Top 10 Spoken Languages In The World

Published in

Mind Talk

9 min readDec 30, 2022

Language is a central aspect of human communication and it plays a vital role in our daily lives. There is a great diversity of languages spoken around the world, and in this article, we will explore the top spoken languages in the world. The rankings for this list will be based on the number of native speakers or the total number of speakers worldwide. We will provide an overview of the most widely spoken languages and discuss the cultural and historical contexts in which they are used. This article aims to inform readers of the prevalence of different languages around the world and to provide insight into the linguistic diversity that exists globally.

Mandarin Chinese (1.1 billion speakers)

Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world, with over 1.1 billion speakers. It is the official language of China and Taiwan, and it is also spoken by significant communities of Chinese speakers in various countries around the world. Mandarin Chinese is a tonal language, which means that the same syllable can have different meanings depending on the pitch of the speaker’s voice. It is written using Chinese characters, which are written with a system of strokes that represent individual words or concepts.

Mandarin Chinese has a long history, with roots dating back to the 4th century BC. It was originally the language of the elite in ancient China and was used in government and education. In the 20th century, Mandarin Chinese was made the official language of China and it became the dominant language of education and communication. As a result, it has become the most widely spoken language in the world. Despite its widespread use, Mandarin Chinese has a number of regional dialects and variations, and there can be significant differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar between different regions.

English (983 million speakers)

English is the second most spoken language in the world, with approximately 983 million speakers. It is the official language in a number of countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, and it is also spoken as a second language in many other countries around the world. English is a West Germanic language and it is written using the Latin alphabet.

The history of the English language is complex and it has undergone many changes over the centuries. It is a descendant of Old English, which was spoken in England before the Norman Conquest in 1066. Since then, English has been heavily influenced by other languages, such as French and Latin, and it has absorbed a large number of words from other languages as well. Today, English is a global language and it is widely used in business, education, and international communication. It is also the most commonly taught second language in the world. Despite its widespread use, there are many regional variations in the English language, with differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar between different countries and regions.

Hindi (615 million speakers)

Hindi is the third most spoken language in the world, with approximately 615 million speakers. It is the official language of India and it is also spoken by significant communities of Hindi speakers in other countries, including Nepal, Fiji, and South Africa. Hindi is written in the Devanagari script and it is a member of the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family.

Hindi has a long history and it developed from the ancient language of Sanskrit. It was originally spoken by the elite in India and it was used in literature, religion, and education. In the 20th century, Hindi was made the official language of India and it became the dominant language of communication in the country. Today, Hindi is spoken by a large percentage of the population in India and it is also one of the two official languages of the Indian government, along with English. Despite its widespread use, there are many regional dialects of Hindi, and there can be significant differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar between different regions.

Spanish (527 million speakers)

Spanish is the fourth most spoken language in the world, with approximately 527 million speakers. It is the official language in Spain and in many countries in Central and South America, and it is also spoken by significant communities of Spanish speakers in other parts of the world, including the United States, Europe, and Africa. Spanish is a Romance language and it is written using the Latin alphabet.

Spanish has a long history and it developed from a number of different languages, including Latin, Gothic, and Arabic. It was originally spoken in the Iberian Peninsula and it spread to other parts of the world during the age of colonization. Today, Spanish is a global language and it is widely used in business, education, and international communication. It is also the second most commonly taught second language in the world, after English. Despite its widespread use, there are many regional variations in the Spanish language, with differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar between different countries and regions.

Arabic (422 million speakers)

Arabic is the fifth most spoken language in the world, with approximately 422 million speakers. It is the official language in a number of Arab countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, and it is also spoken by significant communities of Arabic speakers in other parts of the world, including Europe, Africa, and Asia. Arabic is a Semitic language and it is written using the Arabic alphabet.

Arabic has a long and rich history, with roots dating back to the 6th century BC. It was originally the language of the Arab tribes in the Arabian Peninsula and it spread throughout the region with the expansion of Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries. Today, Arabic is the official language of the Arab League, a regional organization comprising 22 Arab countries, and it is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Despite its widespread use, there are many regional dialects of Arabic, and there can be significant differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar between different regions.

Malay (282 million speakers)

Malay is the sixth most spoken language in the world, with approximately 282 million speakers. It is the official language in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, and it is also spoken by significant communities of Malay speakers in other parts of the world, including Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. Malay is written using the Latin alphabet, as well as the Jawi and Rumi scripts, which are modified versions of the Arabic alphabet.

Malay has a long history and it has been influenced by a number of different languages, including Arabic, Sanskrit, and Chinese. It was originally the language of the Malay people in the Malay Peninsula and it spread throughout the region with the expansion of the Malay kingdoms in the 7th and 8th centuries. Today, Malay is a lingua franca in Southeast Asia and it is widely used in business, education, and international communication in the region. Despite its widespread use, there are many regional dialects of Malay, and there can be significant differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar between different regions.

Russian (268 million speakers)

Russian is the seventh most spoken language in the world, with approximately 268 million speakers. It is the official language in Russia and it is also spoken by significant communities of Russian speakers in other parts of the world, including Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Russian is a Slavic language and it is written using the Cyrillic alphabet.

Russian has a long history and it developed from the Old East Slavic language in the 10th century. It was originally the language of the elite in medieval Russia and it was used in literature, religion, and education. In the 20th century, Russian became the official language of the Soviet Union and it was widely used in government and education throughout the region. Today, Russian is a global language and it is widely used in business, education, and international communication. Despite its widespread use, there are many regional dialects of Russian, and there can be significant differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar between different regions.

Bengali (260 million speakers)

Bengali is the eighth most spoken language in the world, with approximately 260 million speakers. It is the official language in Bangladesh and it is also spoken by significant communities of Bengali speakers in other parts of the world, including India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Bengali is written using the Bengali script, which is an abugida script and is written from left to right.

Bengali has a long and rich history, with roots dating back to the 8th century AD. It was originally the language of the Bengali people in the eastern region of the Indian subcontinent and it spread throughout the region with the expansion of the Bengali kingdoms in the medieval period. Today, Bengali is a major language in South Asia and it is widely used in business, education, and international communication in the region. Despite its widespread use, there are many regional dialects of Bengali, and there can be significant differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar between different regions.

Portuguese (230 million speakers)

Portuguese is the ninth most spoken language in the world, with approximately 230 million speakers. It is the official language in Portugal and Brazil, and it is also spoken by significant communities of Portuguese speakers in other parts of the world, including Angola, Mozambique, and East Timor. Portuguese is a Romance language and it is written using the Latin alphabet.

Portuguese has a long history and it developed from the Vulgar Latin language in the 5th century AD. It was originally the language of the elite in medieval Portugal and it spread to other parts of the world with the expansion of the Portuguese empire in the 15th and 16th centuries. Today, Portuguese is a global language and it is widely used in business, education, and international communication. Despite its widespread use, there are many regional dialects of Portuguese, and there can be significant differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar between different countries and regions.

French (228 million speakers)

French is the tenth most spoken language in the world, with approximately 228 million speakers. It is the official language in France and a number of other countries, including Canada, Belgium, and Switzerland, and it is also spoken by significant communities of French speakers in other parts of the world, including Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. French is a Romance language and it is written using the Latin alphabet.

French has a long and rich history, with roots dating back to the Gallo-Roman language of ancient Gaul. It was originally the language of the elite in medieval France and it spread to other parts of Europe with the expansion of the French empire in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, French is a global language and it is widely used in business, education, and international communication. Despite its widespread use, there are many regional dialects of French, and there can be significant differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar between different countries and regions.