Learn a new language with the world’s most-downloaded education app! Duolingo is the fun, free app for learning 40+ languages through quick, bite-sized lessons. Practice speaking, reading, listening, and writing to build your vocabulary and grammar skills.
Designed by language experts and loved by hundreds of millions of learners worldwide, Duolingo helps you prepare for real conversations in Spanish, French, Chinese, Italian, German, English, and more.
Whether you’re learning a language for travel, school, career, family and friends, or your brain health, you’ll love learning with Duolingo.
Why Duolingo?
Duolingo is fun and effective. Game-like lessons and fun characters help you build solid speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills.
Duolingo works. Designed by language experts, Duolingo has a science-based teaching methodology proven to foster long-term language retention.
Track your progress. Work toward your language learning goals with playful rewards and achievements when you make practicing a daily habit!
Join 300+ million learners. Stay motivated with competitive Leaderboards as you learn alongside our global community.
Every language course is free. Learn Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish, Dutch, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Ukrainian, Esperanto, Polish, Greek, Hungarian, Norwegian, Hebrew, Welsh, Arabic, Latin, Hawaiian, Scottish Gaelic, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, English, and even High Valyrian!
What the world is saying about Duolingo⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:
Editor’s Choice and “Best of the Best” —Google Play
“Far and away the best language-learning app.” —The Wall Street Journal
“This free app and website is among the most effective language-learning methods I’ve tried… lessons come in the form of brief challenges — speaking, translating, answering multiple-choice questions — that keep me coming back for more.” —The New York Times
“Duolingo may hold the secret to the future of education.” — TIME Magazine
“…Duolingo is cheerful, lighthearted and fun…” — Forbes
If you like Duolingo, try Super Duolingo for 14 days free! Learn a language fast with no ads, and get fun perks like Unlimited Hearts and Monthly Streak Repair.
Send any feedback to [email protected]
Use Duolingo on the Web at https://www.duolingo.com
Privacy Policy: https://www.duolingo.com/privacy
I would give 5 stars but it has occasional bugs, some seem purposeful. For example, if you have an exp boost or you’re doing a timed challenge, it will lag a lot more. That way, you don’t have enough time to finish & you’ll have to pay for more coins. It’ll also say you’re wrong, when you gave the exact same answer as the one they showed. Other than that, it’s a great app & I genuinely appreciate the free knowledge you offer. My Spanish has gotten so much better over the past year. Thank you.
I love DL, but it has issues. Too many to list, but I’ll say a few. 1) “can’t listen now” is too easy to click by mistake. Should be moved or need another tap to confirm. 2) I never want to “jump to the next level” and skip content. Need an option to disable this pop-up completely. 3) “Perfect!” at the end shouldn’t cover/obscure the text. I like to read it back after I check my answer, but “Perfect!” gets in the way. 4) Sentence discussions desperately need to be re-opened. They help a ton.
Duolingo is convenient, and it helps to have reminders. However, in the course I took, the sentences were repeated until you memorized them, rather than teaching you real language skills. I’m guessing that the more popular courses like Spanish or French are less likely to have this problem, but the more complex (and useful) aspects of the language had really poor English grammar. The worst part is that no matter how many times you report a problem, it doesn’t get fixed.
The app is great and a good way to keep yourself learning a language every day. However, I have a bug from the Japanese lessons that has been annoying to deal with: The pronunciation option is really buggy. Sometimes I turn it off, but if i come back to the app later it might start showing pronunciation again even though it’s off, and I have to turn it on and off again. Sometimes the romanized pronunciation shows when I have the Japanese selected. I hope these issues can be addressed. Great app
I used to really enjoy and look forward to the app daily. I felt I was actually learning. But since the major design and interface change, the lessons are going so fast and are very challenging to accomplish the lessons or learn the words or the tense of things. It’s also almost impossible to complete any of the section Legendary challenges which, for me, really solidified that I was making progress. It’s sad that I only log on now so I don’t lose my measly 129 day streak.
