Wait… there’s no Albanian on Duolingo? That’s certainly a surprise. Luckily, you’ve got a great alternative if you want to learn the Albanian language on the go: the Ling app.
Albanian is a fascinating language to learn, but since it’s not as well-known as some of the major European languages, it often gets overlooked by language apps. As a result, it’s hard to find reliable resources, leaving beginners unsure of where to begin.
The good news is, you’re not entirely without options. Ling offers a complete Albanian course that guides you from beginner to advanced with an engaging and straightforward method, and most importantly, it’s built by native speakers, including voice recordings.
The Ling app is the strongest alternative to Duolingo out there, and it’s perfect for anyone excited to learn Albanian. Keep reading to find out exactly why.
Why Is There No Albanian On Duolingo?
We can’t know for sure why Albanian is missing from Duolingo, as there have been no official statements, but there are two explanations that make sense:
- Difficulty: According to the FSI language difficulty scale, Albanian is a Category III language, one of the “Hard languages”. Its writing system is simple, but grammar and pronunciation take time to master. If you want to create a full course for a language in that range, it usually needs more work and more expert input.
- Demand: If you compare Albanian’s 7.5 million speakers to big languages like Spanish or French, it seems rather low. Big apps often choose languages with huge global numbers, so Albanian gets overlooked, even though many learners search for it.
Why Albanian Deserves To Be On Language Apps
Albanian deserves to be on language learning apps because it’s one of Europe’s most unique languages. It forms its own independent branch of the Indo-European family, which makes it unlike any of the nearby Slavic, Romance, or Greek languages.
Native speakers call the language shqip, and the country Shqipëri. They have their own distinct identity that gives learners a rare chance to explore a linguistic tradition that developed completely on its own path. That is why we believe Albanian definitely deserves a spot, at the very least, on major language learning apps.
Is Albanian Hard To Learn?
Most learners say Albanian is challenging, but not impossible, and the main reason is Albanian grammar. You have to deal with:
- Noun cases: Albanian nouns change form to show their function in a sentence. There are five main cases.
- Changing adjectives: In Albanian, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case.
- Irregular verbs: Common verbs are often irregular, including jam (to be) and kam (to have).
- Verb moods: Albanian verbs have several moods that show the speaker’s attitude, such as indicative (to state facts), admirative (to express surprise or irony), imperative (to give commands), and more.
That said, there are a couple of things that can make learning Albanian a bit easier:
- People with knowledge of Romance and Slavic languages feel a small advantage because they already know things like gender, complex verb tenses, and some old Latin loanwords.
- Knowing the phonetic alphabet helps, too, because Albanian writes words the way you pronounce them.
In all, learners agree that the biggest real problem when learning Albanian is not the language itself, but the lack of learning resources. Immersion and regular interaction with native speakers make the process much easier. Many people reach a basic communication level within a few months, but mastering details takes a bit longer.
So, is Albanian hard to learn? Not so much if you’re patient, determined, and ready to tackle the small challenges that come with learning any language.
Where Is Albanian Spoken?
You can hear Albanian every day in Albania and Kosovo, but also in parts of North Macedonia and Montenegro.
Since many Albanians migrated in the past, you can also hear millions of people speak Albanian in countries like Italy, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, the UK, the US, and Australia. These communities use the language at home, in cultural centers, and even in local media. This means the language is active far beyond the Balkans.
How Many People Speak Albanian?
Worldwide, Albanian has about 7.5 million speakers. This widespread presence shows why learners often seek out Albanian resources. They want to talk to relatives, understand their heritage, or simply feel connected while traveling through Tirana and Pristina.
Duolingo Vs Ling: Which One Supports Albanian?
When we compare Ling and Duolingo, we can see that they’re apps with similar features, yet there’s one important thing missing from Duolingo, and that’s an Albanian course!
| Feature | Ling App | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|
| Albanian Course | ✔ Yes | ✖ No |
| Levels | 5 levels: Beginner to Expert | Most stop at basic |
| Speaking Practice | Dedicated exercises + speech recognition | Less structured |
| Smart Chatbot | ✔ Interactive conversations | ✖ None |
| Interface | Bright, smooth, easy to navigate | Can be cluttered |
| Pricing | Free trial + flexible plans | Free with ads + Premium version |
As you can see, unlike Duolingo, Ling offers a full Albanian course from beginner to advanced. It’s also more structured, offers interactive conversations, and can be easier to navigate.
Ling: The Best Alternative To Duolingo For Learning Albanian
If your goal is to learn Albanian, Ling is one of the strongest alternatives to Duolingo because it offers a complete Albanian course while Duolingo doesn’t support the language at all.
Ling is an app designed for serious learners who want real progress, not just random phrases. It focuses on practical language use, immersive learning, and unique tools for hard languages, especially Asian and Eastern European ones.
Here are some of Ling’s features you’ll find in the Albanian course:
- Fun, game-like lessons that keep you engaged
- Native-speaker audio for accurate pronunciation
- Review tools like flashcards, vocabulary, and a personal vocabulary bank
- Quick and easy-to-follow grammar tips
- Cultural insights to understand real-life usage
- Dialogs for conversation practice
- Voice recognition to help perfect your speaking
Who Is The Ling App Best For?
