Planning to explore other Indo-Aryan languages? If you are, you definitely should explore the unique spoken language in Maharashtra known as Marathi. This one is not as popular as other languages, which is why there was no surprise when we learned that there is no Marathi on Duolingo and other platforms.
While it has 83 million speakers globally, not many seem interested in learning Indian languages like this one. Let’s learn more about Marathi and what alternative app is best to use if there is no Marathi on Duolingo.
Why Marathi Deserves A Spot In Duolingo
It’s quite surprising that there is no Marathi on Duolingo. If you think Marathi is just a small regional dialect in India, think again.
Large Speaking Population
Globally, more than 99 million people speak Marathi. Of this number, more than 83 million are native speakers of the language. This makes Marathi the 19th most spoken language in the world and the 4th most common native language in India.
Rich Literary And Cultural Heritage
Maharathi is deeply tied to Maharashtra, one of India’s largest and most economically powerful states. Not only has it been used in ancient literary traditions, but some of its oldest literature, like their devotional poetry Ahbangs and Bhavageets (emotional songs), use Marathi.
In fact, India recognized the importance of Marathi in their culture. It has been designated as a classical language, a status only given to languages with deep cultural influence and historical roots.
Closely Tied To Other Indian Languages
Marathi has close ties with other Indian languages, like Konkani, Hindi, and Dravidian. With its unique phonetics and rich structure in grammar, Marathi would be a strategic bridge for language learners to study the broad Indian linguistic landscapes.
High Learner Demand
If you visit online forums and communities, users have made their frustration known about the no Marathi in Duolingo issue. For them, if Duolingo has made a way to include fictional languages like Klingon, which is not widely spoken, why can’t they include Marathi? Some community members even openly discussed volunteering to bring the language to Duolingo, just like how it was done in the earlier Incubator days.
Why You Should Learn The Marathi Language
Interested to learn Marathi but unsure what benefits it can give you (plus there’s no Marathi on Duolingo)? Here are some of the best reasons why English speakers should consider learning this awesome language!
Better Appreciation Of India’s History
One thing that linguists all have in common is the belief that all the letters, words, and phrases in a language reflect much about the country’s history and society. Marathi has existed alongside Sanskrit for thousands of years, which is why it’s not surprising that lots of literature is also written in the Marathi language.
Not A Common Language To Learn
Usually, people try to learn English, Spanish, German, or other popular languages, but having proficiency in niche languages like Marathi can put you in a good professional and personal position. The Marathi language is so different that it will always keep you on your toes.
Unlike other foreign languages, Marathi actually has 42 dialects, and each of these gives you a glimpse of the people and the culture of those who speak these.
Why There Is No Marathi On Duolingo
With all the right reasons mentioned for learning Marathi, one would wonder why there is no Marathi on Duolingo. We may never fully know the reason, as Duolingo did not make an official announcement, but there are several factors that can influence this.
- Business strategy: Though Marathi has a large speaker base, Duolingo doesn’t see the language attracting a massive global user growth. Unlike Korean, Spanish, or Japanese, which can bring new learners and have a high engagement, Marathi doesn’t have that same global “learn this for work/travel/pop culture” pull.
- Resource allocation: Duolingo can’t build language courses for every major language spoken. With the retirement of the Incubator program, time constraints, and the high cost of creating a full, high-quality course, they have to pick those languages that can give the best ROI.
- Loss of volunteer support. In the early days of Duolingo, passionate community members would help create new language courses like Irish, Swahili, and Welsh from scratch. But when the Incubator ended, the Duolingo internal team had to do everything, considerably slowing the addition of new languages.
While a lot of questions still exist as to why there is no Marathi on Duolingo, there are a lot of alternative language apps you can use instead — Ling included!
Duolingo vs Ling: Which Is The Better App To Learn Marathi?
