Learn African languages: which one, and with which app?
The right African language to learn is your family's, or the one of the country you are going to. Dialect teaches Wolof, Fula, Bambara, Lingala and Malagasy from English, along with Darija and the Amazigh languages of North Africa, in 5-minute sessions with spaced repetition. Free to start, on iPhone, Android and the web.
Africa speaks hundreds of languages, and the big apps teach almost none of them. Yet many people in Europe and the Americas want to speak the language of their parents, their partner or the country they are moving to. This guide helps you choose the language first, then the tool.
Which African language should you learn? Start from your family or your destination
| Region | Language | Where it is spoken | On Dialect |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Africa | Wolof | Senegal, The Gambia, Mauritania | Yes, native voice |
| West Africa | Fula (Pulaar) | Senegal, Guinea, Mali and across the Sahel | Yes, clear audio on every word |
| West Africa | Bambara | Mali | Yes, words and sentences in the official Latin spelling |
| Central Africa | Lingala | DR Congo, Republic of the Congo | Yes, native voice |
| Indian Ocean | Malagasy | Madagascar | Yes, clear audio on every word |
| North Africa | Algerian, Moroccan and Tunisian Darija | Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia | Yes, native voices |
| North Africa | Kabyle, Chaoui, Tarifit, Tachelhit | Algeria, Morocco (Amazigh languages) | Yes, native voices |
If your family speaks two languages, start with the one you hear most at home. For Darija and the Amazigh languages, our guide learn Tamazight helps you pick the right variety.
What a good African-language app should offer
- Your language, not a neighbouring one. Lingala is not Kikongo, and Senegalese Pulaar is not the Fulfulde of Cameroon: check which variety is taught.
- Real voices whenever possible. You learn pronunciation by imitating; a native voice beats a synthetic one.
- Everyday vocabulary. Greetings, family news, food, shopping: what you actually hear.
- Scheduled review. Without spaced repetition, new words fade within days.
Apps that cover many African languages at once are handy to explore; before you subscribe, check how many words and sentences exist for your language.
Can you learn African languages on Duolingo?
Not the ones in this guide: Duolingo offers no Wolof, Lingala, Bambara, Fula, Malagasy or Darija course. That gap is why Dialect exists.
Free to start · iPhone, Android and web · no ads
On a computer? Try the web app →
Our guides by language
- Wolof: best app to learn Wolof
- Lingala: how to learn Lingala · best app
- Bambara: best app to learn Bambara
- Fula: best app to learn Fula
- Malagasy: best app to learn Malagasy
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest African language to learn?
None is “easy” in absolute terms. The easiest for you is the one you already hear at home: your ear is trained, and you have people to practise with.
Is there an app to learn Wolof or Lingala?
Yes. Dialect teaches Wolof and Lingala from English, with a native voice on every word, and it is free to start.
How much time a day does it take?
Five minutes is enough if you do it every day. Regularity matters more than session length.