Does Duolingo Have Slovenian?
At the moment, Duolingo doesn’t offer a Slovenian (Slovene) course. That doesn’t mean you can’t learn—only that you’ll need to recreate the best parts of Duolingo with other tools. Think daily micro-lessons, spaced repetition, quick wins, and lots of listening.
Here’s the good news: several beginner-friendly apps and online resources cover Slovene well, many with free tiers. If you keep the Duolingo spirit—short sessions, streaks, and playful challenges—you can reach A1–A2 efficiently.
- Use a bite-size app for daily vocab and phrases.
- Add short listening every day for comprehension.
- Review with SRS flashcards so words stick.
- Print a PDF cheat-sheet for cases and key verbs.
- Schedule real conversation practice weekly.
Your A1–A2 Roadmap for Beginners
Aim for 15–25 minutes a day, five to six days a week. You’ll learn faster with consistent, low-stress practice than occasional marathons. Focus first on survival language, then build simple sentences.
Week 1–2: greetings, introductions, numbers, days, food, directions; present tense of basic verbs (to be = biti, to have = imeti). Week 3–4: ordering, shopping, family, daily routine; nouns and gender; nominative vs. accusative. Week 5–8: travel, accommodation, health basics; past/present/future with common verbs; introductions to cases and the famous Slovene dual (just recognize it at first).
Keep it practical: learn phrases you’ll actually say, then backfill grammar to understand why they work.
- Core verbs: biti (to be), imeti (to have), iti (to go), jesti (to eat), piti (to drink), razumeti (to understand).
- High-frequency nouns: hrana (food), voda (water), mesto (city), prijatelj/ica (friend).
- Functional chunks: Prosim, Hvala, Kje je…?, Koliko stane?, Rad/a bi…
- Daily drill: 10 new words, 5 reviews, 5 minutes listening.
Apps That Feel Like Duolingo (Plus What to Add)
To mimic Duolingo’s flow for Slovenian, mix a primary learning app with review and speaking. Most tools are online and mobile-friendly, and many offer free beginner content.
Try a main app for guided lessons (Ling, Mondly, uTalk). Add Memrise community courses for vocab and phrases. Clozemaster gives sentence-level practice from English to Slovene—great for context. For spaced repetition, build an Anki deck from your lessons. Finally, get real conversation on Tandem or schedule a low-pressure tutor session once a week.
- Primary app: Ling or Mondly for structured A1–A2 paths (app + web, freemium).
- Context practice: Clozemaster for sentence exposure, quick reviews.
- Vocab builder: Memrise community Slovene courses for beginners.
- Flashcards: Anki with audio; keep decks small and focused.
- Speaking: Tandem for exchanges; consider italki tutors every 1–2 weeks.
Free PDFs and Online Resources That Help
Supplement your app with printable references. A clear, one-page PDF can save you minutes every session. Look for beginner PDF phrasebooks (greetings, numbers, travel), verb tables, and case endings charts. Many university programs and tourism boards publish free materials for beginners.
Explore Slovene Learning Online modules from reputable academic sources for A1–A2 topics with audio. For pronunciation, use Forvo to hear native recordings of Slovenian words. For dictionaries, pair an English–Slovene dictionary with a monolingual resource when you’re ready.
- Printables: case endings chart, verb conjugations, survival phrases (PDF).
- Courses: reputable Slovene Learning Online modules with audio (often free).
- Pronunciation: Forvo searches for native audio of tricky words.
- Dictionaries: bilingual (EN–SL) plus a learner-friendly monolingual later.
- Listening: short YouTube clips or podcasts for beginners; 5–10 minutes/day.
Pronunciation and Grammar Quick Wins
Slovenian spelling is consistent: learn sounds once, then read confidently. Key letters: č (ch in “chocolate”), š (sh), ž (zh like “measure”), j (y sound), r is tapped/trilled, and v can sound like w before consonants. Practice with minimal pairs and record yourself.
Grammar essentials: Slovene has three genders (m/f/n), six cases, and a special dual number (two of something). At A1, master nominative (dictionary form) and accusative (direct objects). Learn set phrases first, then notice patterns. Don’t panic about the dual—recognize common forms and use plural if you’re unsure while you’re still a beginner.
- Sound focus: č/š/ž, rolled r, j = y, v ≈ w before consonants.
- Stress varies; listen and mimic whole phrases.
- Cases: start with nominative vs. accusative in real sentences.
- Dual: understand it exists; accuracy comes with exposure.
- Build mini-dialogues you can reuse in daily life.
FAQ
- Is there a Slovenian course on Duolingo?
- Not currently. To learn Slovene now, combine a primary app (e.g., Ling or Mondly), Memrise or Clozemaster for review, Anki flashcards, and free online/PDF resources. The routine feels very Duolingo-like without the official course.
- How long to reach A1 or A2 in Slovene?
- With steady daily study, A1 can take 60–120 hours; A2 roughly 180–250 hours. Short, focused sessions (15–25 minutes) plus weekly speaking and listening usually beat long, infrequent cram sessions.
- Is Slovenian hard for English speakers?
- It’s a moderate challenge. Cases and the dual are new, but pronunciation is fairly regular and vocabulary is learnable with good context. Keep to beginner topics, recycle phrases, and use SRS to make progress feel easy.
- What’s the best free way to learn as a beginner?
- Combine a freemium app for structure, Memrise or Clozemaster for extra practice, free Slovene Learning Online modules, and a printable PDF phrasebook. Add Forvo for pronunciation and a free dictionary for quick checks.
- Can I learn only with an app?
- An app is a great start, but you’ll progress faster by adding listening, short speaking practice, and a PDF reference sheet. Even a 20-minute weekly chat (tutor or exchange) multiplies what you learn in the app.