What are the 3 most spoken languages besides English?

It's tricky to say definitively the "top 3" most spoken languages *besides* English, as different sources use different methodologies and criteria. However, based on the most commonly cited data, the top three contenders are:

1. Mandarin Chinese: With over 1 billion speakers worldwide, Mandarin is the clear leader in terms of native speakers.

2. Hindi: Spoken by over 600 million people primarily in India, Hindi is a close contender for the second spot.

3. Spanish: With over 500 million native speakers and a strong global presence, Spanish is a strong contender for the top three.

Important Notes:

* The definition of "spoken" can be tricky: Do we consider dialects as separate languages? What about languages with a large number of second language speakers?

* Statistics are complex: Gathering accurate language data is challenging, especially for languages with widespread dialects or limited official documentation.

Therefore, it's crucial to consider the methodology and context when interpreting any ranking of the most spoken languages.