Why You Should and Shouldn't Learn Similar Languages

"One who speaks only one language is one person, but one who speaks two languages is two people." - Turkish proverb

Are you considering learning a language that’s closely related to one you already know? 

If yes, we strongly encourage you to. 

However, there are certain important things you must know—the pros, the cons, and the most common misconceptions.

We will strive to answer your interrogations and provide a simple checklist to help you avoid certain pitfalls and make sure you take full advantage of learning a language that is classified ”easier to learn” for you.

🔍 Definitions

First, some definitions to help you navigate what comes next:

Cognates

Words that are similar in two languages, share the same roots and have the same meaning.

Examples (English-German):

- Accent = Akzent

- Fever = Fieber

- Guest = Gast

False friends 

Words that look or sound similar in two languages but have completely different meanings. 

--> Embarazada in Spanish doesn’t mean embarrassed in English—it means pregnant. 

Laddering

Learning a language through one of your non-native languages.

Ex: An English speaker who learned Spanish now studies Portuguese using Spanish resources.

Common Misconceptions

1. ”Learning two at once will save me time.” 

—> Read our post on why it might be a terrible idea for you.

2. ”They are so similar, I don’t need to study both in depth.”

—> The more you know about them, the more you’ll catch the subtleties and the more they will be viewed as distinct entities by your subconscious.

3. ”Pronunciation won’t be a big deal as they are so close.”

—> It can be both a blessing and a curse. Yes there are a lot of sounds that may be identical but the ones that are not will give you a headache. Muscle memory is a genuine gift, but it is so strong that trying to go against it is an everyday battle.

4. ”If I know one, I basically know the other.”

—> False. They may be extremely similar, but the things that aren’t can make all the difference in the world. Never underestimate the nuances and cultural baggage of a language.

As Noah Chomsky said:

”A language is not just words. It’s a culture, a tradition, a unification of a community, a whole history that creates what a community is. It’s all embodied in a language.”

⚠️ Cons

• False friends

• Lookalike words, different sounds

• Language interference

  You risk mixing them up and speaking Portuñol, Spanglish, Franglais or something of the sort. 

• Possible structural differences

• Overconfidence

  Learners sometimes assume they know more than they really do because of the similarities. This often leads to blind spots and unknown errors in using the language.

• Reduced Motivation or Novelty:

  As humans we yearn for novelty. If the related language is too similar, it may hinder our motivation because it feels too boring and routine.

✅ Pros

Despite the challenges, learning a related language can be one of the best choices you make.

The benefits far outweigh the negatives. 

• Improved Understanding of Your Own Language

  Discover how expressions or words exist in multiple languages.

  
  

• Increases Metalinguistic Awareness:

  You’ll get a deeper understanding of how the syntax and grammar works in both languages. Making it easier to learn new words and patterns.

  
  

• Cultural Familiarity

  Geographically speaking, related languages tend to be spoken in areas close to each other. Which means that the cultural differences are less pronounced. You won’t be at a loss when learning new cultural concepts because it won’t be THAT different from yours. You’ll only have to focus on the language itself. 

  
  

• Faster Learning Curve

  Shared vocabulary and structures speed up learning.

  
  

• The Power of Guessing

  Let’ extrapolate on this point because it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves even though it is so powerful.

  
  

  There is one thing that is never talked about but that plays a HUGE role in how fast you can learn, how much easier it is and how you can stack little wins way more often. It all lies in the power of: guessing. 

  
  

  Let me give you an example: 

  
  

  Words ending in ”-ión” in Spanish often end in ”-ão” in Portuguese. More often than not, you can take a guess and be right. 

  Inspiración (Spanish) —> Inspiração (Portuguese).

  
  

  By focusing on recurring patterns and cognates you can accelerate your learning curve by a lot, all while lightening the cognitive load. Often, when we produce a new language, we tend to restrain ourselves when we haven’t learned the exact word for something. 

  We are here to tell you it’s ok to take an educated guess. Say what you feel is the right word. Worst-case scenario? You are wrong; the person corrects you and you now know the right word. That’s it. Don’t overcomplicate it, let the conversation flow and you’ll be amazed at how much know.

  
  

  It’s not all. It becomes even more powerful the more you have exposure and mastery of the language. Your brain makes connexions and fortifies them each and every day if you give it the exposure it needs. Once you know the more common cognates, false friends and recurring patterns between both languages, the accuracy of your guessing only improves. At a certain point, it becomes second nature, and it feels like magic.

📝 Checklist

Here’s a checklist to guide your journey. Use it as needed.

• Solid foundation in your first language

  You want to have a grasp so tight on your first language that there is no way in hell your new one makes you forget it.

  
  

• Use languages in separate contexts

  Different hobbies, settings, or activities.

  
  

• Embrace a ”new identity” in each language

  Slight personality shifts help compartmentalize languages.

  
  

• Focus on cognates

  Learn a lot of them at first. This will give you momentum. After that, learn cognates to make small recurring wins a part of your routine. It will lighten the process.

  
  

• Spot and memorize recurring patterns

  That way, you won’t have to look at each word or sentence as a unique entity.

  
  

• Watch out for false friends

  
  

• Avoid laddering

  
  

• Culture is primordial

  Make it a point to learn even more about each culture. It will help you compartmentalize them in your mind.

  
  

• Pronunciation is key early on 

  Make sure you know how to read and pronounce every syllable before reading in your second language. If not, you will mispronounce words and it is pretty tedious to break a bad mechanical habit.

  
  

• Don’t worry about mixing them up. 

  You WILL mix languages from time to time and it is completely normal. Chances are your interlocutor will know exactly what you mean anyway and won’t even flinch.

Pro tip: Learn accents that are as far apart as possible. They will distance themselves in your mind without you having to make a conscious effort.

Final word

Ultimately, whether or not you decide to learn a related language is up to you. The cons are just hurdles that you need to keep in mind. The benefits, on the other hand, far outweigh any negative. Keep your expectations in check, it won’t take you 30 hours to learn a language similar to yours. You’ll still have to work, make efforts and persevere. By knowing what to look out for, you’ll learn way faster than the suggested time and, who knows, maybe you’ll step up the challenge to learning a completely unrelated language later in life.

☑️ Action steps

1. Compare the languages

—> Start with pronunciation differences.

2. Create a list of cognates and false friends

—> Organize them in a folder for quick reference.

3. Don’t obsess over grammar at first

—> Learn as you go. Focus on exposure and recognition.

👉 Got more questions? Head over to our Q&A Section—chances are we’ve already answered it (and if not, we will!).

👉 Ready to start your language journey? Grab our free guide “How to QuickStart Your Journey to Fluency” and take your first steps today!