Readers weigh in: the best European countries for English speakers

If you’re planning a move to work and live in a European country in 2022, either from inside or outside the EU, and English is your first – or even your second – language, you might want to consider a move to a country in which English is widely spoken. We asked our readers for their opinions.

Published: Sat 23 Apr 2022 10:25 CEST
Readers weigh in: the best European countries for English speakers

Learning the language of your new home country should be one of your top priorities if you want to truly appreciate its nuances and culture.

But we all know that’s not so simple. And anyone who’s ever moved to live or work in another country will tell you that even if you knuckle down to language learning as soon as you arrive, it’ll still take time.

In partnership with Crown Relocations, we asked Local readers living in European countries about their experiences as English speakers.

We learnt that being safe in the knowledge that most people will understand English is reassuring as you toil with grammatical genders, prepositions and any assortment of linguistic torture.

Although, globally, approximately 1.5 billion people speak English, fewer than 400 million use it as a first language, which means that more than one billion speak it as a secondary language.

In its latest English Proficiency Index, global education company Education First (EF) analysed data based on test results of two million adults in 112 countries and regions. From this information it assembled a list of the top countries in Europe when it comes to speaking English. It turns out that only one of the top ten countries for speaking English is not in Europe (Singapore). 

The fact that most European countries have fairly high standards of spoken English is probably not so surprising given that many European nations have historical trade links with the UK and the fact that English is one of three ‘working languages’, along with French and German, of the European Commission.

Need help with your international move? Find out more about the services provided by Crown Relocations

But which are some of European countries best for English speakers, according to The Local's readers?

Let's start with the UK's closest southern neighbour, France, which has long been a popular destination for international workers, especially English speakers.

Local reader, Annie Khoury is from Los Angeles but lives in Nice, in southern France, for two months of the year. She says the French are quite laidback about speaking English.

“We spend about two months out of the year in France, and own property in Nice. We are English speakers. We have no problem living our daily lives, frequenting shops, and going about our business. We of course try to speak as much French as we can, but are never made to feel bad for mispronouncing words, grammar, etc.”

David Michael Angell, an American who lived in England and Jersey for 19 years before moving to Vitre in France, is also vocal in his praise for the patience of the French.

“I speak reasonably good French, but even when my French was rather poor I still found people friendly and helpful. Ticket agents, shop clerks, cafe owners, were almost always willing to help.”

Moving to a new country is exciting

However, Shireen Salleh, originally from Singapore, who now lives in Montpellier, has found the older generation French less helpful. 

“From my experience, people still expect you to speak French, especially the older generation. They keep repeating the same word in French, hoping that I will suddenly understand it somehow.”

Germany has become very attractive to English-speaking internationals in recent years, and Victoria Salemme, originally a native of Boston, in the United States and now living in Munich, thinks it is because of the similarities of the languages.

"German and English have the same roots, so people here seem really eager to practice speaking English. It’s almost always possible to speak in English or find someone who can translate. I also would say that the use of a lot of English slang helps too because if I don’t know a German word for something often I can substitute the English slang word and that almost always works."

However, Alokananda Nath, originally from India and now living in Frankfurt, says that if you live in smaller German cities, especially in East Germany, you would need to know German, "even for daily stuff, like going to the grocery store.”

Big plans for an international move? Get a quote from Crown Relocations here

A reader of The Local Italy also thought it made a difference if you lived in a bigger city rather than a provincial region. 

Victoria Ferguson, originally from the UK, but now living in Liguria, believes that attitudes to English speakers in metropolitan Italy and rural Italy are totally different.

“If you live in a bigger Italian town or city, it’s totally fine as an English speaker and you can have a wonderful life. Small-town Italy? Not so much.”

“Many rural Italians don’t have connections or much interest with the wider world! I have had a few experiences in rural Italy when my attempts at speaking Italian were mocked,” Victoria says. 

Gabriela Carbajal from Chicago, who now lives in Madrid in Spain, is very enthusiastic about his new home country and its approach to English speakers. 

“Spain is a great country to live in as an anything speaker! I love the openness here to different languages. I want to live here forever.”

Finally, in Switzerland, we found one very happy English speaker, Nicole Garcia-Lemelin, from Boston, who now lives in Luzern.

“I think that because four official languages are spoken here, mostly everywhere I have gone, people all have at least a basic knowledge of English! I’ve never had a problem here.”

If you're thinking of moving to a European country, Crown Relocations provides transportation, destination and immigration services, as well as family support, to assist people relocating internationally.

With experts working in 54 countries, Crown provides support, guidance, care and the personal attention needed to ensure success.

Thinking about moving abroad? Get a free quote and find out more about the start-to-finish services Crown Relocations provides

 

 

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

Anonymous 2022/04/21 20:22
I am surprised and disappointed to have read the section of this article relating to one person's experience in rural Italy - claiming to have been mocked as a non-Italian speaker. I have been living in a tiny hill-top village in Le Marche since November 2021 where there are no tourists during the winter season and very, very few English speakers. I speak a little Italian - although my understanding of spoken Italian is better - and the locals here speak a dialect I can barely understand; however, they have - without exception - been charming, warm, patient and accepting. Word has got around that an Australian is living in the area, and I am sometimes stopped on my morning walks and asked if I am that Australian living in the little village. One person's experience does not necessarily create the rule. Of course, individual experiences will differ, but it is unfortunate that some aspects of this story create the sense of rural Italians being somehow unenlightened. I have found them exceptionally kind.
Anonymous 2022/04/12 22:53
I am Norwegian and I live in a small village an hour away from Nice and the coast. Here the English skills are very poor, even among very young people. Despite the fact that they learn it at school. In your article, you have not included the 3 Scandinavian countries, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, where "everyone" speaks English. These three countries are also at the top of the list when it comes to quality of life for their citizens.
Anonymous 2022/04/10 06:39
I reckon 60 percent of all the questions I get asked are in English. I work at a busy Airport Arlanda and wear a gold jacket often so I try to help as much as possible. I use Google translate for people with no common used European languages. And it works fine.

See Also