Generally useful for learning a language, especially if the user is consistent. Allows listening practice and alphabet practice. Sometimes finding specific things in the menu options is not intuitive. Ads can be a little annoying since it sometimes takes several seconds before you can find the mute button – it would be nice to opt for ads in the language you’re learning so it isn’t an abrupt switch in language when one starts playing.
Updates to the app that change the experience-xp for example-are not communicated. It can be demotivating and therefore slow learning progress. Kinda takes the wind out of my sails to engage with the app. And I’m getting really tired of the inconsistencies of when spelling errors are counted against you and when they aren’t. It makes me want to quit the app. Also, since the update, tracking of past learning isn’t accurate. You get dinged for things that weren’t taught as part of past versions
I really, really want to give Duo 5 stars as it’s been really effective for me. HOWEVER, there are some big problems, in particular voice recognition of numbers. I’ve emailed support and never heard back, and it’s a known issue. For several languages including Ukrainian and Russian, it has an incredibly difficult time recognizing them, even when said well enough for Google translate to easily understand it. It keeps me from completing challenges and lessons and it’s incredibly frustrating.
I really loved learning Italian, until I hit the 30-day mark, then it auto involved me in the super, and now my ability to earn hearts has disappeared. I just want the free version. I don’t want the trail. Earning and losing the hearts is how I get my practice. I tried turning off the free trial, but there is nowhere to do it. I am getting very frustrated!! If it wasn’t for this, I would rate it a solid 4 it would be 5 but some of the spelling glitches are a bit annoying.
Please bring back the old layout. The new one with the latest update is very confusing and it is not fun not being able to listen to the storis when you want. Also, it was easier before to keep track of your progress and the layout was motivating. Now it looks like a nonending cycle of lessons with less flexibility and options.
The new interface is bit annoying and doesn’t have as much flexibility as the old one. Also I just have to say that the limited hearts/having to refill for making mistakes is an awful development. Its just disheartening losing a streak because of it, not to mention expensive to refill! You don’t really earn a lot ingots in the first place. I don’t pay for the plus version and this feels like a punishment for that.
This app has helped me so much in beginning my journey to learn another language. It is perfectly free and doesn’t bother you too much about getting premium. The ads are only 5 seconds long before you can skip them and each level is customized to your personal progress. Another thing that I think is just a major plus, is that everything is easy and accessible with a super cute design. Lastly, the levels teach you how to pronounce everything, how to write it out, and the even proper grammar. 9/10
The app itself seems like a the best option for what it offers but the lessons themselves are useless roughly a third to half the time. Sentences that’s are ridiculous, lack of focus on the things the actual need practice or understanding, and excess repetion of things that are well understood (which would be fine if it wasn’t taking away from the other aspects of learning). The animations are pretty slick. And a heads up, it’s not friendly to dyslexic individuals.
Duolingo used to be a good app, but I was practicing and doing a lot of lessons when it started taking away my points, so I couldn’t move up on the leader board. I would do a few lessons, and the points would go up, but then it would take all the points I just earned away again. The new updates are also really annoying, I liked the old version so much better.
The new layout is awful! I almost quit after a week of using it. The only thing that kept me was that I had 2 more months to get the 365 day streak. The old layout gave you a few options to choose from and now you are limited to just one. There was also a reminder (broken skills) to review old lessons, but that has been removed too. Not only that, but for the Japanese courses the questions many times dont relate to the topic of the Unit. The only part I enjoy now is practicing the alphabets.
Pretty good for learning basics such as characters and alphabets. The gamification is good for encouraging practice. Cons: Does not teach grammar (you’ll need to figure it out through trial and error), audio is sometimes hard to hear or sounds off (letters can did like someone completely different), and examples they use aren’t great (I don’t won’t need to know how to say “the fox’s yoyo” ever).
I’ve used the app (with a few breaks) for a number of months. It changed abruptly over a day or two, which was surprising. The speaking and listening exercises are very helpful. The written practice helps with spelling and pronunciation. I still wish there was a place to read exactly how the process is supposed to work, from beginning to end. I really appreciate that it’s free!!Also truly enjoy the podcasts with transcripts. Four stars.
