Learning French and Spanish at the Same Time

French and Spanish are two of the most popular languages to learn, and for good reason. They are both beautiful and expressive languages, and they are spoken in many different countries around the world. It is no surprise that some people may consider learning French and Spanish at the same time.

In this guide, we will explore the similarities and differences between French and Spanish. We will also discuss how to learn French and Spanish using Anki, the best flashcard app.

Are French and Spanish Similar?

Yes, French and Spanish are very similar languages. They are both Romance languages that are descended from Latin. This means that the two languages share a lot of vocabulary and grammar.

For example, the French word for “book” is “livre” and the Spanish word is “libro.” Both words are derived from the Latin word “liber.”

Here are some more examples:

There is a high percentage of words in French and Spanish that are very similar. The lexical similarity between the two languages is about 75%. In comparison, French and Spanish both share a less than 50% lexical similarity with English.

In some cases, French and Spanish have shared vocabulary derived from languages other than Latin. For example, it is estimated that 8% (or about 4,000 words) of the Spanish vocabulary can be traced back to the Arabic language. The Spanish language was strongly influenced by Arabic during the seven-centuries of Moorish rule of Spain from the 8th to the 15th century. This influence has also found its way into the French language.

Here are some examples:

Why Are Spanish and French Known as Romance Languages?

Spanish and French are known as Romance languages because they are descended from Latin. Latin was the main language used in the Roman Empire in the Middle Ages. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Latin evolved into different languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian.

The Romance languages ​​take their name from the city Rome. The adjective “Romance” in English can be traced back to the Latin word “Romanicus,” which was used in the Middle Ages to denote Vulgar Latin, the vernacular Latin spoken by common people in the Roman Empire.

Is Spanish Easy to Learn? Is French Easy to Learn?

The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI), which provides language training to diplomats and government employees, ranks French and Spanish among the top 10 easiest languages to learn and use for English-speaking learners.

The main reason is attributed to the Norman Conquest of England in the eleventh century, as a result of which the English language borrowed a lot of French words. French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929) famously claimed that “English is just badly pronounced French.”

As we have discussed earlier, French and Spanish are both Romance languages. They share Latin roots, and thus a lot of vocabulary. The connection between Spanish and English is mostly understood via the French language and the Norman Conquest.

Is French or Spanish Easier?

Spanish is generally considered to be easier to learn than French. This is because Spanish has simpler pronunciation rules and grammar than French. French can be challenging to learn, but it is definitely possible with the right approach. French has more complex pronunciation rules and grammar than Spanish, but there are many resources available to help learners overcome these challenges.

However, the difficulty of learning a language depends on a number of factors, including the learner’s native language, motivation, and learning style.

Anki Best Flashcard App for Learning French and Spanish

Anki is a powerful flashcard app that can be used to learn any language. Anki uses spaced repetition to help learners remember information more effectively.

To use Anki to learn French or Spanish, you can create flashcards that contain vocabulary and grammar concepts. Alternatively, you can use the premade French Anki Decks and Spanish Anki Decks by ADROS VERSE EDUCATION to learn and practice these languages. Anki will then show you the flashcards at spaced intervals, helping you to learn and retain the information.

Conclusion

Learning French and Spanish at the same time can be a rewarding experience, but it is important to be realistic about the challenges involved. Both languages are Romance languages, which means that they are descended from Latin. This means that they share a lot of vocabulary and grammar, which can make learning both languages easier.

However, there are also some important differences between the two languages, such as pronunciation and spelling. Learning French and Spanish at the same time can be challenging, but it is definitely possible with the right approach.