I've been writing code for 33 years, and REBOL is the easiest I've ever seen, for beginners to learn. It's simple enough to get started with right away, but powerful enough for commercial projects. Take a look at http://easiestprogramminglanguage.com
I know this thread is pages and pages long but I hope my two cents are OK. PHP of course but start with an existing system that has a bit of a learning curve. WordPress is the way to go, my friend. Tons of data for it through Google searches, really easy to get the hang of, and a great first (actually several) steps toward learning the lingo. Thanks! p.s. xhtml and css are awesome but the way of the world.. HTML5 and CSS3 and start learning how to code responsive themes/templates!