The Ling app is best for beginners and intermediate learners who want to build practical communication skills in Albanian. It’s a particularly good choice for:
- Travelers preparing for a trip to Albania or Kosovo.
- Heritage learners who want to reconnect with their Albanian roots.
- Expats planning to live or work in an Albanian-speaking region.
- Language enthusiasts looking for a language that many major apps don’t offer.
- Busy learners who prefer 10 to 15-minute lessons they can fit into their daily routine.
The Ling app might not be the best fit for you if:
- You already have an advanced level of Albanian and are looking for more academic lessons.
- You prefer regular lessons with a live teacher instead of learning on your own.
Why Serious Learners Choose Ling: Reviews From Our Users
What are Ling’s users saying about the app? Read some reviews and see for yourself!
”This app is sooo good! 😍 I’m really enjoying learning new languages, especially Thai! The lessons are fun, easy to follow, and super effective. Highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn a new language!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
-Ayesh Ednamzug
”I’ve only had the app for a day and have been learning faster than any other app on a very challenging language. I was definitely surprised and impressed. They teach you how to say it, it’s easy to understand pronunciation, matching games to learning and hear. Love it.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
– Tennille Kinney
What You Can Achieve On Ling In The First Seven Days
Before you commit full-time, Ling offers a 7-day free trial to see if it fits your learning style. A week isn’t enough to become fluent in Albanian, but it’s more than enough to see how the language works and whether Ling is the right app for you.
Here are some examples of what you can learn with Ling in 7 days by doing a short 5-minute lesson each day:
| Day | What You’ll Learn |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Start building core vocabulary with words like perime – “vegetables”, muzikë – “music”, të pëlqeni – “to like”, and more. |
| Day 2 | Start making simple sentences like unë blej bukë – “I buy bread.” |
| Day 3 | Pick up common phrases, like do të doja të porosisja më shumë ushqim – “I would like to order more food”. |
| Day 4 | Get a sense of how Albanian works in everyday conversations with phrases like Unë jam njëzet e pesë vjeçe – “I am twenty-five years old”. |
| Day 5 | Get introduced to key grammar points, like personal pronouns, gender, and number. |
| Day 6 | Practice correct pronunciation. Listen to native-speaker audio and repeat words and phrases aloud. |
| Day 7 | Complete several interactive lessons while reviewing what you’ve learned with flashcards and vocabulary games. Track your progress and notice real improvement! |
By the end of your 7-day free trial, you’ll have a solid introduction to Albanian and a good idea of whether Ling matches your learning style.
Tips To Learn Albanian With The Ling App
As we said, Albanian can be a bit of a challenge for English speakers due to its grammar, but it’s nothing you can’t overcome with persistence and dedication. Here are a few tips to take full advantage of the Ling app’s features when learning the language:
- Be persistent: Studies suggest what we’ve always known: persistence is essential when learning a language. So activate the app’s reminders, use the streaks, and keep coming back every day, even if it’s only to do one five-minute lesson.
- Use the review features: As much as persistence is key, we all skip a few days now and then. If that happens, go to the app’s review section and refresh what you’ve learned. You can do a quick test, review vocabulary with flashcards, or use the dialogs to have a quick chat.
- Pair the app with language immersion: The Ling app covers all language skills, making it a one-stop language-learning platform. But external help never hurts. If you want to speed up your learning, make sure to also consume Albanian media. You can watch movies and TV series, listen to music and podcasts, read books, etc. Use any means to get as close to the language as you can.
- Have fun: The Ling app is a gamified app for a reason. Making language learning fun can make it less stressful and help you stay motivated. So enjoy the minigames, celebrate the achievements, and keep winning those Banana Points!
No Albanian On Duolingo: Frequently Asked Questions
Will Duolingo Add Albanian?
It’s unlikely that Duolingo will add Albanian anytime soon. There’s been no official announcement on their channels, and the company seems more focused on expanding its current language courses than adding new ones.
Which Language App Has Albanian?
The Ling app offers a complete Albanian course for beginners and intermediate learners. Lessons are created by native speakers and include vocabulary, grammar notes, pronunciation practice, speaking exercises, and cultural insights to help you build practical communication skills.
What Is The Easiest Way To Learn Albanian?
One of the easiest ways to learn Albanian is to use an app like Ling with bite-sized lessons, real phrases, pronunciation practice, and interactive exercises.
Is There Albanian On Duolingo?
No, Duolingo doesn’t currently offer Albanian. If you’re looking for an alternative, the Ling app offers a complete Albanian course with interactive lessons, native-speaker audio, grammar notes, and speaking practice.
Start Learning Albanian With Ling!
There’s no need to keep searching for Albanian on Duolingo or other language apps. Ling offers a complete Albanian course with interactive lessons, so you can start speaking from day one.
Ling is available on Google Play and the App Store, and teaches 70+ languages with a special focus on underserved Asian and Eastern European languages. With more than 10 million downloads worldwide, it’s trusted by learners around the globe.
Download the Ling app, sign up for a 7-day free trial, and start learning Albanian today!