Still unsure whether to wait for Duolingo to add Marathi or move on to another language-learning app? Here’s a table to convince you to consider other options like Ling.
| Feature | Duolingo | Ling App |
|---|---|---|
| Marathi Course Availability | ❌ Not offered | ✅ Fully supported |
| Lesson Format | Gamified, streak-based tree lessons | Practical, conversation-based + grammar |
| Audio Quality | N/A (No Marathi) | Native Marathi audio |
| Cost | With free/paid plans, but no Marathi option | Monthly/Bi-annual/Annual subscription model Lifetime access |
| Community Support | Has a very broad community, but not for Marathi | Has learner communities and structured Marathi lessons |
The Best Alternative Language Learning App To Learn Marathi
If you’re really committed to learning a new language but there is still no Maharathi on Duolingo, you need more than a cute owl and a set of digital flashcards. This is one area where the Ling app stands out.
Ling is one of the top platforms that aims to make learning accessible for everyone. Many have downloaded it online, and it is one of the most recommended apps since it has courses for over 70 foreign languages, including Marathi.
What sets this platform apart is the fact that all the lessons from the inside are guaranteed to help you learn a language fast. The modules are all developed and designed by real native speakers, language professionals, and educators who truly understand your language learning needs.
Ling App Key Features
- Bite-sized, gamified lessons: Though structured, Ling made language learning fun by turning lessons into games. Research shows that games are effective in increasing long-term retention of language skills.
- Use of native speaker audio: Though the use of robots has its advantages, such is not the case in language learning. For one to truly sound like a native Marathi speaker, you need to hear the voices of native speakers, not robots, for accuracy and to have a natural-sounding intonation.
- Multiple learning modes: From exams, conversation-based practice (Dialog), flashcards, and a personal vocabulary bank (My Vocabulary), you have more than one way of reviewing how to say how are you in Marathi efficiently.
- Progress saving: Missed a day of studying Marathi? Not to worry, as the Ling app comes with Streak Saver, so you don’t lose your progress. This way, you stay motivated to continue one day at a time despite having a busy schedule.
- Supports multiple interface languages: This allows learners to study a new language in their native tongue, not just English.
And many more!
Even if you can only study for five minutes a day, the Ling app allows you to understand Marathi more at your own pace.
Why Serious Learners Choose Ling
“best language app Ive tried to date”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Erin Marie (Play Store)
“I have been looking for a language platform that will speak a limited language that is not on Duolingo and others. Ling has been the perfect platform for me to work on. There has been no bugs, but just fresh teaching experience!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Artist-Animator-Author185 (App Store)
What You’ll Achieve In A Week Learning Marathi With Ling
| Day | What You’ll Learn |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Gender + Introduction Conversation |
| Day 2 | Age + Conversation Application |
| Day 3 | Country Names in Marathi |
| Day 4 | Languages in Marathi |
| Day 5 | Exam (Review of Past Lessons) |
| Day 6 | Action Words |
| Day 7 | Reading Materials + Food in Marathi |
Frequently Asked Questions About Why There Is No Marathi On Duolingo
What Are The 3 Hardest Languages In India?
While there is no official “hardest language” list, most learners, especially English speakers, agree that there are three languages in India that are among the toughest. First is Malayalam with its intricate grammar and complex script of 56 characters. Second, you have Tamil, one of the oldest classical languages that has rich grammar rules and a very different vocabulary from Indo-European languages. Lastly, you have Kannada. Kannada is known to have a script that takes time to master, complicated verb conjugations, and regional versions of the spoken language.
Why Doesn’t Duolingo Have Indian Languages?
Duolingo doesn’t have Indian languages because it is complex to support languages with non-Latin scripts like the Abugida scripts that many of them use. Also, Duolingo prioritizes languages that have higher global demand and broader market. Lastly, Duolingo has retired its volunteer Incubator program, which previously helped add less-common languages to its platform.
Which Indian Languages Are Available In Duolingo?
As of this writing, Duolingo offers four Indian language courses: Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu. They also offer English-learning courses in these four Indian languages, allowing their users to learn Indian languages from English, and vice versa.
Learn More Marathi With Ling
Are you going to start learning Marathi, or are you planning to stay stuck in the no Marathi on Duolingo mode? Duolingo is a pretty cool platform, but it has a few things it can improve on. One of those things includes the number of language courses they have under their belt. If you enjoyed this post and figured that you would love to discover more platforms you can use, then be sure to check out more of our posts!
However, the best way to take learning Marathi to the next level is with the Ling app. Download it on the Play Store or App Store today and start speaking Marathi in just 7 days!
