Is Kurdish on Duolingo? (No — Here's What to Use Instead)
Short answer: no. Kurdish is not on Duolingo — there is no Kurmanji course and no Sorani course. If you opened Duolingo hoping to learn Kurdish and found nothing, you read the app correctly: it simply isn't in the catalogue.
Why doesn't Duolingo have Kurdish?
Kurdish is one of the most frequently requested languages that Duolingo has never shipped. Duolingo has said publicly that while it's a popular request, a Kurdish course isn't in active development. An earlier community-built Kurmanji course in the old Duolingo Incubator was cancelled before it ever launched, so nothing came of it.
The practical upshot: no matter how long you wait, you can't currently learn Kurdish on Duolingo. The good news is that dedicated Kurdish apps exist — and one of them (ours) is built to feel like the gamified format you probably came here for.
Kurdish learning apps, compared honestly
We've included our own real limitations too — a comparison that only flatters us wouldn't be worth reading.
| App | Kurdish? | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo | ✗ None | Gamified, bite-sized | No Kurdish course at all — not Kurmanji, not Sorani. |
| Learn Kurdi (us) | ✓ Kurmanji | Lessons, games, audio, stories | Kurmanji only (no Sorani yet). A newer app — smaller catalogue than giant platforms, and speaking/AI conversation practice is still limited. |
| uTalk | ✓ Kurmanji (Kurdish) | Vocabulary & phrases | Good for travel words; not a full grammar course. |
| Memrise | ~ Community decks | Flashcards / SRS | Depends on user-made decks; quality and coverage vary. |
| ZimanGo | ✓ Kurdish | Gamified lessons | A dedicated Kurdish app; smaller than mainstream platforms. |
If you liked Duolingo's format…
The reason Duolingo works is the format: short daily lessons, streaks, XP, and games that make practice feel like play. Learn Kurdi is built the same way — bite-sized Kurmanji lessons, matching and quiz games, native audio on every word, and progress tracking to keep your streak going. It's the closest thing to "Duolingo for Kurdish," because Duolingo itself doesn't offer it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Kurdish course on Duolingo?
No. Duolingo has no Kurdish course — neither Kurmanji nor Sorani. It has never launched one.
Will Duolingo add Kurdish?
Duolingo has said Kurdish is requested but not in active development. A community Kurmanji course in the old Incubator was cancelled before launch. There is no announced release.
What is the best Duolingo alternative for Kurdish?
For Kurmanji, a dedicated app like Learn Kurdi gives you the gamified, bite-sized format with native audio. uTalk and Memrise can help with vocabulary; ZimanGo is another dedicated Kurdish app.
Can I learn Sorani anywhere gamified?
Options are more limited for Sorani. Most dedicated apps (including Learn Kurdi today) focus on Kurmanji; for Sorani you may rely more on tutors, textbooks, and community decks.
Learn Kurdish the way you hoped Duolingo would let you
Gamified Kurmanji lessons with native audio, games, and streaks. Start free.
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