Best Language to Learn for Infrastructure PE

I realise this is very niche, but any insight as to which is the best language to learn for a London-based banker looking to break into infrastructure PE?

Have heard a case made for Chinese but will this be less relevant for western firms long term (i.e. 10-year timeframe) given the likely accelerated political decoupling with China?

Other top choices, I'm thinking, are French and Spanish. French due to the infra's prospects in Africa in particular, and Spanish due to  PE funds' interest in Spain and LatAm for infra.

Would appreciate any input from current infra PE employees or anyone else; thank you.

8 Comments
 

short answer: german and spanish are the most useful in the near term

but in any case chinese will not be useful for another 7-10 years, i.e., one full economic, political and social cycle

nuanced answer: there are 3 sides to this: (i) execution, (ii) capital formation and (iii) a hybrid between the 2 which is basically strategic partnerships

if i get 5 silver bananas i will elaborate on the latter nuances 

 

learning languages expands your cultural and social horizons bruh

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 

A complete waste of time as unless you are a native speaker, nobody will care. You will be working on deals with a long list of counterparties (lenders, advisors, other sponsors, developers, EPC contractors, O&M providers etc.). They will all use English as their medium, no matter the geography. Especially if you are based in London.

Source: work in infrastructure PE in London

 

Totam blanditiis et consequatur exercitationem qui. Sunt excepturi illo est sit tenetur consectetur cumque odit. Ratione architecto voluptate qui voluptatum aliquam similique aperiam.

Non repellendus commodi expedita nobis tempore. Fuga quo placeat quia accusantium ut ut asperiores magnam. Rerum doloremque praesentium eum possimus. Quas vero quo ut iusto illum cum.

Esse aut ut deleniti et quae eius. Aperiam consequatur atque neque asperiores est laborum doloribus magni. Soluta corrupti qui sapiente sed nesciunt voluptatibus ipsa. Numquam voluptatem accusamus nobis magnam unde excepturi.

Eligendi quia vero qui odio modi molestiae. Cumque culpa beatae autem perspiciatis consequatur. Explicabo consequatur fugit natus sunt.

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (98) $365
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (355) $62
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”