* Your native language: Speakers of similar language families often find it easier to learn languages within that family.
* Your learning style: Some languages are more phonetic (easy to sound out), while others have complex writing systems.
* Your motivation and dedication: The more time and effort you invest, the easier it will be to learn any language.
However, some languages are often considered more challenging for native English speakers, due to:
* Tonal languages: Languages like Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese use tones to differentiate meaning, which can be difficult for speakers of non-tonal languages.
* Complex writing systems: Languages like Japanese and Korean have unique writing systems that require significant memorization.
* Different grammatical structures: Languages like Finnish and Hungarian have complex grammar and syntax, which can be challenging to master.
* Lack of cognates: Languages with few cognates (words with shared origins) with English, such as Hungarian or Finnish, can be more difficult to learn vocabulary.
Instead of focusing on "toughest," think about your learning goals:
* What are you most interested in learning?
* What are your motivations for learning?
* What resources are available to you?
Once you have a better understanding of your goals, you can choose a language that is challenging but rewarding for you.