paseoDifficulty, honestly
Is French hard to learn?
For English speakers, French is one of the more approachable languages. It is not effortless. Spelling and sound diverge, and the hard part is usually the speaking.
Easier to recognize than to say
French and English share a huge amount of vocabulary: information, important, possible, and thousands of others. You will recognize words before you can say them. That head start is real. It does not mean a conversation will feel comfortable on day three.
Is French easy to learn? Reading a menu often is. Hearing a full-speed reply takes longer. How hard is French to learn depends on which of those you practice.
How long it takes
The U.S. Foreign Service Institute groups French with the languages that take English speakers less time to reach a professional working level: on the order of 600 classroom hours, in a full-time course. That figure is for a high professional standard. It is not a promise about fluency, and it is not how long a simple conversation takes.
A greeting can happen this week. Ordering coffee can happen this month. Comfort in a wandering chat takes longer, and it arrives sooner if you talk a little every day.
Salut, ça va ?
Hi, how are you?
Je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît.
I’d like a coffee, please.
What actually feels hard
Sounds that English does not have. Remembering gender while you are also trying to be polite. Hearing the difference between a written word and the spoken one. Understanding someone who is not slowing down.
How hard is it to learn French is partly a choice of method. Worksheets make it feel academic. A daily conversation makes it feel like a skill. Repeat phrases you will say again, and ask for a slower turn when you need it.
Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ?
Can you repeat that, please?