Love in different languages: being bilingual makes you more attractive

Made a New Year’s resolution to improve your love life? Or want to find someone special before Valentine’s Day? It might be time to try becoming bilingual! Our new survey, done in collaboration with language learning app Babbel, has discovered that speaking multiple languages can make you seem more attractive.

The survey – a partnership between EliteSingles and Babbel (the world’s top-grossing language learning app¹) surveyed 6,000 singles from 8 countries². It revealed an interesting fact: speaking different languages can boost your chances in love. In fact, 73% of those surveyed say that they think it is attractive when someone can speak more than one language.

In Australia, this result is even more pronounced: of the 400 Australians in the survey, 84% said that they’re more attracted to people who can speak another tongue.

Language skills beat gym bods

The survey also revealed another surprising fact: not only is multi or bilingualism attractive, it’s actually seen as more swoon-worthy than classic attraction factors like having a 6-pack/ an athletic build. In fact, nearly all of Aussie respondents (98%) would rather date someone with great language skills than date someone with a gym-honed body.

The top reasons for picking language over looks are mostly to do with Australian singles preferring worldly matches. 38% say that their language attraction is due to them finding other cultures interesting, while 23% say that they like the mystery of a foreign language. For an additional 15%, it’s because being able to talk about things like love in different languages is a sign of intelligence.

All in all, this is great news for the 53% of Aussie respondents who can speak more than one language!

Why should singles speak more than one language?

The survey also revealed that 68% of Australians would learn a language to improve their love life – and based on the survey results, they should get started!

Indeed, singles who speak more than one language can find that it expands their dating pool. “Being able to communicate is fundamental to human interaction,” explains Joseph Troutt, a Babbel Country Manager. ‘’It’s no surprise that in 2018, in the global society that we all live in, being able to speak other languages is such an important quality in a partner. Babbel is here to help people improve themselves – and if that means their love lives too, then that’s great!”

Sophie Watson, spokesperson for EliteSingles, agreed, saying that ‘’connection and great communication are vital parts of a first date – especially if you want to land a second one.’’ She adds ‘’this survey goes to prove what we and our members have long known – the body’s most attractive muscle is the mind!’’

Boosting attraction is as easy as un deux trois

So, of all the languages you could start learning, which is the most attractive? When it comes to finding love in other languages, Australians revealed themselves to be classic romantics: French took out the top spot, with 45% of respondents considering it the romance language to rule them all. Meanwhile, the second most popular language to get hearts racing was Italian, with 29% of the vote, followed by Spanish on 24%.

Simply having a French lilt is popular too: 46% of Australians agree it’s the world’s most attractive foreign accent. This is followed by Irish on 34%, Italian on 30%, English on 28%, and Scottish on 24%.

How to talk about love in different languages

So what’s the best way to boost your language skills – and thus your love life – in 2018? Obviously learning a new tongue is a process best taken a step at a time but, if you’re feeling inspired to start right away, EliteSingles and Babbel are here to help. We’ve put together a quick guide to love in different languages. Want to let a French speaker know that you adore them? Feel like learning the Italian for ‘I love you’? Start here.

10 ways to say I love you in different languages:

French: Je t’aime
Italian: Ti amo
Spanish: Te quiero
Portuguese: Eu te amo
German: Ich liebe dich
Swedish: Jag älskar dig
Tagalog: Mahal kita
Russian: я люблю тебя (ya lyublyu tebya)
Korean: 사랑해 (salanghae)
Mandarin: 我爱你 (Wǒ ài nǐ)

Bonus: a Babbel pronunciation guide:

Feeling inspired? Meet language minded singles with us and make your language skills pop by visiting Babbel.com

EliteSingles editorial January 2018

Do you want to know more about this study, or do you have questions about love in different languages? Let us know at [email protected]

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