The best English-speaking countries to retire to, where you won’t need to learn a second language as you enjoy an exotic retirement overseas.
Looking to move overseas in your golden years, but concerned about finding an English-speaking country to retire to?
Moving or retiring overseas is an exciting prospect, but it does come with some challenges. For many, the primary hurdle is a potential language barrier.
Luckily, there are several countries that speak English and welcome retirees. We’ve covered a few of them in the past: Belize, Malta, and the Philippines.
But the list doesn’t end there…
The following countries are also great prospects for those who wish to retire overseas but are nervous about learning a new language…
1. Cyprus: English-Speaking Retirement On The Mediterranean
The island’s official languages are Greek and Turkish, but English, though not an official language, is the lingua franca between these, and it’s very rare to meet a Cypriot who doesn’t speak it.
More than 80% of Cypriots are fluent (or nearly so) in English.
English was the official language in Cyprus from 1878 to 1960, during British rule, and continued to be used in courts until 1989 and in legislation until 1996. Not only is it widely spoken, even among locals, but much of the signage and advertisements are also in English.
English is absolutely a common language to use here. Locals will have no trouble communicating with you in English, nor will they hold a grudge for doing so—quite the contrary, they’d feel rude to make you try to speak their language.
While I doubt many foreign residents would be eager to try to learn either Turkish or Greek, if you do take a stab at it, note that the dialects of Cypriot Turkish and Cypriot Greek vary from the standards significantly. So if you do try to learn them, be warned that Duolingo’s versions, for example, won’t match up with what’s used on the island.
When speaking in English, though, bear in mind that the American (or Canadian) accent is not as well known to most Cypriots, who are much more familiar with the British or even Australian accent. Speak slowly and be patient. If you feel you’re not being understood, it’s likely that your accent is the issue.
2. Ireland: A Classic English-Speaking Retirement On The Emerald Isle
The only country on this list with English as the official language, Ireland has historically been one of the most popular countries for Americans to visit and to move to.
However, just because the language is English doesn’t mean you’ll have no trouble understanding or being understood…
Accents in Ireland are thick. Idioms and slang terms are so different to America, you’re likely to feel as though you’re learning a new language, or at least a dialect, as you learn to communicate here!
I lived in Ireland for seven years, and my son was born there. Even still, I never got the hang of Irish syntax. My daughter, who went to school there from ages 8 to 14, probably had the best education in day-to-day Irish speaking thanks to her peers. Here’s her list of most confusing terms she came to be familiar with after a time, in order of most often used…
· Sure: Inserted everywhere, almost like “um”
· So: In that case; “I’ll pay the bill, so.”
· Craic: Good time, fun
· Yoke: Thing
· Tea: Dinner
· Lads: folks
· Grand: Good, fine, OK, affirmation of any kind
· Thick: Stupid
· Can’t be arsed: Can’t be bothered
· Knackered: Very tired
· Bin/Bin it: Trash can/throw it out
· Fair play: Well done, thanks, agreement, admitting, well done, etc.
· Deadly, Class, Savage: Great, excellent
· Sound / Sound out: A frequent positive response use to describe, people, things, and situations
· Slagging: Teasing
· Banjaxed: Broken beyond repair
· Jax: Toilet
· Wanker: An objectionable person
· Get a lift: Someone drives you somewhere
· Shifting: Making out
· Queue: Wait in line
· Bursting: Need to pee
· Bird: Girl, chick
· Earwig: Eavesdrop
· Knacker: Derogatory word refers to the Irish travelers (those living in mobile homes)
· Leg it: Run/move fast
· Off license: Liquor store
· Shattered: Beyond tired
In spite of the accents and vocabulary, though, this is a country where you can slide into local life easily, without taking language courses.
3. Portugal: English-Speaking Retirement In The Heart Of Western Europe
Like Cyprus, English isn’t an official language in Portugal, but, again, thanks to the British presence here for many decades, it often feels as though it’s a secondary local language. It is the second most spoken language in the country, and almost everyone speaks it, and the older generations speak French fluently, as well.
Living here, you could get by without learning to speak Portuguese… though any effort to learn the local language is a show of respect and appreciated.
In addition to the strong cultural and historical links with England and the fact that Portugal is such a major tourist destination, English is widely spoken.
It’s also a compulsory as a second language in the schooling system, so the younger generations speak it flawlessly.
Many establishments including restaurants, private and public health centers, and hospitals, clinics, sports clubs, and supermarkets, have people able to interact with the public in English, as well as other foreign languages.
You’ll even find English books in bookstores, and The Portugal News, a digital Portuguese newspaper, covers all the major news about Portugal, Algarve, and Lisbon in English. Plus, almost all universities offer a wide range of courses taught in English.
As Portugal expat Allison Baxley reports from her adopted home, Cascais, “Most offices and shops have at least one person available who speaks English, and it’s quite easy to make appointments with English-speaking doctors. If you get stuck, there are usually bystanders willing to help translate in a pinch.”
Retire To English-Speaking Countries
It’s not just a pipe dream—you really can retire overseas without learning a new language. These are only some of the best English-speaking countries to retire to, but there are plenty more options around the world. Even if a country’s official language isn’t English doesn’t mean you’ll need to learn to speak another language.