Duolingo, the popular language-learning app, has built an impressive base of loyal users, with 34 million people using it every day.
Its unique approach, which gamifies the process of learning a new language, has made it accessible and engaging for learners of all ages.
The app’s lessons combine translation tasks, interactive exercises, quizzes, and short stories, designed to help users improve their speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills across 41 languages.
The bite-sized lessons keep things simple, allowing users to earn points and unlock new levels as they progress.
Duolingo's broad appeal extends even to young children to learning new languages. It offers a personalised experience, using an adaptive algorithm that tailors lessons to each learner's pace, providing feedback and recommendations along the way.
While about half of Duolingo users are practising English, the app supports other major languages like Spanish and Chinese, as well as more niche ones such as Esperanto, Navajo, and even High Valyrian from HBO’s “Game of Thrones”.
The length of a Duolingo course varies, taking anywhere from six months to three years to complete, depending on how often you use the app and how in-depth your learning goals are. For casual learners doing one lesson per day, it can take around three years to master a language.
To keep users engaged, Duolingo employs a streak system, tracking consecutive days of activity. Characters like Duo, the green owl, and Lilly, the goth teen, send daily reminders to motivate users to stay consistent.
@duolingo you can’t get rid of me that easily #streakfreeze #duolingo #streak ♬ original sound - Jake Donald Truitt
Founders Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker have kept Duolingo free to use by developing a hybrid business model. The app offers both ad-supported access and a "freemium" model with paid subscriptions that unlock extra features, such as an ad-free experience and a family plan.
Duolingo’s blend of accessibility, personalisation, and gamified learning is redefining the way people approach language learning.
Whether you're aiming to pick up a few phrases for travel or fully master a new language, Duolingo’s engaging format appears to be keeping learners motivated to keep coming back for more.
IOL Education