Is Unreal Engine Hard to learn?

No

and yes.

So let’s think about this for few minutes… What does it mean when something is hard to learn?

Does it mean it takes long time to understand? Or that it’s quick but painful. How does painful learning even work?

I think this whole question is very silly. I can understand trying to look at it from comparison point of view, as in – trying to understand if something is more difficult to learn than some other thing. For example commonly asked:

What’s harder to learn, Unreal Unity or Godot?

Even that question is bit silly. Why would it matter? I don’t think it’s very good idea to choose technology you use based on how hard it is to learn. Let’s choose based on what’s best suited for the job.

Don’t get me wrong, there is definitely an argument to have about which tool (which engine) is smoother to work with, their learning curve etc… but you don’t know that until you worked with all of them on a serious project.

If you are asking which one is easier to learn, then the differences between them will go completely over your head anyway. If you are just starting out the engine you pick is completely irrelevant.

Just choose one and get to work, most of the skills you learn are easily transferable if you learn them right.
I wrote another articles about what I think is best way to learn, so maybe give it a read:

But really don’t focus on which engine is easier to learn when starting out. It’s very misguided, just pick one and get to work, you will know better with the next project.