The Battle of Brexit is not yet won, but the UK has won the EU language battle

For EU27 primary schools, English is 14 times more popular than French

English has won the war of language in the EU

The EU’s official statistics body has just published figures on the relative popularity of learning foreign languages across the EU27 countries.

These show that English is by far the most popular choice across all age groups, in every EU country, and at all learning levels.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

Most popular foreign language to learn within the EU27

At primary school level – English (82.1%)
At lower secondary level – English (97.5%)
At upper secondary level – English (86.8%)

The relative popularity of the top six languages at upper secondary level is:-

English: 86.8%
French: 19.4%
German: 18.3%
Spanish: 17.5%
Russian: 2.4%
Italian: 2.3%

PLEASE NOTE: These percentages add up to more than 100% because some children learn more than one foreign language. All data comes from the EU itself.

With younger children, the popularity of English over French is even more stark

EU primary school children learning English: 82.1%
EU primary school children learning French: 5.9%
Young children across the EU are 14 times more likely to learn English than French

Brexit has not stopped the inexorable advance in the EU of the language that England gave to the world

The EU has a total of 24 official languages, including English. Following Brexit, only two EU27 countries have English as their official language: Ireland and Malta. Nonetheless, English is the dominant language in use in almost all EU business.

Up until the mid-nineties French was used by the EU Commission in many of its pronouncements. As more countries joined the EU, however, French went from being “the language of diplomacy” to being a language few could understand. English became the default language. In the past this caused walk-outs from official meetings by French officials.

Today the EU Commission uses three main languages: English, French, and German. In practice, however, almost the only EU official who still makes statements in French is Monsieur Michel Barnier, the EU’s Chief Brexit Negotiator.

Observations

It is important when looking at language to appreciate that the EU has ‘re-interpreted’ certain expressions and phrases contained in the English vernacular. Below we give some examples from the EU, together with our suggested translations for native English speakers.

The Brexit Facts4EU.Org guide to Eurenglish

“Level Playing Field” – A stadium in Brussels where the pitch is arranged at an angle of 27 degrees against the visiting team, the UK. Naturally the teams do not change sides at half-time.

“UK waters” – The area of sea immediately surrounding the United Kingdom, mostly inhabited by French and Dutch fish and which is therefore rightfully EU sovereign territory.

“The Good Friday Agreement” – A document which must not actually be read, so that it can then be used to annex part of the sovereign territory of the United Kingdom.

“Ze clock eez teecking” – Phrase (most often attributed to an elderly French gentleman) used in speeches which are past their sell-by date.

“To cherry-pick” – Method invented by a former EU Commission President to extract unwanted fruit from his vodka martinis.

No doubt readers will have many more examples which they may wish to add, in comments below this article. Some readers may prefer to send donations instead, which would be extremely welcome. Quick, secure, and confidential donation methods are below, and donors will receive a warm and personal ‘thank you’ from a member of the Facts4EU.Org team.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org continues to research and publish the most prolific output of Brexit facts in the world. We’d like to see this thing through, with your help.

[ Sources: Eurostat | EU Commission ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Thur 15 Oct 2020

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Reader Comments 8

1. Ashley Great Britain , Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 07:39:

Of course all the kids want to learn English. Any where you go in the world from a fishing village in Peru, To a desert village in Africa,English is the language where you are most likely to find common ground over communication.
French is spoken in France, And they hate that fact.
Talk about a country of bitter people.

2. Ashley Great Britain , Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 07:45:

In our travel's in France, how many French people pretend they can't speak English.
They openly show their disdain for doing so.
Have you noticed when they do speak English, mostly its a struggle to understand them.
That's because their heart's not in it.
If you listen to some Eu officials from other countries,you could be forgiven for thinking maybe they are British.

3. Derek Lund , Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 10:37:

Do I detect a note of end of term hilarity, Facts4EU? I think you’re right. I saw a video of Michael Gove speaking in connection with a recent blue collar conservatism event. When he was challenged over his support for UK fisheries he described how his dad’s fishery business had been ruined by the EU. He then said ‘for me it’s personal’. He meant it.
Anyway, here’s my contribution to the Eurenglish list:
“the UK has not engaged constructively” Our bullying tactics aren’t working
“the EU has shown openness to possible solutions” We’ll rubbish all your suggestions and stitch you up at every opportunity
“in parallel” The negotiations will be dragged out to infinity
“We have no wish to intervene in the UK's domestic affairs” Anyone got John Bercow’s mobile number?
“The German chancellor has pledged to not let Ireland down" We’ll throw Ireland under a bus once they are no longer our useful idiot
“Our friends in Europe” (Boris Johnson) unprintable

4. Sydney Ashurst , Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 12:12:

We are holding off going back into negotiations. There is no guarantee a Canada style FTA will be ratified by mid November the EU's date. Macron could play up and there is rumbling in the normally tame Parliament
The word in Brussels in their English metaphors is that they are not happy with a Canada style deal, Canada being thousands of miles away

5. Steven , Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 14:27:

Ashley, French is the second most widely spoken language in the world if you exclude tongues like Mandarin Chinese ext.After all, they had the second most extensive colonial empire after us and nowadays have MORE of overseas territories than we do though they are are actually integral though overseas parts of the French Republic such as New Caledonia in the South Pacific which recently voted to remain French though only just. I have been to France and if they show disdain for speaking English who can blame them? After all, it isn’t their language and frankly British visitors should at least ATTEMPT to speak French when in France as a matter of common courtesy instead of arrogantly sticking to English as too many British tourists do. I learnt French at school and when I am in France I try and speak it as I find the French are pleased and are warmer to me than if I were to speak English. When in Rome do as the Romans do!

6. Ashley Great Britain , Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 19:02:

Yeah fair enough I know that really. I'm just not in a very French loving mood.

7. Zerren Yeoville , Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 20:09:

1. Of course the children want to learn English; it's a much more widespread, globally useful language. French is spoken mainly in France and its ex-colonies, mostly poor African states rarely visited by anyone except aid workers. The only other language option offered in my schooldays (1980s) was German, which is of virtually no use whatsoever outside Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and parts of Switzerland.
2. In the event that there are any further meetings with Eurocrats who still haven't grasped the concept of the UK being a sovereign and independent country, the refreshments on offer should be a selection of Australian and New Zealand wines, and Fiji bottled spring water, just to underline the point that 'proximity' is a concept largely rendered redundant by the invention of the standardized shipping container, and in any case totally irrelevant in the case of services delivered digitally.

8. tarien , Wednesday, October 21, 2020, 09:36:

4 Steven, Actually I thought Spanish was the second most spoken language? Their Empire was as big if not bigger than France at one time and if one includes just South America, the numbers speaking Spanish must be close to 100%. I agree that the British should make an attempt to speak French if visiting France-I lived and worked in France for a number years and had to speak French, and as such got to make many good French Freinds. Certainly outside the large conabations not being able to speak French would be a problem, nevertheless my wife and I found kindness and help wherever-yes it did help to be able to communicate in their language, but our Doctor spoke excellent English as did the Notaire/Lawyer. I enjoyed living in France not just for the wine and food, but the wide open spaces so easily to enjoy without running into a herd of people coming towards one. Still like us Brits they have their ways and we should when in their country obey and respect their way of life.

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