[Marla Starr]

English has 1 million words, whereas French has fewer than 100,000. In other words, English has 10 times the number of words than French. German only has 200,000 words, or 1/5 of the number in English. As a matter of fact, English has the biggest vocabulary of any other language on the earth. Perhaps that is why it is the most useful in so many different situations all over the globe. And, it is easier to learn one very useful language than many not-so-useful ones.

[NZerFromHK]

This is why learning English is quite a steep learning process for second language learners. For example, we know words with "haemo-" indicate blood problems. In German I believe there is only one root word for blood so after you learn it many new vocabularies associated with blood could be master easily (which are just compound words anyway).

And English grammar is about as chaotic as you can imagine - some describe it is akin to the common law legal system. German and even French grammar are much more uniform and you won't hit as many snags as in English. But still, English is the language of communications today so everyone learns it.

[ccmay]

German only has 200,000 words, or 1/5 of the number in English.

True, but you can also make as many new words in German as you wish. Just hook them together one long jumble.

There is supposedly a German word,

"Mississippischaufelraddampferkapitänsmützenfabrikbesitzer",

that has been used at least once in print. It means the owner of a factory for making hats for captains of paddle boats on the Mississippi.

So the number of German words is really infinite. Any combination of words that can be conceived can be used as a legitimate word.

-ccm