English more complicated than Spanish?
Hola,
Yes, I think English is way more complicated than Spanish. I mean, like in English there are a lot of meanings for one word, but in Spanish there is just one meaning for one word. For example, in English the word trunk can mean a lot of different things (elephant trunk, vehicle trunk, trunk of a tree, trunk of a body). In Spanish the word for trunk is trunco, which is referring to the body. My mother tongue use to be Spanish, but I sorta lost and forgot it when it when I was adopted by English speaking parents. But I'm trying to relearn it, but it is hard because I don't have an actual teacher to know whether or not my pronunciation is correct or not. (I'm currently learning from a book)
12 Answers
Language is merely a vocal expression of human thought. This idea that one language is more or less complicated than another ignores the fact that the underlying motivation for every language is the same. It is naive to make that assumption about any language as a whole. For a language to be truly less complicated it would have to be used by people with simpler minds.
This site is a good source for learning. There are plenty of resources: text, images, videos, audio. Poke around and you should find what you need.
Well spoken. One of the wisest things I ever heard a teacher say was, "Language is not logical. Don't expect it to be."
English has some funny spellings and counter-intuitive pronunciations. Spanish has some arbitrary gender labeling and ambiguity issues. One isn't better than the other, or more complicated than the other. They both have unique quirks that you just need to embrace, accept, and learn to live with.
Along with what everyone else has said so far (which I agree with) I think it also depends on what language you started with.
For example: When I look at Chinese, I think that it looks/sounds like the most difficult language ever and that English is a whole lot easier than that. However, a Chinese person, who grew up hearing/learning/being around the language, would probably think that English was extremely difficult and confusing with all it's rules, changes etc.
The key is: Perspective
Thank you. I am trying to have a certain perspective
on Spanish,
but it is getting hard when I keep on trying to make the Spanish grammar be like English grammer. I'm doing pretty good at knowing the vocab and all,
but with the Spanish grammar...not so good. unfortunately
I keep wanting to put certain adjectives and adverbs
before the noun or pronoun but most of the times they don't go before the noun or pronoun.
I love doing grammar in English but doing grammar in Spanish is confusing me because I want to do the grammar in English because that was the way I was taught to do it and now I'm in a rut with doing grammar in Spanish. Ha, I'm getting better though. Thanks again!
Hola, justincase. Good observation, except that Spanish has many words that have different meanings.
Just in case (excuse the pun!) you're skeptical, enter dar in the Dictionary at the top of the screen.
And prepare yourself for a very long list of meanings
I learned English before, and now I am learning Spanish. I think that they are not so different in difficulty. Both have their hard and easy sides.
In English one word can have many meanings--The same is true in Spanish.
De can mean:
Of, but so can por, en, entre, sobre et al.
With, but so can con, contra, asi que, et al.
From, but so can desde and por.
About, but so can sobre, por and acerca de.
As, but so can como.
If, but so can si.
To, but so can “a” and hasta.
Both languages have features that are more difficult than the other and features that are simpler than the other. Both languages take a lot of effort to learn--but it's worth the effort.
"Llave" is Spanish and has many meanings. Key for lock, key code (sometimes), types of wrenches, spiket for water hose, faucet, etc. Also "macho" male including plant and animal, man, strong man, tap to make threads for bolt holes, etc. Don't think that Spanish words are limited to one meaning many have multiple meanings.
Hola,
Yes, I think English is way more complicated than Spanish. I mean, like in English there are a lot of meanings for one word, but in Spanish there is just one meaning for one word. For example, in English the word trunk can mean a lot of different things (elephant trunk, vehicle trunk, trunk of a tree, trunk of a body). In Spanish the word for trunk is trunco, which is referring to the body. My mother tongue use to be Spanish, but I sorta lost and forgot it when it when I was adopted by English speaking parents. But I'm trying to relearn it, but it is hard because I don't have an actual teacher to know whether or not my pronunciation is correct or not. (I'm currently learning from a book)
Hi everyone,
First of all, in spanish the word trunk isn't trunco, it's tronco. And it doesn't just mean trunk of the body. You can say tronco del cuerpo as if saying trunk of the body but also tronco del arbol that would mean trunk of a tree in english. In certain places like Madrid, the word tronco can be used between friends like americans would use the word Dude. Spanish is way more complex than English since they use have more verb tenses and much more vocab words
Well in my humble opinion I think Spanish is more complicated not to mention more elegant than English. Let's take for example the verb run in its indicative present tense
English Spanish
I run Yo corro
you run tu corres
he/she run*s* el/ella/usted corre
we run nosotros corremos
they run vosotros correís
ellos/ellas/ustedes corren
Notice how in English the verb stays unaltered except for the extra "s" in the third person. And the lack of a formal "you" wich in spanish is "usted/ ustedes". Also Don Quixote considered by most to be "best literary work ever written" was writen in spanish.
Professional linguists dont compare languages by how complicated they are. All languages are equally easy for 3-5 yo kids , so this question has no sense
Every language has its complications. The English is difficult because many words sound different to how you write, also because many words sound alike and has many words monosyllables. In Spanish phonetic system is easier, almost all the words are consonant and vowel, in english many consonants and few vocals. In English there is no male and female word genre and verbs are simpler. Spanish is easy, except the male/female gender in the words, the verbal system and the regional idiomatic forms.
