No Pashto on Duolingo? Here are 3 Great Alternatives

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An Eastern Iranian language that’s also known as Afghani, Pashto has a rich history reaching back to about 3,000 years ago. It is one of the two official languages of Afghanistan (alongside Dari) and is widely spoken in Pakistan.

The exact numbers are unknown but it’s estimated that between 45 and 55 million speak this beautiful language. That’s more than the number of people who speak Dutch, Greek, or Afrikaans.

And yet, many people haven’t heard of Pashto. On the other hand, people who’ve somehow developed an interest in learning it have difficulty finding good learning resources. Case in point, there’s no Duolingo Pashto course.

No need to worry though. If you’ve set your mind on learning Pashto, there are Duolingo alternatives for you.

What is Duolingo?

As a language learner, you’ve most likely encountered Duolingo at some point in your journey. It’s one of the most popular language learning apps today, with over 575 million total users and more than 50 million active monthly users.

While Duolingo wasn’t the first app to gamify language learning, it did a successful job. Its short, vocabulary-centric games, review lessons, and special challenges are executed well, making learning both fun and effective.

Of course, there are some downsides, like the lack of grammar explanations. You’ll also encounter irrelevant words and phrases from time to time. But Duolingo is free and unless you really hate ads (they’re not as intrusive as in other apps) and want unlimited chances to make mistakes, the free version is enough.

As of writing, Duolingo offers over 100 courses in 40 languages including conlangs like Esperanto, Klingon, and High Valyrian. Sadly, some languages such as Cantonese, Icelandic, Serbian, and Pashto are not available.

The best Duolingo alternatives for learning Pashto

The sad reality is, despite being a widely spoken language, there aren’t a lot of apps that offer Pashto courses. I’ve rounded up the good ones so you don’t have to.

1. Pimsleur

Try Pimsleur Pashto FREE for 7 days

Pimsleur has been around for over 50 years and is known for its effective SRS method. But more importantly, it offers courses on less popular languages like Dari Persian, Haitian Creole, Twi, and yes, Pashto.

Because Pimsleur is mainly audio-based, it’s ideal for improving your conversational skills. You’ll learn not just new Pashto expressions but also the correct pronunciation and accent.  

Pimsleur Pashto has two levels and by level 2, you’ll have near-native accent and have a good grasp of grammar. The app also comes with some reading lessons so you’ll get to familiarize yourself with the Pashto script.

Learn more with this Pimsleur review. Or try it yourself for free!

Key features:

• 32 hours of audio lessons that improve your listening and speaking skills
• Learn accurate pronunciation and accents from native speakers
• Grow your Pashto vocabulary and learn grammar from context

2. uTalk

Learn Pashto on uTalk

uTalk’s strength lies in its interactive approach.

Through games and colorful visuals, you’ll pick up essential vocabulary and phrases for everyday use. Whether it’s confidently ordering food at a restaurant or navigating greetings and self-introductions, you can do it with uTalk’s Pashto course.

What’s great with uTalk is that it features native speaker audio. This means you get to hear the words’ accurate pronunciation and accent, helping you boost your listening and speaking skills.

Check out this in-depth review of uTalk to know more.

Key features:

• 2,500 Pashto words and phrases
• Learning Pashto through games and fun exercises
• Practice speaking by listening to native speakers

3. Mango Languages

Learn Pashto on Mango Languages

Skip the dry drills and start speaking like a local with Mango Languages!

This app uses a conversational methodology that breaks down real-life Pashto dialogues into color-coded “building blocks.” Instead of just memorizing random words, you’ll see exactly how sentences are structured, making it much easier to wrap your head around grammar and vocabulary.

What sets Mango apart is the focus on the “why” behind the language. You’ll get essential cultural notes and social context alongside native speaker audio, ensuring you don’t just say the right words, but use them correctly in the right situations. It even includes a voice-comparison tool to help you nail those tricky Pashto sounds.

Key features:

• Color-coded grammar patterns
• Authentic dialogues voiced by native speakers
• Cultural insights

Other great resources to learn Pashto  

While the above apps are great for learning Pashto, you’ll want more resources for a well-rounded learning journey. Choose from one of my recommended tools below and build your routine around them:

italki: Most of the Pashto tutors on italki are community tutors (meaning they’re not professional teachers) but they’re native speakers who are qualified to teach the language. Whether you need conversation practice, writing lessons, or help with grammar, you’ll find a good match at affordable rates.

Preply: There are fewer Pashto teachers on Preply but it’s still worth exploring, especially if you also want to learn Urdu. You can book discounted trials before committing to a tutor.

Pashto: An Elementary Textbook: Designer to cover one semester for beginners, this textbook features lessons on the Pashto alphabet, a functional approach to grammar, and essential expressions. It comes with an audio CD that teaches pronunciation and accent.

Cudoo: This platform offers self-paced Pashto courses for all proficiency levels, as well as Pashto for Business. Once you buy a course or the Pashto bundle, you get lifetime access to it. Plus, you get a certificate after completing a course!

LinGo Play: This mobile and web app features a gamified interface that will boost your Pashto vocabulary and strengthen your grasp of the essential rules of this language. If you’re a beginner, you can start by taking lessons. If you’re at an intermediate or advanced level, you can begin playing with friends or fellow language learners right away. You can also participate in tournaments and win prizes!

MyLanguages.org: This is neither a visually appealing nor organized resource. But it’s free and has a variety of lessons covering vocabulary and grammar. Well worth checking out!

Learn Pashto with English Titles: This YouTube channel run by the New South Wales (Australia) government features volunteer teacher Shekiba from Afghanistan. The videos are beginner-friendly and pretty handy if you’re also using the textbook I mentioned above, since this is where most of the lessons are based on.

Conclusion

The fact that there’s no Pashto on Duolingo shouldn’t stop you from learning this historical language. After all, having the right tools is just half the battle. Without discipline and the right mindset, it’ll be hard to make progress.

So, find the resource that matches your learning style, set your eyes on the prize, and soon enough, you’ll master Pashto!

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