I don’t like the update. I liked it better when the books were on a separate tab. I also feel that the lessons to reach the legendary level are harder. They changed the number of lessons you need to complete without changing the number of mistakes you’re allowed to make. I bought the premium subscription because I enjoyed the app and was having fun until the update. This was a great app but now it’s a huge headache. Please revert to the tree design or at least, make the new path optional.
The recent update is terrible. I was encouraged by the progress I was making before. I’m regretting the $84 investment that prior to this update was more than worth it. The gains that I built on from earlier lessons are getting lost with this new layout. What happened to the revisit reminder feature?! The navigation is bulky and unclear, and I’ve forgotten a lot as a result. The large button speaking practice freeze remains unresolved. It’s really unfortunate, a change or a canceled subscription
You have to experience it to appreciate it fully. The free version or the small amout it cost for ad free learning. Personally, I like it better than any of the other foreign language apps. I am learning Polish, which is a difficult language, and i wish the lessons included declination and grammar rules… but… overall it is a good option worthy of your time and investment.
Updated Format 👎🏻 I 100% prefer the old UX. This new format makes it far more difficult to personally track progress. I haven’t a clue as to what unit I’m working on or how it compares to the previous version. Furthermore, it seems like none of the “steps” break when you haven’t practiced in a long time. I would greatly appreciate the previous format restored.
Duolingo has changed so much. I used to love it a lot They changed the layout, which has made navigation so confusing for me. I used to choose if wanted the sentences said slower. I can’t do that anymore. I can’t find the funny dialogues between the characters. It just hasn’t been engaging as it was before. I can now go days without thinking about Duolingo. It just seems like something I have to do now instead of something I want to do. Please change it back.
I preferred the old version of the app (with freedom to choose what to study and to read stories whenever), but I still think Duo is good for learning sentence structure and increasing vocabulary. However, if you want to feel comfortable having a conversation with someone, I think you’ll still need another source of instruction, such as Pimsleur or an actual class. Since the last update, glitches like pts, stats & achievements not being updated are frequent — annoying on a paid subscription.
It’s super fun! Some little quirks though. Sometimes if you get the wrong gender, rather than correcting the mistake it tells you the word you chose was wrong and gives you a word that you haven’t worked yet. Just something to look out for, it can be confusing. Also it would be nice if they would have a dyslexia friendly font. Update 1/21 typos typos typos!!! I’m so sick of being held back by typos!
Game- like fun but a bit too gamey for learning focus. I’m not an electronic gamer but find an addictive aspect to this. 1. Too much repetition of words most people know. 2. “Cero uno, dos” forced spoken repetition registers as a mistake when my accent is excellent It wastes my time and I can’t get out of loop. 3. I’m reviewing 1st year. I am anxious to move forward faster with more navigation control.
been using this app for years for learning Japanese. Never found it helpful on its own, but it’s been fantastic to subsidize actual language classes with regular practice. HOWEVER, the new app layout is atrocious. There is no option for which lesssons to take since it’s all linear now, so often I’m not feeling challenged at all. Sometimes the lessons go so far back that it’s detrimental. The ONLY reason I still use the app is bc I have a high streak going. I really hope they change it back.
A great starter for a few weeks. Duo motivate you to practice. You can practice for 5 mins or 2 hrs. I’m about 1yr in. It can’t make fluent speakers but it can give you a good base. Constant ads. I use them as a break. It’s free but can pay for convenience. *A lot of glitches and mistakes. Accepted answer changes as you advance. Duo was good. Not anymore. Look elsewhere. It marks answers wrong if it’s not exact. ie, coche v carro. They try to force you to pay subscription. Updated 1/27/23
The new design appeared very inconvenient. There is no repetition of the topics covered, it is difficult to return to the material covered and repeat it. Sometimes it’s not clear at all what topic I’m teaching, i.e. the beginning of the topic about zoos, then suddenly the next block about the office. Context switching is an expensive operation for the brain. Very VERY BAD REDESIGN.
