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Dutch Named World's Friendliest Language in New Study

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Tuesday, March 10th 2026 at 23:01 GMT by Travel + Leisure
      Locales: TAIWAN PROVINCE OF CHINA, PHILIPPINES, THAILAND, SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA

Lund, Sweden - March 11th, 2026 - A groundbreaking study from Lund University in Sweden has declared Dutch the "friendliest" language in the world, sparking debate and prompting further investigation into the link between linguistic structure and cultural tendencies. The research, published this week in the Journal of Sociolinguistics, analyzed 20 languages, ranking them based on their potential to foster collaboration and positive interaction.

The study, led by Professor Johan van de Ven, wasn't attempting to judge the speakers of a language but rather the inherent characteristics of the language itself. Researchers focused on specific grammatical features believed to correlate with cooperative and respectful communication. These included the prevalence of inclusive 'we' pronouns, markers of politeness, and the way languages prioritize people versus objects in sentence structure.

Dutch topped the list, lauded for its frequent use of an inclusive 'we' - a pronoun that naturally incorporates the person being spoken to. This grammatical habit, researchers believe, fosters a sense of unity and shared responsibility. The study also highlighted Dutch's tendency to grammatically emphasize people over objects, demonstrating a perceived respect for individuals. Maltese, Fijian, Indonesian, and Spanish rounded out the top five.

"We weren't looking for 'nice' languages," explains Professor van de Ven. "We were looking for linguistic features that facilitate a sense of connection and cooperation. Inclusive language, in particular, seems to be a key component. When a language routinely includes the listener in the 'we,' it subtly reinforces the idea of shared goals and mutual support."

Beyond Pronouns: A Deeper Dive into Linguistic Friendliness

The research extended beyond simple pronoun analysis. The team examined the degree to which languages employ honorifics - grammatical structures that show respect based on social status or age. Languages like Japanese and Korean, while not included in the top five of this particular study, are renowned for their complex systems of honorifics. The absence of such complex systems wasn't necessarily seen as unfriendly, but rather as a different approach to social interaction.

The researchers also considered the use of mitigation - linguistic strategies used to soften requests or disagreements. Languages that offer multiple ways to express politeness and indirectness were scored higher, suggesting a cultural emphasis on avoiding confrontation. The study found, for example, that Spanish incorporates a wide range of conditional tenses and subjunctive moods, offering speakers numerous options for expressing nuanced requests.

English and Arabic at the Bottom: A Call for Nuance

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the study was the placement of English and Arabic at the bottom of the list. While acknowledging the complexity of these languages and the richness of their cultures, the researchers pointed to a tendency toward exclusive 'we' usage in English and a more hierarchical structure in Arabic as contributing factors.

However, Professor van de Ven stresses the importance of avoiding simplistic generalizations. "It's crucial to understand that language is just one piece of the puzzle," he says. "The friendliness of a culture is determined by a multitude of factors, including history, social norms, and individual personality. This study simply suggests that certain linguistic features may reflect underlying cultural values."

The ranking of English has already drawn criticism from commentators who point to the global prevalence of English as a language of international cooperation and diplomacy. Experts argue that the language's neutrality and adaptability are strengths, even if its grammar doesn't inherently promote inclusivity.

Implications and Future Research

The study has significant implications for fields like cross-cultural communication, language acquisition, and even artificial intelligence. Understanding how language shapes perception and interaction could lead to more effective strategies for building rapport and fostering collaboration in diverse settings.

Researchers are now planning to expand the study to include a wider range of languages and to investigate the correlation between linguistic features and real-world measures of social cooperation, such as charitable giving and volunteer rates. They also hope to explore the potential for using AI to analyze large datasets of text and identify patterns of linguistic friendliness and unfriendliness.

Top 5 & Bottom 5 - A Quick Reference:

Top 5 Friendliest Languages: 1. Dutch 2. Maltese 3. Fijian 4. Indonesian 5. Spanish

Least Friendly Languages: 1. English 2. Arabic 3. Serbian 4. Mongolian 5. Burkinabe