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Kurdish, spoken by over 20 million people worldwide, is a beautiful language with a rich history. Belonging to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European family, it’s closely related to languages like Persian and Pashto. Its rich heritage is evident in its vocabulary and grammar, and its long literary tradition.
Kurdish itself is not one monolithic language, but rather a collection of dialects. The two main branches are Kurmanji and Sorani.
Sorani, spoken in Iraq and Iran, is known as the language of literature, boasting a strong written tradition that uses a modified Arabic script. Kurmanji, dominant in Turkey and some parts of Syria, uses a Latin or Cyrillic base and is the most spoken Kurdish dialect.
Learning Kurdish can be a rewarding challenge, which begins by determining which of these dialects to focus on. The good news is that resources are available for both dialects. But if you’ve been looking for a Duolingo Kurdish course, as you can gather from this article’s title, that’s not available.
That said, there are several Duolingo alternatives, even for less popular languages like Kurdish.
Why is Kurdish not on Duolingo?
Duolingo is a popular language-learning app that offers bite-sized lessons in 40 languages. It’s known for its game-like interface that includes streaks, quests, and leaderboards. It’s also completely free, so many newbies and beginners get their language learning introduction from this app.
Despite its vast course selection, many languages are noticeably absent. This includes Cantonese, Afrikaans, Thai, Tagalog, Icelandic, Persian, and yes, Kurdish. I can only guess why.
One possibility is that Duolingo prioritizes languages with a larger potential user base. Kurdish, despite having over 20 million speakers, might not reach the critical mass Duolingo seeks to justify the development of a new course.
Additionally, Kurdish has several major dialects, and creating courses for each one could be a resource-intensive endeavor. This is especially true after the Duolingo Incubator shutdown, which limited course development to in-house course creators.
Interestingly, Duolingo is aware of the demand for Kurdish. There have been online campaigns and user requests, and Duolingo has even acknowledged the interest.
A @Duolingo staff member made a statement about a Kurdish Course during #Duocon today :
— ĂŽnisiyatĂ®va Duolingo KurdĂ® (@duolingokurdi) September 26, 2020
''We don't have a Kurdish course in the works but we know it's highly requested. We will take this into consideration but won't make decisions about any new courses until next year.''
However, despite this awareness, Kurdish remains missing from the app. Hopefully, with continued interest and the potential for enthusiastic volunteers, Kurdish will one day find its place on Duolingo. For now, you can make do with these alternatives.
The best Duolingo alternatives for learning Kurdish
There are a few apps you can explore, whether your goal is to expand your Kurdish vocabulary or speak like a native.
1. uTalk
Like Duolingo, uTalk features a gamified interface to teach languages, albeit without the competitive elements. Through short and engaging games and memory aids, uTalk helps you build vocabulary and practice pronunciation. You’ll hear native speakers pronounce words and phrases, and you can even record yourself speaking to compare your pronunciation.
uTalk lets you learn over 2,500 words across 60+ topics, including how to order food with confidence, learning directions, business terminologies, or even navigate a conversation about Kurdish traditions.
What’s great is that uTalk offers courses in both Sorani and Kurmanji. This is a big advantage, as many language learning apps only cater to one dialect or the other. So, no matter which dialect you choose to study, you get to grow your Kurdish skills on uTalk.
Key features:
- Bite-sized lessons for busy learners
- Game-like lessons and exercises to unlock new vocabulary and grammar skills
- Lots of listening and speaking drills
2. Glossika
For learners of Sorani Kurdish, it’s worth considering Glossika.
Glossika’s unique method emphasizes spaced repetition and shadowing, where you repeat phrases spoken by a native speaker. This approach helps internalize grammar structures and pronunciation naturally, similar to how a child learns a language.
Glossika boasts a massive library of Sorani sentences, ranging from greetings and introductions to more complex conversations. The program adjusts to your learning pace, gradually introducing new vocabulary and concepts while continuously reinforcing what you’ve already learned.
It may not be the best choice for learning Kurdish grammar in detail but Glossika excels at building fluency and natural-sounding pronunciation in Sorani Kurdish. You can check out my detailed review of Glossika here.
Key features:
- Thousands of Kurdish sentences to learn
- High-quality audio featuring a native speaker
- Effective spaced repetition method
3. Learn Kurdish. Speak Kurdish by Bluebird Languages
Learn Kurdish on Bluebird Languages
The “Learn Kurdish. Speak Kurdish.” app by Bluebird Languages offers a convenient and adaptable way to learn Sorani Kurdish, regardless of your experience level.
With over 2,000 pre-recorded video lessons, you’ll have access to years’ worth of material for all levels. The lessons are narrated by native Kurdish speakers, so you hear proper pronunciation and intonation.
You can choose to learn with audio-only recordings or opt for the visual element of video lessons, whichever suits your learning style best.
Key features:
- Free daily lessons for all levels (more content can be unlocked with a paid subscription)
- Teaches high-frequency vocabulary across various topics
- Quizzes train listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills
Other great resources to learn Kurdish
For a well-rounded approach to learning Kurdish, it’s best to build a “toolkit” that’s not limited to one app. For instance, you can choose a couple of apps to meet different goals, pick a Kurdish learning book, and enroll in online classes.
Here are more resources you can check out:
italki: Achieve your Kurdish goals with italki tutors! Although there are only a few Kurdish tutors in italki, all of them have high ratings. You can choose a tutor based on your available times and days, budget, and goals.
LinGo Play: This beginner-friendly app focuses on building a strong Kurdish vocabulary foundation. With flashcards and interactive games (including tournaments), you’ll learn essential Kurdish words and phrases.
Cudoo: Currently, Cudoo provides two levels for Sorani, allowing you to progress from basic greetings and introductions to more complex grammar and vocabulary. While Kurmanji currently only has one level available, it can introduce you to the fundamentals of the dialect. Each course comes with a certificate of completion and lifetime access.
English-Kurdish Dict Box: This dictionary and translation app allows you to look up Kurdish words and phrases on the go. This can help you build vocabulary and understand basic sentence structure. It also offers offline functionality, making it handy for situations where you don’t have internet access.
- Kurdish Sorani Romanized Dictionary Phrasebook By Awde Nicholas COM
Kurdish-English/English-Kurdish Dictionary & Phrasebook: This handy reference guide for Sorani combines a dictionary of over 4,000 entries with a phrasebook that covers everyday conversation topics like greetings, transportation, healthcare, and more. It also includes a concise grammar and pronunciation section, along with a guide to the Sorani alphabet.
Tandem: While Tandem itself doesn’t offer structured lessons in Kurdish, it connects you with native Kurdish speakers who are eager to teach their language and learn yours. Find a language exchange partner and talk to them via text chat, audio calls, or video calls.
Kurdish Grammar: Kurmanji Reference Book: This reference book is user-friendly and comes with clear explanations and concise tables that break down grammar concepts. It covers various topics like verb conjugation in different tenses, noun declensions, and sentence structure. The book also includes example sentences with English translations, allowing you to see grammar rules applied in real-world contexts. A Sorani reference book from the same author is also available.
Kurdish Kurmanji Lessons: This YouTube channel has hundreds of videos teaching the essentials and more. Learn Kurdish vocabulary, dive into grammar, practice your conversational skills, and even learn Kurdish customs!
Conclusion
No Kurdish on Duolingo? No problem! As you can see, there are resources that you can use to master this beautiful and historical language. Just remember to stay determined and enjoy the process — you’ll soon find yourself speaking Kurdish with confidence!