German vs Spanish
Which should you learn?
Spanish is meaningfully easier for English speakers (FSI Category I, ~600-750 hours) thanks to phonetic spelling and simpler grammar; German is Category II (~900 hours) with cases, genders and long compounds — but it shares deep Germanic roots and vocabulary with English. Pick Spanish for the gentler path and the bigger speaker base, German for engineering/academia and the EU economy.
Side by side
| 🇩🇪 German | 🇪🇸 Spanish | |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty (English speakers) | FSI Category II (~900h) | FSI Category I (~600-750h) |
| Grammar | 4 cases, 3 genders, compounds | Simpler, 2 genders |
| Best for | Engineering, EU economy | Travel, the Americas |
| Exam | Goethe-Zertifikat | DELE |
Pick German if…
Pick German for engineering/science/academia, the EU job market, or if shared Germanic roots appeal — accepting cases and genders.
Pick Spanish if…
Pick Spanish for the easier on-ramp, phonetic spelling, and the larger everyday speaker base.