No country speaks pure English because all languages evolve and mix, but the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (the "core Anglosphere") are where English is the primary, native, de facto national language, though other languages exist alongside them. Countries like the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark consistently rank highest in English proficiency among non-native speakers due to education and media.
The Netherlands
Dutch people often speak English fluently, influenced by strong educational systems and widespread media consumption in English.
English is the primary natively spoken language in several countries and territories. Five of the largest of these are sometimes described as the "core Anglosphere"; they are the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Many people prefer English-speaking countries because language skills help make the transition easier. These countries also offer welcoming communities, strong economies, and high living standards. Countries like Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom are popular choices for expats.
What are the cheapest English-speaking countries to live in? India, Ghana, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Africa are among the most affordable options.
Frisian is the closest language to English
The closest language to English is Frisian. This Germanic language is spoken by about 400,000 people in an area historically known as Frisia—now within the modern regions of Netherlands and Germany.
In 2025, countries like Canada, Hungary, the UAE, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Portugal, Malta, and Cyprus are recognized as some of the best English-speaking countries to live in, offering strong English access, high safety scores, and clear residency or citizenship pathways.
Taking the crown for the most linguistically diverse country is Papua New Guinea. This island nation boasts a staggering 840 languages spoken by its population of approximately 9.4 million.
In a yearly international study of English proficiency, the EPI (English Proficiency Index) once again, and for the 4th year in a row, has seen the Netherlands, with a score of 661, come out on top and been ranked the world's best non-native speakers of English.
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The origins of the English language lie – surprise, surprise – in today's England and the arrival of Anglo-Saxon tribes from Central Europe to the British Isles in 400 AD. Their language, now known as “Old English“, was soon adopted as the common language of this relatively remote corner of Europe.
The English language has never stood still. Every generation leaves its mark, from Shakespeare's coinages to social media slang. Language is ever-changing, and nowhere is that clearer than in the evolution of the English language.
Some people believe that RP (Received Pronunciation) is the most standard or general accent in British English. Many EFL (English as a Foreign Language) schools teach it because it is supposed to be the most “polished” pronunciation. It is typically referred to as “Queen's English” or “BBC English”.
Geordie. People from Newcastle speak a dialect called Geordie, which is one of the strongest and most distinctive accents in England.
There's no single "hardest" language, but Mandarin Chinese is consistently ranked #1 for English speakers due to its tonal nature (four tones change word meanings) and complex logographic writing system requiring thousands of characters. Other top contenders often cited include Arabic (right-to-left script, complex sounds, grammar) and Japanese (multiple writing systems like Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana, plus honorifics). The difficulty depends heavily on your native language, with languages like Tibetan, Estonian, and Polish also challenging learners with unique grammar or cases.
Powell Alexander Janulus (born 1939) is a Canadian polyglot who lives in White Rock, British Columbia, and entered the Guinness World Records in 1985 for fluency in 42 languages.
English is the number one international language (lingua franca), boasting around 1.5 billion total speakers, making it dominant in global business, technology, and tourism, even though Mandarin Chinese has more native speakers. While Mandarin is the largest by native speakers, English's vast number of second-language users cements its role as the primary global communication tool, followed by Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, and Spanish in overall speaker numbers.
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The Middle East offers modern cities with English widely spoken, making it an excellent choice for expats. The UAE, in particular, stands out for its luxury lifestyle, business opportunities, and tax-free benefits, making it one of the best English-speaking countries to move to.
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Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon) is an early form of the English language which was spoken in England around the year 1000. It is a West Germanic language, and is therefore similar to Frisian and Old Saxon. It is also quite similar to Old Norse (and, by extension, to modern Icelandic).
Scots, a "sister language" so similar to English some consider it a dialect. Frisian, a close "cousin" to the English language that's still spoken today. Dutch, the closest major language to English. German, a related language that's distant enough to present language learning challenges.
Top 10 Easiest Languages for English Speakers to Learn