Roosevelt spoke German. Herbert Hoover spoke some Mandarin Chinese, while Barack Obama speaks Bahasa Indonesian at a conversational level - they are the only presidents to speak any Asian languages, not counting Hebrew.

Who was the most multilingual president?

FDR, as many called him, is known to be the last multilingual President that the American people elected. He was raised speaking both German and French as he spent long periods of time in Europe to learn the languages. Native French and German speakers recognized his distinct New England accent when he gave speeches.

Did George Washington speak other languages?

George Washington did not speak any other language. No doubt because of his very little formal education and humble beginnings he just spoke English. ... Benjamin Franklin, America's first diplomat and well-known genius spoke English, French and Italian. Our second President: John Adams spoke English, French and Latin.

How many languages could Benjamin Franklin speak?

Benjamin Franklin learned five languages during his life—French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Latin—to varying degrees of fluency. ...

Was Hamilton fluent in French?

Was Hamilton fluent in French? ... In Hamilton, Washington found an energetic writer who was fluent in French and just so happened to share most of the general's political views. Over the next few years, these assets made Hamilton an indispensable employee.

Jon Huntsman talks China, speaks Chinese

15 related questions found

Did George Washington have a British accent?

After the early days of English-accented Washingtons, his voice began to have a less pronounced English accent in favor of a more modern, American one. In the 1961 film Lafayette, Howard St. John as Washington speaks with a scruff, but higher-pitched, voice than older depictions.

Which president was fluent in Chinese?

Herbert Hoover spoke some Mandarin Chinese, while Barack Obama speaks Bahasa Indonesian at a conversational level - they are the only presidents to speak any Asian languages, not counting Hebrew.

Which president first language was not English?

Martin Van Buren is notable as he was the first U.S. president born following U.S. independence; which may make it more surprising that he is the only U.S. president who did not speak English as a first language, instead growing up in a Dutch-speaking community in New York, while learning English in school.

Which president had the shortest term?

William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773 – April 4, 1841) was an American military officer and politician who was elected in 1840 as the ninth president of the United States; he died just 31 days after his inauguration. His term in office was the shortest in U.S. history and the first to end in death.

Who speaks the most languages in the world?

Ziad Fazah, born in Liberia, brought up in Beirut and now living in Brazil, claims to be the world's greatest living polyglot, speaking a total of 59 world languages. He has been 'tested' on Spanish television, where it was not clear just how well he could communicate in some of them.

What accent did Benjamin Franklin have?

Also, add to the list Ben Franklin — yes, he also had a British accent. In fact, most of the founding fathers probably had British accents because they were British subjects only a few generations removed from living in England. The British accent extended to much of the population of the United States at that time.

How did the Southern accent develop?

The Southern Drawl, like any accent, developed over the course of hundreds of years. There were many factors that contributed to its evolution including: plantation and farm life, Western expansion, immigration, and an increasing number and size of American cities.

Did Abraham Lincoln have a British accent?

Lincoln's accent was a blend of Indiana and Kentucky. “It was hard to know whether it was more Hoosier or blue grass,” says Holzer. The way he spelled words, such as “inaugural” as “inaugerel,” gives some clue as to how he pronounced them. Despite his twang, Lincoln was “no country bumpkin,” Holzer clarifies.

Can Alexander Hamilton speak French?

“He could speak French fluently.”

What languages does Roger Federer speak?

"Number one, I think talking in different languages is always an interesting thing," said Federer," whose first language is Swiss German, although he's also fluent in German, French and English. In addition he speaks a little Italian, Spanish and Swedish and - courtesy of his mother from Johannesburg - some Afrikaans.