What is the most important language after English?

[berkayalperdoganozTR]

Which language do you think is more important after English?

[purplepoppy]

According to https://www.culture.gouv.fr/Thematiques/Langue-francaise-et-langues-de-France/Agir-pour-les-langues/Innover-dans-le-domaine-des-langues-et-du-numerique/Soutenir-et-encourager-la-diversite-linguistique-dans-le-domaine-numerique/Barometre-des-langues-dans-le-monde-2022

Which uses several criteria to rank importance Comes up with the following scores

there's a pdf file the page for other languages

[WindAtMyBack]

How do you define important? Every language is the most important to the people who speak it.

On a worldwide basis, I'd say Spanish is most widely spoken in large parts of the world. That makes it important. I think Chinese might have more native speakers than Spanish, but it's not as widespread outside a relatively small area of the world.

How about Latin? Many modern languages have roots in Latin. Plus it's used extensively in science, medicine and law.

[BeMuse]

It depends on what you do for a living. If you're a scientist, probably German. If you're a junk merchant, then probably Chinese. If you're in the energy sector, probably Arabic. Pick what is useful to you.

[comekitty]

Ill say Spanish.

I'm not sure it's the next most important but it is the second most common where I live and when looking for a job, if you can speak in Spanish as well, it's a feather in your cap.

[Simslover92]

Spanish particularly if you live in the Americas. Spanish speaking population is large in the Americas.

[Apulu_Imback]

I guess it's French because after English many speak French.

[jshm2]

Chinese and Spanish are actually spoken more than English.

[Avicenna]

Depends on the context. I'd say Chinese for business purposes.

[DarkLegacy]

It is French which used to be the most important

[Imsmurter1]

For me it’s a tie between Mandarin and Spanish.

[DryGermanGuy]

Spanish, followed by French.

[In_Trance]

I think it's Cantonese

[htmndg183]

Chinese
Spanish
Hindi/Urdu
Arabic

[Stoner710]

Spanish

[Yucy_Gluttony]

CHINESE?

[DryGermanGuy]

There is no such thing. There are at least half a dozen major languages in China.

[Yucy_Gluttony]

@DryGermanGuy MANDARIN CHINESE THEN?

[DryGermanGuy]

Yeah. Mandarin is definitely the most important language in China, three out of four Chinese have it as first or second language.

[Mitsamono]

Spanish

[Osborne775]

Spanish and Chinese

[Pterodon]

Spanish

[Catsdaddy24]

Latin