It’s Official: Favourite European Phrase is ‘I Love You'!

Spanish has been voted the happiest-sounding language by international students at EF Language Abroad, beating Italian and English in a new survey released to mark the European Day of Languages.

More than 1,000 students across EF’s European campuses took part in the survey, sharing their views on Europe’s most romantic, useful, and joyful languages. While French was crowned the most romantic tongue, chosen by 50% of respondents, Spanish stood out as the language that makes people smile (30%). Nearly 80% of students agreed that English remains the most useful language for the future.

Moreover, if European languages were guests at a party, Spanish would be the one keeping everyone on the dance floor, outshining Italian and English. But not every language is centre stage. Estonian was voted the mysterious one in the corner, while French took the crown as most stylish.

Students’ Favourite Words and Phrases

The survey also asked students to share their favourite European words or phrases. Out of the many suggestions, ‘I Love You!’ was the favourite in numerous languages. Other answers ranged from poetic to playful:

• Italian: “Non pentirti, non giudicarti, sei quello che sei…” – “Don’t regret, don’t judge yourself, you are who you are…”

• German: *“Feierabend” *– the moment you leave work and the evening begins

• Polish: “Mrówkojad” – the word for “anteater”

• Simple but heartfelt: “Together”

“Connecting to a language is a deeply personal experience. Different languages touch us in different ways, helping us experience the world and its people more richly with each one we learn. It can even affect your mood – try saying ‘Cheese!’ without smiling!” said Dr David Bish, Academic Director at EF Language Abroad.

“Whether it’s sharing a laugh in Spanish or saying ‘je t’aime’ in French, languages carry as much emotion as meaning. And with the strong interest we’re seeing in Italian, Spanish, French and German, it’s clear that students are embracing Europe’s linguistic richness. At EF, we see language learning not just as study, but as a lifelong journey.”

More Than Just English: A Growing Appetite for European Languages

According to the recent Eurobarometer on “Europeans and their languages,” 86% of EU citizens believe everyone should speak at least one foreign language, and 76% see improving language skills as a policy priority. Nearly three out of five Europeans (59%) can hold a conversation in another language, this rises to 79% among 15–24-year-olds. English remains the most widely spoken foreign language – especially among youth – followed by French, German, and Spanish. 69% believe that everyone in the EU should be able to speak more than one language in addition to their mother tongue.

This Europe-wide enthusiasm for multilingualism is also reflected at EF Language Abroad. While English remains the most popular language, enrolments in Italian, Spanish and French have surged since 2019:

• Italian learners in Rome have increased by 123%

• Spanish has grown by 51%, with campus enrolments up 78% in Barcelona and 88% in Malaga

• French has grown by 26%, with 47% more students in Nice and 19% more in Paris

Celebrating the European Day of Languages

To mark the European Day of Languages, EF Language Abroad campuses across Europe are hosting student activities – from exploring fun facts and language games to cultural workshops – highlighting that multilingualism is as much about joy and connection as it is about study.

EF invites everyone to celebrate – whether by joining a quiz, trying a cultural exchange, or simply greeting someone in a new language. Every word opens doors and builds bridges.