Is Lithuanian on Duolingo? Quick Status and Best Alternatives
Short answer: not yet. There isn’t an official Lithuanian course on duolingo at the moment. The good news is that you can recreate the bite-sized, gamified feel with other tools and a simple weekly routine.
For a Duolingo-like experience, try Clozemaster (free tier, sentence-based practice), Memrise (community courses for vocabulary), and Drops or Mondly (visual micro-lessons). Pair one of these with a structured beginner book or PDF to cover grammar and pronunciation properly.
Your winning combo: a spaced-repetition app for daily vocabulary, short audio lessons for listening, a concise grammar outline in PDF, and 5–10 minutes of speaking out loud every day.
- Daily vocab: Memrise (Lithuanian) or Anki shared decks (free).
- Context practice: Clozemaster Lithuanian (free tier).
- Speaking: shadow short dialogues; record yourself.
- Listening: YouTube “Lithuanian for beginners” playlists; slow podcasts.
- Reference: a short grammar PDF and a phrasebook for quick checks.
First Steps for Beginners: Sounds, Essentials, Confidence
Start with the alphabet and key sounds. Lithuanian has letters with diacritics (ą, č, ę, ė, į, š, ų, ū, ž). Train your ear early: listen and repeat minimal pairs, and use Forvo to hear native recordings.
Build a core speaking toolkit: greetings (Labas), thanks (Ačiū), yes/no (Taip/Ne), please (Prašau), sorry (Atsiprašau), I don’t understand (Nesuprantu). Learn basic sentence frames and present-tense patterns so you can produce simple sentences fast.
- Pronunciation focus: stress can vary—always listen before you memorize.
- Core verbs: būti (to be), turėti (to have), eiti (to go), norėti (to want).
- Nouns have gender and cases; start with nominative + accusative use.
- Word order is flexible; keep Subject–Verb–Object while you’re a beginner.
- Micro-goal: introduce yourself and ask 3–4 basic questions by week 2.
A Simple A1–A2 Study Plan (15–25 Minutes Per Day)
Consistency beats intensity. Keep sessions short and stack skills: listen, read, speak, and review. Treat each block like duolingo-style “lessons,” but curated by you.
Use a weekly rotation so you revisit vocabulary while adding grammar and real-life phrases. Track streaks in a habit app to protect momentum.
- 5 min: review yesterday’s words with spaced repetition (Memrise/Anki).
- 5–10 min: new micro-lesson (numbers, family, food, directions).
- 5 min: listening + shadowing one short dialogue.
- 3 min: speak aloud—create 3 new sentences using today’s target.
- 2 min: quick write-up; save notes to a running PDF you can download.
- Weekly: one longer session (30–40 min) for grammar and pronunciation.
Free Resources, PDFs, and What to Download
You don’t need to spend much to learn. Combine free courses with downloadable references so you always have an offline lifeline. When you find a great page, export it to PDF for your phone or tablet.
Look for a compact beginner book or open-licensed course for structure, then add audio: native recordings, simple podcasts, and Forvo clips. Keep everything in one folder for quick access.
- Wikibooks: “Lithuanian” (free; export as PDF for offline use).
- Wikivoyage: Lithuanian phrasebook (free PDF export; travel basics).
- Memrise community courses: free beginner vocabulary with audio.
- Forvo: native pronunciation of words you’re learning (free).
- Clozemaster: free sentence practice; great after a few lessons.
- Create-your-own PDF: compile notes, key tables, and mini-dialogues; print or download to your phone.
Motivation, Checkpoints, and What “A2” Looks Like
Define clear checkpoints: Week 2 (introduce yourself), Week 4 (order food, ask prices), Week 6 (talk about routine and family), Week 8 (handle directions and small talk).
A2 means you can manage frequent everyday topics, understand slow, clear speech, and combine memorized phrases with simple sentence building. Keep it light and rewarding.
- Track streaks and celebrate tiny wins (10 new words = one win).
- Record a 30-second self-intro monthly to hear progress.
- Use a “done list” to log finished lessons, not just a to-do list.
- Every month: revise your PDF notes and prune flashcards.
FAQ
- Does Duolingo have Lithuanian?
- No, duolingo doesn’t currently offer a Lithuanian course. You can recreate a similar experience using Memrise or Clozemaster for spaced repetition, plus a free PDF grammar or phrasebook for structure.
- How long does it take to reach A2 in Lithuanian?
- With 15–25 minutes daily, many beginners reach A2 in about 3–6 months. Progress depends on consistent practice, frequent listening, and actually speaking out loud a few minutes every day.
- What are the best free resources to start?
- Wikibooks (Lithuanian) and the Wikivoyage phrasebook are great free starters you can download as PDF. Add Memrise or Anki for vocabulary, Forvo for pronunciation, and Clozemaster for sentence practice.
- Should I use a book or an app?
- Use both. A short beginner book or structured PDF gives you a clear path, while an app provides daily bite-sized lessons. The combination covers grammar, vocabulary, and listening more completely.
- How can I practice speaking if I’m learning alone?
- Shadow short dialogues, record yourself, and read aloud daily. Use language exchange apps to find partners, and set micro-goals like a 1-minute monologue. Small, frequent speaking reps beat rare long sessions.