Are you also looking for a language app to learn Afrikaans, but got disappointed to find that there’s no Afrikaans on Duolingo? I was on the same boat before I found out one of the best alternatives to Duolingo for learning Afrikaans. And it’s none other than the Ling app. Want to know how it made my Afrikaans learning journey so easy and fun? This article is for you.
Yet, before that, let’s explore a little about the Afrikaans language and learn why there’s no Afrikaans on Duolingo in the first place.
Let’s begin!
A Few Interesting Facts About The Afrikaans Language
If you also think that Afrikaans is just another South African language, then you’re wrong. In actuality, there’s a lot more to learn about the Afrikaans language. Let’s look at some interesting facts together:
Afrikaans is derived from Dutch, a language in the Low Franconian branch of the Western Germanic subfamily. Although 90% of its vocabulary is derived from its parent language, Afrikaans has still won the status of a standalone language today.
You can easily find Afrikaans speakers in South Africa, Namibia, and, to a lesser extent, in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. In fact, the Afrikaans language is also considered the Lingua Franca of Namibia, as nearly 10% of its population speaks it.
Botswana, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe also have modestly-sized Afrikaans-speaking populations. Naturally, in the age of globalization and perpetual migration, it won’t be wrong to say that Afrikaans can be found in many corners of the world.
So, don’t you think it’s actually sad that there’s no Afrikaans on Duolingo, a language spoken by around 7 million people worldwide?
But, Why Is There No Afrikaans On Duolingo?
Despite millions of language learners showing interest and being willing to contribute to an Afrikaans course, the authorities haven’t said a word about why there’s no Afrikaans on Duolingo yet.
This concern has even led to many other questions, like: why hasn’t Afrikaans been added ye? Is it not considered a unique language by the Duolingo team? Is there a problem with representing the Afrikaans flag? Why haven’t specific languages been added yet, while others (including fictional ones) have?
In fact, people have even asked about how many new users a course can attract, which I believe Duolingo’s developers can answer better. Additionally, in my opinion, it is actually impossible to add all languages simultaneously, especially when the resources are also limited. The same is the case with Duolingo. That’s why they have to decide which language to add, keeping audience engagement in mind.
However, the fact that many people haven’t received feedback on the status of when/if it is expected for Afrikaans to be added isn’t fair play by the Duolingo team. So, there isn’t much information on when Duolingo will launch its Afrikaans course.
Another reason why Afrikaans isn’t on Duolingo’s list of language courses may lie in the familial relationship between Dutch and its offspring, Afrikaans. And we all know that Afrikaans was initially considered merely a Dutch dialect before it became a separate language. Still, Afrikaans is extremely similar to Dutch, at least in its written form. So, it could be why Duolingo still doesn’t offer Afrikaans in 2025.
What Makes Ling The Best Alternative To Duolingo For Learning Afrikaans?
Now that we’ve digested the bitter fact of no Afrikaans on Duolingo, let’s explore how the Ling app can fill this gap and offer you an even better language learning experience:
- With the Ling app, you can easily choose your desired learning level from beginner to expert. Its structured lessons make the navigation easier.
- Every language lesson includes game-like practice exercises, native-speaker audio, and a separate speaking practice section to help you master speaking the language confidently.
- Ling’s equal focus on even the least spoken languages is what makes it the best language app for passionate learners. For instance, the Ling App offers comprehensive language courses in Afrikaans and Malay that you can’t find on Duolingo.
- The dialog feature of the Ling app provides you with a private space to practice speaking the language in real-life situations without any fear of judgment.
- With the review feature, you can quickly look back at what you’ve already learned for quick recall. It significantly helps in improving memory.
- Progress trackers, leaderboards, banana points, achievement badges, and the streak feature help you stay on track and motivated till you reach the expert level.
- The cherry on top is that you get example sentences with every word, which works as a clear guide to the accurate word usage.
Ling Vs Duolingo: A Quick Review
Let’s take a quick overview of the Ling app and Duolingo to help you decide which one’s actually the best for you to learn Afrikaans this year:
| Features | Ling App | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|
| Afrikaans course available? | Yes | No |
| Follows Gamified Learning Approach | Yes | Yes |
| Best for all levels of language learners | Yes | No |
| Practice Speaking exercises with native-speaker audio | Yes | No |
Why Do Serious Learners Choose The Ling App?
One reason serious learners choose the Ling app is that it makes the language learning process fun and interactive, which can otherwise feel a little overwhelming. It does so by offering short lessons structured for different learning levels. Each lesson also includes game-like exercises and native-speaker audio to ensure you enjoy practicing the language without getting bored. Isn’t this reason enough to make you a committed Ling user?
Let’s see what the actual users say about the Ling app:
“Can’t find this type and variety of language learning anywhere else.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sabrina Rahman
“It’s very easy to learn a language in this app. This is even better than Duolingo.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Digi Tech Pro
What You’ll Learn In 7 Days Of Joining Ling?
If you unlock the Ling app’s 7-day free trial, you can easily master:
- Day 1 – Introductory words and phrases
- Day 2 – Basic greetings and polite expressions
- Day 3 – Numbers and Counting
- Day 4 – Vocabulary based on travel, food, and dining
- Day 5 – Get speaking practice exercises with every lesson
- Day 6 – Review what you’ve already learned for a quick revision
- Day 7 – Engage in your first dialog with Ling’s Chatbot
No Afrikaans On Duolingo: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Duolingo Not Have Afrikaans?
Unfortunately, yes. There’s no Afrikaans on Duolingo yet. But you don’t have to worry. Several language apps now offer a comprehensive Afrikaans language course that’s both fun and informative.
Is Afrikaans A Dying Language?
No, Afrikaans is still a powerful language. It still has around 7 million native speakers worldwide and is the 3rd-most-spoken language in South Africa. People generally believe that it’s dying because of its lesser dominance in education. Yet, it’s widely used in songs, poetry, literature, and even at home. So, Afrikaans hasn’t completely disappeared and is still evolving strongly.
Which Language App Offers Afrikaans?
The Ling app offers an engaging Afrikaans language course for all language learners. It’s actually my personal favorite because of its gamified interface and beginner-friendly lessons. Other good options are:
1. AfrikaansPod101 – best for Auditory learners
2. Talkpal – AI-based language app
3. Preply – best for practicing speaking with native speakers
Learn Afrikaans With Ling!
So, even if there’s no Afrikaans on Duolingo yet, the Ling app has you already sorted, right? Its interactive, bite-sized lessons, fun exercises, detailed explanations, dialog feature, and effective learning techniques ensure that no learner ever regrets learning Afrikaans with Ling.
The 4.6/5-star rating on the App Store is its living proof. Don’t just trust the numbers, though. Try it yourself.
Download the Ling app on your devices, subscribe to the 7-day free trial, and start learning Afrikaans right away!
