Duolingo doesn't teach Somali. Neither do the others. Here's what does.
Somali is one of the most spoken languages in Africa and across the diaspora in the US, UK, Canada and Scandinavia. Yet the biggest language apps skip it. We checked the public course lists of the largest apps in September 2026.
Checked September 2026 against each app's public course list. If something changes, tell us and we will update this page.
Why the big apps skip Somali
Building a course means recording thousands of audio clips, writing culturally accurate examples and finding native-speaker editors. Large apps prioritise languages with the biggest paying markets. Somali speakers are spread across dozens of countries, which makes the audience hard to see on a spreadsheet, even though it is millions of people strong.
There is a second reason that matters more for families. Even the apps that do offer Somali build it the way they build every other language: one curriculum, translated. Hotel check-ins, airport announcements, ordering a coffee. That is fine for a traveller. It is not what a seven-year-old in Minneapolis needs in order to talk to her ayeeyo on Sunday.
The apps that do teach Somali
Credit where it is due: three established apps include Somali, and for adults they can be good choices. Here is how they differ from Luuqad.
uTalk
Somali word and phrase sets with native audio, among 150+ languages. Adult, travel-style.
Ling
A gamified Somali course among 60+ languages, with dialogues and native audio. Adult-oriented.
LinGo Play
Flashcard-style Somali course with words and phrases. Adult-oriented.
What to look for in a Somali app instead
Real native audio
Somali has long and short vowels that change meaning. Synthesized voices get them wrong. Why vowel length matters →
Culture in the content
Canjeero, not croissant. Words your family actually uses at the table. See the Food topic →
Built for kids
Pictures, games and short sessions, with a grown-ups area for you. How parents use Luuqad →
The app built only for Somali
4.6 stars on the App Store · 18 topics · Free to start
Questions people ask
Which language apps teach Somali?
Luuqad (built only for Somali, for children and families), uTalk (150+ languages, adult phrase sets), Ling (60+ languages, adult gamified course) and LinGo Play (flashcards). Duolingo, Babbel, Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, Drops, Mondly, Busuu and Mango Languages do not offer Somali.
Does Duolingo have Somali?
No. As of September 2026 Duolingo offers 40+ languages, including Swahili and Zulu, but not Somali. See the full answer.
What is the best app to learn Somali for kids?
Luuqad is the only Somali app designed for children: illustrations of Somali life, native-speaker audio on every word, quizzes, story games and a Grown-ups area for parents.
Why don't the big apps teach Somali?
Building a course means recording thousands of audio clips and hiring native editors. Large companies prioritise languages with the biggest paying markets, and Somali speakers are spread across dozens of countries, so the audience is hard to see on a spreadsheet even though it is millions strong.