Would you ever date someone who couldn't speak your language?

Question

WindAtMyBack · Accepted Answer

I've been volunteering at an ESL site online for a couple of years now. Then a few months ago I started tutoring in person. I have a Japanese student who knows very little English and I know zero Japanese. I would date her in a minute if she wasn't married.

Google Translate is pretty damn good. We can communicate with no problem using it. We use voice, and have instant translation. It's wrong sometimes, but it does a very good job - far better than it did not long ago.

She knew some book English before I started with her, but she knew very little spoken English. In just a few months we are able to do basic communication by voice. It takes some effort. It also helps if you are comfortable with silent periods. This student also drives home just how much communication is non-verbal body language.

SnowedIn · Accepted Answer

Ouch. That's a tough one. Communication is so important in a relationship. I think it would depend on what brought us together. Like, I can't see wanting to date someone based on looks alone. There has to be some other spark and I don't see that spark coming without the language. I'm trying to envision some movie-esque scene in Paris or Rome and meeting someone in a coffee shop but that just seems trite and movie-esque.

WonderBell99 · Accepted Answer

Yeah, I did. My ex and I are both Indians but there are 100+ languages in India, lol. I speak 3 languages fluently (Tamil, Telugu and English) and my German is a bit rusty. He spoke neither Tamil nor Telugu, he only spoke Hindi and English but understood Tamil so we communicated primarily through English. Sometimes, I would say something in Tamil, and he would reply in English, lmao.

Brainsbeforebeauty · Accepted Answer

At all? I don't know cuz how could you communicate, or even get to really know someone if they can’t speak or understand your language or you theirs🤷‍♀️

OlderAndWiser · Answer

This was my instant association to your question:

AviatorTom · Answer

Sure, we would teach other how to communicate in each other's language. Or, maybe there's another language that we both know.

shaysh87 · Answer

I have heard of a few instances where two people who didn't speak any common language at all , date and fall in love then get married. One guy told me that when he first dated his ex wife, she only spoke 1-2 words of English. Honestly , I don't believe its love at all. Its just lust. or what people like to call "love at first sight" type bullshit. You can't fall in love someone you can't communicate with or can't understand

QuadDamage · Answer

I'd forgive anyone for not knowing Swedish and taking a liking to them on the romantic/butterfly level.

Most people know some words in English these days or can relate to it with body language. I talk superb English.

Not really a problem.

letuswaltzforthedead · Answer

Not something I've experienced or seen happen, but I wouldn't be against it either. Most of people I know are big on dating within the same culture/ethnicity so everyone pretty much speak the same language.

Hopefully the language isn't Mandarin or Hungarian, since I heard those are among the hardest to learn.

MCheetah · Answer

I have before. A 6'2" Korean woman who I would talk to via Google Translate. It didn't last very long. She said (through translation) she needs someone who can speak Korean. But yes, I am open to it.

ZXCwWRQWz · Answer

Been there and done that. Not for me. It's not difficult with chemistry to form the early part of the relationship and have great fun and curiosity towards each other in the beginning but it's very difficult to go beyond unless one starts to learn the other's language very seriously.

Wubs3000 · Answer

I like learning languages a lot. And I think dating someone who only knew a different language would help us both learn new languages and would give us great communication skills because we have to communicate with just feelings and not the use of a baseline language.

Curiosity2006 · Answer

"Yes, that's real love. It doesn't matter if they lived on another planet, you would still wanna be around them."

Twalli · Answer

According to my girlfriend I am also dating my dog.

Having said that, I actually understand what my dog usually wants because her barks are of different tones. Also she nudges a doorknob if she wants to go out.

P. S. my girlfriend is joking about it. She loves my dog as much as I do.

Rania05 · Answer

Don't know my mother language? Fine, if they can't speak English nor French either, I guess I'd bother to make effort for it, as long as it isn't indian languages, Korean or Mandarin, I think I can learn it overtime.

menina · Answer

Absolutely! In fact, I want to date someone who doesn't speak my mother tongue (which is not English). I would learn quickly, I'm interested in learning languages and it would be so much interesting. It would make me be attracted to him even more.

ShellyB · Answer

It seems unlikely but I guess it is possible depending on the person and the situation. The problem isn't really about preference it is just how you communicate. If that can be solved then for the right person yes I guess I would date them I just have trouble imagining how this would start to begin with and how it could progress enough to become serious.

XXblack88 · Answer

Probably not since there's a language barrier. I have picked up a few words and sentences in Spanish that's mostly just from being around them and them saying that word or sentence often enough that I just pick up on it eventually.

TheUniqueOne96 · Answer

I'd probably give it a try, even if we had to communicate through some translator app first. There's no certainty as too how long I'd be able to put up with it however.

desidoll · Answer

Yea, but then I speak his language (English) so not much of an issue here. I’d date anyone as long as we can communicate in one similar language.

