German Vs Spanish: Which Language to Choose

German Vs Spanish: Which Language to Choose: Learning a new language is always something that excited to everyone, but choosing the right language to learn is always important step. If you are thinking of which language to choose between German and Spanish, then do not worry. In this blog post, we will provide you with the major differences between German and Spanish and the similarities between them.  

German and Spanish are two languages that are the most popular all across the world. Both being pluricentric, the languages offer a plethora of opportunities to work and study abroad. Both Germany and Spain are situated in Europe and are beautifully backed by their respective history and cultural heritage.   

However, there are some differences between the two languages. One of the most noticeable distinctions between Spanish Vs German is that they share a long linguistic history that dates back thousands of years. German is a Germanic language, while Spanish is a Romance language (like English, Danish, and many others). Both of these language families developed around the time of the Roman Empire.  

German Vs Spanish: Which Language to Choose  

The major difference between the German Vs Spanish is mentioned below:  

Number of Speakers  

The number of individuals who speak the language might be one of the motivators for beginning to study it. The more speakers there are, the more opportunities there are for a language student to practice. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, behind Mandarin Chinese, with over 415 speakers. However, there are only 130 million speakers of German compared to Spanish.   

Given that more than 82 million people are living in Germany, this is quite disappointing for Germans. The fact that six countries speak German as their first language, compared to 21 that speak Spanish, may be one factor.   

Origin  

Despite being in the same family, German and Spanish originate from separate branches of the Indo-European language family. Along with Italian, French, Catalan, Portuguese, and Romanian, which are derivatives of Vulgar Latin, Spanish is a member of the Romance language family. This indicates that there are a lot of parallels between these languages and Spanish.   

German belongs to the Germanic family of languages. Together with Afrikaans, Dutch, English, and Yiddish, it is a member of the West Germanic branch. This explains why there are so many German terms in English.    

Alphabet  

The Latin alphabet, which most of us are accustomed to, is utilized in both languages. There are 27 letters in the Spanish alphabet, and the sole letter unique to this language is the globally recognized “ñ,” which sounds like “NY.”   

In the German alphabet, which contains 26 letters, there may be more than one unusual letter. The letter “ß” sounds like the double S and is not the letter “B.” Even though German students used to substitute this letter with ‘ss,’ it is not encouraged.   

Remembering the umlaut is also important. Three umlauts are present: “Ä,” “Ö,” and “Ü.” They provide a somewhat different sound for vowels than the traditional ones.  

Pronunciation  

When it comes to Spanish Vs German pronunciation, both languages employ vocal melodies to produce letters.  

Since all Spanish sounds may be created from English sounds, you are already familiar with the majority of them. A few examples of combinations that differ somewhat from English are:   

While certain Spanish-speaking nations, like Spain, insist on pronouncing the letter “c” as “s,” others insist on pronouncing it as “th.”   

The sounds of “B” and “v” are nearly identical. Finding variations in pronunciation is a challenge for many Spanish language learners.   

In certain words, the sound that becomes “y” is a double “l” or “ll.” However, this sound is pronounced as “j” or a soft “sh” in Argentina. Despite the use of umlauts, the German pronunciation is rather straightforward. The pronunciation of the letter “z” is “tz.”  

Depending on the short or long form, the umlaut Ä can be pronounced as “e” or “ay.” To pronounce Ö, place your lips to say “O.” The Ü sound is pronounced as “oo,” even when you wish to say “ee.”  

Sentence Structure  

‍There are similarities between Spanish and English when it comes to their patterns. Spanish also follows the “subject-verb-object” arrangement.   

For German, things are a little different. The ‘subject-verb-object‘ pattern is not shared by German and English, despite the fact that they are linguistic siblings because English is Germanic.   

For instance, in the past tense, the past participle is positioned at the conclusion of a phrase, away from the subject and the auxiliary verb. Additionally, subjects might be positioned differently inside a phrase.   

You eventually come to understand that the German sentence structure is reasonable despite the fact that it sometimes gives you a headache. You only need to commit yourself to that odd reasoning.   

Vocabulary  

As previously demonstrated, Spanish and English are part of the same linguistic family. Despite their differences, they share several characteristics, such as words, sentence structures, and the alphabet.

On the other hand, German and English are members of the same branch of the same language family. This indicates that about 60% of the vocabulary in these two languages is shared.   

As you can see, learning words and phrases in both languages is easy for English speakers. However, we will vote for German if we have to select between the two languages’ vocabulary.  

‍German Vs Spanish: Grammar‍  

Is there much difference between German and Spanish grammar? Or do we underestimate how similar they are? Let us compare them.

There are several similarities between Spanish and German:   

There are genders in both languages. Germans also possess the neuter gender, whereas Spanish only have masculine and feminine genders.   

With the auxiliary pronoun, they employ reflexive verbs and auxiliary verbs for tenses: sich in German, me, te, and se in Spanish.

Spanish and German are both written exactly how they are spoken. Therefore, avoid using unusual spellings, such as in French or English.  

Additionally, the differences between German Vs Spanish Grammar are:   

In German, all nouns are written in capital letters. In Spanish, only some nouns—such as the names of towns, persons, etc.—have capital letters. While German is delighted to have four noun cases, Spanish has no idea what it implies.   

In Spanish, “s” comes at the end of every plural. However, plurals in German can finish in a variety of ways, including “n/en,” “r/er,” or “s.”  

German Vs Spanish: Which is the Easiest Language to Learn?  

Spanish: When it comes to European languages, Spanish is one of the easiest languages to learn. This is because the Spanish language is more phonetic and has very few pronunciation rules when compared to other foreign languages. Common European Framework of References (CEFR) has stated that Spanish is a very easy-to-learn language.  

However, the time it takes to learn the Spanish language varies from person to person. One can learn the basics of the Spanish language in 4-5 months. However, if you are aiming to attain proficiency in the language, then it will take between 1 and 1.5 years.    

German: Let’s face the fact that German is a little bit difficult language when compared to French or Spanish. This is because the grammar part of the language is quite confusing and challenging. But if you are an English speaker, then learning the German language will not be difficult. Both languages belong to the same family tree.  

German and English belong to the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family, whereas French and Spanish are Romantic categories.  

However, obtaining a German proficiency test, such as Goethe Zertifikat B2 or C1 or TestDaF, might take up to 2-3 years.   

How Can Kochiva Help You Learn Spanish or German?  

Kochiva offers the German and Spanish language courses. Our structured curriculum takes you from the basics to advanced levels, ensuring a solid language understanding. Experienced instructors provide personalized guidance and practical insights, making learning engaging and effective. We offer flexible learning options, including self-paced modules and live interactive sessions, to accommodate your schedule.   

One key benefit of studying at Kochiva is earning the required language certification within 2 to 6 months, depending on the course level. By enrolling in Kochiva, you’ll not only fulfill the language proficiency requirements but also enhance your career prospects, opening global opportunities.   

All our trainers are C1/C2 certified and always there to help you with your German or Spanish language exams. Whether you’re preparing for the Goethe exam in German or the SIELE exam in Spanish, Kochiva’s expert trainers are always by your side to guide you.