Update: I love the idea of having the update on practicing more on pronunciation. Unfortunately for me, I’m experiencing issues with the microphone not working consistently. I press it but it is not registering my voice.☹️ I’ve an Android, pixel 7 and the app is up to date. Thank you Other than that? I’m loving it so far! It’s user friendly, fun! And I’m enjoying learning another language. 🥰🥰🥰
I feel very mislead that you can learn anything. This is simply memorization by repetition without even having it explained. Also, every discussion is locked regardless if there’s 0 or 100 comments. The speech recognition system seems to have worsened suddenly. If you want to memorize words without an explanation to grow your vocabulary, this is perfect.
It’s okay, but may not be helpful to everyone and while you may memorize some things, it never explains why something is a certain way. My biggest issue though is that there is no way to disable streaks. I find them very demotivating as someone who can only do long sessions every few days and it’s a shame Duolingo doesn’t have more accessibility.
I’ve been using this briefly each day for a couple weeks now. I am working on my Spanish. As a free app, it is very nice setup to practice vocabulary and comprehension. It does also provide some opportunity to practice speach and pronunciation, though it is a bit limited in that, and it is hard to say so far well. While it does have adds after completing lessons, they are not over obtrusive.
Good for casual learning. Inefficient if you’re trying to learn practical expressions for travel. The lessons are incredibly repetitive, which can be helpful in cementing your knowledge. However, if you’re trying to cram some useful expressions, it’s way too slow. Duolingo does an alright job of gamifying learning. The good job messages at getting 5 and 10 in a row are unnecessary and annoying. The 5 second ads after each lesson are bearable, but should be automatically muted.
The speaking module will not work!…… I purchased the annual subscription, and the speaking module stopped working. I was very happy with the app until this started. Now, I am frustrated and angry because I do not need this app without speaking! I have uninstalled and reinstalled the app multiple times, but still nothing. I have verified permissions, which are all good. Please help or refund my annual subscription.
I’ve used Duolingo many times over the years, and always felt it was a good way for me to practice and restore my functional-but-not-fluent Spanish skills. I’ve also used it to gain basic familiarity with other languages. I must say, I think the current version of the app is a step down. The exaggerated voices of the characters do not help learning. And I’d like for the ads to be less intrusive. Still, it’s a good tool overall that can help someone get a basic grasp of a new language.
New update really ruined the experience. New topics are introduced too quickly. Simple review has been limited and prevented by the new design and no way to zero in on specific lessons to memorize them if you have trouble. It takes ages to scroll back to previous lessons at the start depending on your progress. Too many gems now required to unlock purple review mode. Despite the update there is still no way to click and drag words from the vocabulary list in order to swap them out.
Loved it…until it refused to connect to the play store so I could re-up my super. It tells me I’m incorrect when I’ve typed exactly the correct answer, it refuses to understand me when I do the speaking exercises. It’s incredibly frustrating. The app fosters a competitive environment and then basically prevents you from excelling. Allows me to do everything I need to related to my account… except connect to the play store so I can upgrade…please fix this.
Its really useful and fun but it can be very slow. Before and after a lesson it takes a few minutes to load, and I dont know if its like that or if its just bad wifi. There are also a few other things like the same sentence being used multiple times or in different lessons. But it is a good app and I do reccomend it for anyone trying to learn a new language!
I just can’t recommend this app for those serious about learning a language. The biggest problem I’ve noticed is if you don’t have money for their Super subscription, your language learning progress is immediately halted when you run out of hearts. Learning a new language takes time, and when that time is artificially shortened from a silly game format that nobody has ever enjoyed, it will take you much longer since getting cut off mid lessons can cause you to lose any progress you’ve made.
I gave the new format a try for several months, and I’ve decided to delete the app. Learners should be able to focus on the vocabulary that they’re interested in (the beauty of the old format). Now, Duolingo is a repetitive, paternalistic nightmare. If they charged premium for the old format, I’d be willing to pay but for now, I’m done and moving on to other apps.