Help your child speak Somali with confidence.
Short daily lessons, real native-speaker audio, and games that make every word stick. Made for Somali kids and grown-ups growing up in the diaspora.
Somali has 20+ million speakers. Duolingo, Babbel and Rosetta Stone don't teach it. We do.
Four ways to learn, one language to keep.
Learn
Tap a word, see a real picture, hear a native speaker say it. 18 topics from Alphabet to Emotions & Small Talk.
Answer
Quick quizzes per topic. See your best score, retry, and watch it climb.
Play
Story games like Baadiyo Journey and Heritage Hunt. Pack for the day, follow clues, collect cultural treasures.
Leaderboard
XP, streaks and weekly ranks. A friendly nudge to come back tomorrow.
Real-life Somali, topic by topic.
Every topic has pictures, native pronunciation and a quiz. Start with the alphabet or jump straight to food.
Native pronunciation built into every word.
No robot voices. Every word in Luuqad is recorded by a Somali speaker, so children learn the sounds their grandparents use. Tap the speaker to hear the real recording.
Browse the Somali dictionary →
Made for the whole family. And the Saturday school.
For parents
Ten minutes a day fits real routines. Kids earn XP and streaks; you get a Grown-ups area to see what they've learned.
For heritage speakers
Understand Somali but freeze when you speak? Rebuild vocabulary fast with everyday topics, from Asking & Ordering to Weather.
For teachers
Use Alphabet and Numbers as warm-ups in weekend Somali classes. Quizzes and the leaderboard make homework something kids ask for.
Questions parents ask
Is Luuqad free?
You can download Luuqad and start free. A small subscription ($6.99 a month or $69.99 a year, with a 3-day free trial for eligible Apple subscribers) unlocks full access to every topic, quiz and game, and supports ongoing development.
What age is Luuqad for?
Children from about 5 up, plus beginners and heritage speakers of any age. Pictures and native audio mean early readers can use it too.
Is the audio recorded by native Somali speakers?
Yes. Every word is recorded by a Somali speaker, not generated by a computer voice.
Which dialect does Luuqad teach?
Standard Somali as used in schools and media, which speakers of regional varieties understand.
Is Luuqad available on Android?
Not yet. Luuqad is currently on iPhone and iPad (iOS 15.1 or later). Join the list on our download page to hear when Android ships.
Does Duolingo teach Somali?
No. Duolingo, Babbel, Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur do not offer Somali. Luuqad is built only for Somali, by Somalis, with culture woven into every topic and game. See apps that teach Somali.
More answers on the FAQ page.
Stories, guides and honest comparisons
Start tonight. Ten minutes is enough.
Free to download. Join the families keeping Somali alive at home.
Download on the App Store