FunnyGiy · Answer

She would have to at least speak some English I better really be in love with her. I don't think not understanding each other would work. That or I would have to speak her language but I don't really know any others

Mish_a · Answer

For me if you like someone at least you can do this much to her/him... And it will be a good thing if other person do the same

Bonus learning a new language won't be a thing. Maybe it might help you someday really.

Sparkie460 · Answer

How would I ask her out if we didn't speak the same language. No I wouldn't date someone I couldn't speak to

skilled_jellyfish · Answer

For a hookup it's possible. For anything else even if I wanted we couldn't do anything about it. This one time I had a ukrainian girl crushing on me and we tried using our phones for translation but, it gets old real fast. Although the whole thing has an exotic feeling to it and we both tend to fill in the blanks with with our imagination, making part of the flirting even easier.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Of course not. That would be on the “extra” end of the dumb scale. I tend to operate on the other end.

PainusNdeeAnus · Answer

How do you think I learned Spanish 😂 dame cabeza mami🤣

Malgaran · Answer

Don't think I actually ever dated someone who spoke my language, lol

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

Not interested in the slightest. I want a woman who is far more literate in the English language than the average English speaker.

bamesjond0069 · Answer

I actually have. We had a foreign exchange student who spoke Spanish and like year 2 English. And I was in year 2 Spanish. And we both thought we were hot, obviously that carried the relationship. Lol but we would mumble through conversations so badly but we made it work. It was fun and my Spanish actually got much better as well as her English. I have pleasant memories of the whole thing and I'd do it again.

Ninania · Answer

I've dated a couple of foreigners in my country. We just spoke English, no big deal.

bubblegunnn · Answer

Yea, my ex is australian x dutch, he only speak English, so sometimes he asked me what the things are in my language, i taught him, same as him who taught me some of dutch language while he was learn dutch.

TacosRAwesome · Answer

Not anymore. I dated a couple people who didn't speak my first language but spoke English quite well.

amrutha_prekshan · Answer

I think it's probably waste of time... but sometimes I feel like it's an adventure... perhaps sorry because I hate adventures so I don't even think about this issues

Likes2drive · Answer

If I thought it would be serious I probably would and try to learn and use a translator to communicate

Rockstarrrrr · Answer

Depends on the language... it can be too hard or too much work

Sofilynn0 · Answer

because I have fallen in love with a foreign man before and I believe that it can really show you how many different ways love can come to you. No matter the way someone looks, the way they speak, or what they are educated of I personally feel that Love is Love no matter what.

spearheadbt2 · Answer

People here do realize this question is mostly meant to people whose mother tongue is not English? Or native English speakers who speak the other person’s language, say Spanish? It is of course ridiculous to date someone and have to rely on an app for communication…

melanieeeB · Answer

Generally no it would be really hard to communicate but I wouldn't mind if they only spoke like English, cause my English is pretty close to my German skills

18Uma21 · Answer

Yeah you cannot learn another tongue without having that tongue touch yours

Anonymous · Answer

I don't see how that would work. It's kind of important to be able to communicate to form a relationship.

Anonymous · Answer

Nope, both my exes had other fluent languages as well as enhlish, I did dabble with one of them

HippieVeganJewslim · Answer

Nu, few people whom I dated, if any, speak any Russian. They can speak English or American, none of which are my languages, but I understand them, somehow.

AsaKyo · Answer

No, they gotta know English, but I'm open to learning their birth language if I plan to have a future with them and live in their country

Pudsmucker · Answer

Yes I would but if I'm looking for another companion. Eastern European women love to cater to their man.

AdithyaR · Answer

I wouldn't cause I'd have no way of communicating with them.

cryscrys1 · Answer

Me I do not like you  Him oh you like do nuts

Gabriel-Chicanito · Answer

When a "senorita" say from Mexico/Chile is near by, oh, oh white boy/brotha,"Oh, I know poquito spanoL".. When everybody/anybody knows some Spanish.

legalboxers · Answer

google translate is your friend

purplepoppy · Answer

Might as well buy a dog.

dustybiker · Answer

Sure. Siri could talk us through it.

Amy10223 · Answer

Yes, if i liked them enough. Why not?

exitseven · Answer

I really don;t think so.

msc545 · Answer

no time for that.

Nominal · Answer

Would be excited to learn new language XD

inhua · Answer

won't be an issue

EmbraceThePain · Answer

Yes, totally

Jennz6 · Answer

Body language?

Anonymous · Answer

No, that would be too frustrating.

annabananna · Answer

I’m sure we’d get along great! 😆

KostasKouvalis · Answer

No wai

TheNameIsRob · Answer

Yes and I have.

Nigjt · Answer

FUCK no. God Bless

1User12345 · Answer

I have enough problems with my own language

serious_miss419 · Answer

Nope

Would you ever date someone who couldn't speak your language?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Would you ever date someone who couldn't speak your language?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

We're glad to see you liked this post.