primarily in the Basque Country, in northern Spain.

This language has a particularity that sets it apart - literally - from the rest: its origins are debated to this day. Why? Well, because it shares no significant characteristics with any other European language, not even with Spanish or Portuguese! For this reason, it's known as an isolated language. It is precisely that quality that makes it so complex to learn, as you can't rely on comparisons with languages you already know.

But despite its rarity and complex grammar, learning this language also means becoming familiar with Basque culture, a fun and interesting experience if you enjoy a good challenge!

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Korean isn't just known for its unique writing system; it's also recognized as one of the most challenging languages to learn, and for good reasons.

The grammatical structure of Korean follows a subject-object-verb order, which is different from English's subject-verb-object structure. This means that constructing sentences in Korean, even if you get the writing system or the meanings of words, can be a considerable challenge.

In addition, the Korean language has different levels of formality for cultural reasons. This includes the use of honorifics, which can change verb endings based on the level of respect you wish to show.

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Many English words are derived from Greek. For that and other cultural reasons, Greek may not be the hardest language for English speakers. But one thing is for sure: it is not the easiest either.

To start, Greek has its own alphabet, different from the Latin alphabet we use in English and other Western languages. Its grammar isn't very friendly either, with noun declensions, grammatical genders, and various verb endings. For example, Greek often places the verb toward the end of the sentence. While it has a flexible word order, it can still be challenging when chatting, as you have to understand the context or wait until the end of the sentence to get the verb.

However, learning the language of philosophy and poetry is definitely worth it!

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Hungarian is spoken in Hungary and other parts of the world by over 13 million people. Considering its tough structure, that's a lot of people employing this unique language!

Hungarian has very complex grammar, and you must understand it well to communicate effectively. It has a noun case system, where a little change in a word can completely alter its meaning. Additionally, Hungarian lacks grammatical genders, and itdiffers from English in that it possesses a huge amount of 14 vowels! That's a lot of sounds!

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As a North Germanic language, Icelandic is full of peculiarities that make it hard for English speakers to pick up.

Like many of the languages we have already mentioned, Icelandic has a rather complex grammatical structure, replete with rules and a fair dose of exceptions. Similar to Greek, Icelandic tends to position the verb at the sentence's end.

But one of Icelandic's most unique features is its three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Nouns and articles must all align with these genders. Are you up for a few lessons?

BEASTS OF LEGEND

Wings And Horns! The 10 Most Scary Mythological Creatures And Monsters

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What was your room like when you were a little kid? Do you remember fearing that monster under the bed or inside the closet? Don't worry, you're not alone. Since ancient times, humans have conceived and perpetuated myths and stories about supernatural beings, monsters, or creatures with terrifying physical attributes and incredible powers. Come with us to learn about these 10 terrifying mythical creatures of history! Are you brave enough to meet them?

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Before earning the nickname "Nessie," the legendary creature from Loch Ness has appeared in many tales from Scottish mythology. The story of the Loch Ness monster can be traced back to ancient times, with the earliest written mention dating back to the 7th century.

The myth gained popularity in the early 20th century when some features of the monster became famous, such as its huge size and long, dinosaur-like neck. To this day, some adventurers still dare to explore the waters of Loch Ness in Scotland, hoping to encounter the monster.

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This is one of the most feared monsters in Chinese mythology. Once you discover the qualities of this beast, you’ll understand its scary reputation.

The origins of this creature go back to ancient Chinese texts dating as far back as the 5th to 3rd centuries B.C. Bashe is described as a giant serpent mixing the bodies of a dragon and a python, and famous for its appetite for elephants, devouring them whole after chasing them.

But it doesn't end there. Legend has it that after three years of feasting, the Bashe regurgitates the bones of its prey. A creepy detail!

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In Greek mythology, Cerberus stands as one of the most famous creatures. As the watchdog of the underworld, Cerberus's duty was to prevent the escape of souls and to stop any living mortal attempting to cross the gates of Hades' realm.

But Cerberus is not an ordinary dog. Described in ancient Greek texts from the 7th and 8th centuries B.C., Cerberus is a huge hound with three heads and snakes growing out of his back. While accounts vary, some sources, like Hesiod's Theogony, attribute the impressive amount of fifty heads to this not-so-friendly dog.

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Have you ever experienced that sensation when something touches your leg in a river or ocean? Terror! Now, imagine what roams beneath the water is an immense fish capable of stirring the earth with its tail.

In Japanese mythology, this creature is known as Namazu, a giant catfish that lives beneath the islands of Japan, with the power to cause earthquakes. As you probably guessed, this myth is deeply linked to the usual seismic activity in Japan.

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The Griffin is a beast with the head and claws of an eagle combined with the body and tail of a lion. A fusion of two symbols of strength and nobility.

This creature was venerated, symbolizing power, prestige, and protection. But be careful, you don’t want to provoke its anger!

While Griffins can also be found in artistic representations from Ancient Greece and Rome, evidence reveals early descriptions of these beasts in Ancient Egypt, back to the 2nd millennium BC.

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When it comes to unique combinations, Greek sirens take a special place. We're talking about a woman's head and torso fused with a bird's body. But this isn’t the creepiest part.

In Greek mythology, these evil creatures that live near the sea are said to use their voices to tempt sailors. The tale of Odysseus, renowned for resisting the sirens' enchanting song, is a well-known example. He cleverly tied himself to the mast of his ship to experience the song but not succumb to it. Then, he instructed his crew to plug their ears with wax, ensuring they would not be seduced by the sirens.

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As if an ordinary squid wasn't creepy enough, ancient Scandinavian folklore brings us a mythological monster that's among the most terrifying on this list.

The Kraken, feared by all sailors crossing the sea between Iceland and Norway, is described as a monstrous cephalopod of huge proportions, capable of destroying ships and sinking them.

While tales of this beast's sightings date back to ancient times, one of the earliest surviving written descriptions of the monster dates back to the early 18th century.

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Have you ever walked through a forest at night? If not, learning about this myth might make you never try it. While not technically a monster, Banshee, from Celtic folklore, is one of the most terrifying legends, with tales dating back to the 8th century or earlier.

She is often described as a spectral female figure with red eyes and baggy, ragged clothing. Banshee is said to roam the forests at night, emitting scary screams that announce catastrophes to those who can hear her.

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Any beast walking upright on two legs is enough to cause chills. But if that creature doubles or even triples your size, fear intensifies.

That is the case of the Yeti, the famous bipedal monster that is said to live in the Himalayas. Described as an ape-like creature, but distinguished by its large size, it is often compared to our Bigfoot.

Many tales from both locals and adventurers speak of sightings from afar, encounters with its huge footprints, or creepy echoes of its grunts at night.

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Often hailed as one of the most fearsome figures in mythology, Medusa is also among the most famous.

With her impressive snakes for hair, she plants terror in anyone who encounters her. Legend has it that her power lies in the ability to turn anyone who meets her eyes into stone.

According to Greek mythology, Medusa is one of the three Gorgons, but she possesses a distinctive factor: mortality. In many interpretations of the myth, it is the Greek Perseus who seals her fate, using his sword to behead the mighty Medusa.