No Icelandic On Duolingo? Ling Is Your Best Option In 2026

Were you excited to learn Icelandic online, only to realize there’s no Icelandic on Duolingo? If you were hoping to start with one of the big language-learning platforms, you may be in for a surprise. Icelandic is still missing from many of the apps learners typically turn to first.

But don’t despair; you still have some options!

I’m guessing you’re looking for a simple yet effective way to learn the language. Perhaps you want a gamified teaching style, like the one Duolingo uses, or are interested in short and engaging lessons that keep you motivated.

I want to learn even more languages with Ling!

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If that’s the case, I have good news: the Ling app has an Icelandic course! I’ll tell you all about it, but first, let’s try to figure out why there’s no Icelandic on Duolingo.

What Is The Icelandic Language Like?

Icelandic is a North Germanic language, which means it’s most closely related to Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Faroese. But it also has similarities with German and English, which is great news for English speakers who want to learn it.

Here are a few things worth knowing before you start learning it:

• Around 300,000 people speak Icelandic. Most of them live in Iceland, where it’s the official language, but there are a few speakers in Denmark and North America as well.
• It’s the closest living language to Old Norse, the language of the Vikings. That’s because other Scandinavian languages like Swedish and Norwegian evolved and became simpler, while Icelandic kept many elements of Old Norse grammar.
• It’s a great language for anyone interested in Norse mythology. So even if you don’t have any family in Iceland, nor plan to move over there anytime soon, you might want to learn it if you’re interested in Norse Mythology!
• The Icelandic alphabet is somewhat similar to the English one, using a Latin script of 32 letters. What are the differences with English? Icelandic has the letters Ð, Þ, Æ, and Ö, but lacks C, Q, W, and Z.
• Icelandic also uses accented letters Á, É, Í, Ó, Ú, and Ý.

Why Icelandic Deserves A Spot On Duolingo

So, should Icelandic be on Duolingo? Of course it should! Icelandic deserves a spot on Duolingo and other popular language-learning apps due to its strong cultural importance in Iceland and other factors:

• Even though it has few speakers and is quite localized to Iceland, Icelanders are very proud of their language and make serious efforts to preserve it. Having such a popular platform to teach it could greatly aid those efforts.
• It offers a connection to the Viking Age. As I mentioned, its proximity to Old Norse can make it a very interesting language to learn for those interested in the Vikings and Norse Mythology.
• It’s also a chance to learn a language that can actually be spoken today, unlike Old Norse, which hasn’t been spoken for a very long time.

But sadly, there’s no news on whether Icelandic will ever be on Duolingo. Luckily, our alternative is just as good (dare I say better?).

Let’s see how hard it can be to learn Icelandic, then we’ll move on to how to do that online.

Is Icelandic Hard To Learn?

Icelandic isn’t the easiest language to learn, but English speakers have a few things working in their favor. I already mentioned Icelandic’s relative closeness to English, which can make learning it a bit easier.

The fact that you’ll recognize most of the language’s letters can be a game-changer, for once. More so, you’ll even find some similar words! Here are a few of them:

Also, since Icelandic has few speakers and is very localized, there aren’t many dialect variations, which is one less thing to worry about.

But I won’t lie to you, learning Icelandic isn’t exactly a walk in the park. It has some difficulties you’ll have to overcome (but nothing some perseverance can’t handle, right?).

• There’s a lot of unique Icelandic vocabulary, even when you might find familiar words. English and Icelandic are close, but not that close.
• Icelandic avoids borrowing words from other languages in an effort to preserve the language. Instead, Icelanders form new words, like telephone – sími, video – myndband, and computer – tölva.
• Some Icelandic sounds can be difficult to pronounce. Many are unfamiliar to English speakers and can be somewhat hard to pronounce.
• The four-case system takes some getting used to, as words change according to their function in a sentence.
• Icelandic has some very long words. Some of us still remember (but can’t pronounce) the volcano that erupted in 2010: Eyjafjallajökull. Icelandic even has one of the longest words in the world: Vaðlaheiðarvegavinnuverkfærageymsluskúraútidyralyklakippuhringur, which can be roughly translated as “A key ring for the outdoor door of the tool shed used by the road workers on Vaðlaheiði”.

But don’t worry too much, I’m sure you won’t be needing that word any time soon!

No Icelandic On Duolingo: Why?

The reason there’s no Icelandic on Duolingo might be a mix of available resources and the number of people who would use the app to learn it.

For starters, it’s not the most popular language, and it has a relatively small number of speakers. This means the number of people interested in learning it probably isn’t as big as those who want to learn, say, Japanese or Hindi.

Also, Duolingo had an “Incubator Program” some years back, where people could help make new courses for the app. That was discontinued in 2021, and all new courses are now made by the Duolingo team, without outside volunteers. This means it has fewer resources to work on new language courses.

Even so, Duolingo could consider adding it. There’s even a petition to add Icelandic to Duolingo!

The Ling App: The Best Alternative To Duolingo For Learning Icelandic

Now, let’s get to the good news. If you’re looking for a fun and engaging app that can teach you Icelandic online, you’ve found it.

The Ling app is a fantastic resource for language learners, with short, gamified lessons much like Duolingo. But it’s a lot more than that.

Ling has all the must-have features in language-learning apps, including:

• Native-speaker audio to ensure correct pronunciation.
• Voice recognition to improve your speaking skills.
• A gamified and engaging interface, plus points and leaderboards, to keep you motivated.
• Streaks and reminders so you don’t forget to study.
• Flashcards and a personal vocabulary bank to review everything you’ve learned.
• Dialogues that show you what you’ve learned in context.

And Ling doesn’t just teach Icelandic. It also explores 70+ languages, with a special focus on Asian and Eastern European ones, which means you have more to learn!

Who Is The Ling App Best For?

The Ling app is a great choice for learners looking for a complete Icelandic course. It’s especially suitable for:

• Beginners who want to build a strong foundation in Icelandic.
• Travelers who need to learn common Icelandic phrases before visiting Iceland.
• Norse mythology and Viking history enthusiasts who want to explore Icelandic while connecting with the language’s Old Norse roots.
• Independent learners who prefer to study at their own pace with lessons they can complete anytime.

So, even when there’s no contest between who teaches Icelandic better, since Duolingo doesn’t, let’s compare the Ling app and Duolingo when it comes to language learning in general.

Duolingo Vs Ling: An Overview

Here are some of Duolingo’s and Ling’s main features compared:

Why Serious Learners Choose Ling

Many people use the Ling app every day to learn Asian and Eastern European languages. Considering the many language-learning apps in the market, we must be doing something right.

Our short and engaging lessons, native-speaker audio, and dialogs are only some of the features our users find helpful for language learning.

But don’t take my word for it, here are a couple of reviews from Google Play:

“I was learning japanese on that green owl app and it wasn’t worth it at all while this app is actually very useful it starts with a basic introduction and doesn’t stop at just a few words…. I wasted my one month on that green owl app and now I found this app which is very useful😭😭 In that app thai wasn’t even available now I’m learning thai and japanese both you should go for this app🎀“

★★★★★
Khushi 700

“Seems brilliant so far. I have only just started, but it is really engaging, straightforward, and I’ve already learnt some very useful words and phrases!!! Highly recommend!”

★★★★★
Robert Wood

“This app is amazing! Interactive, easy to learn through lessons, and visually pleasing! So happy they offer Gujarati, where many apps do not! That is so special to me, as I can now learn to speak with my 90 year old grandpa with dementia! 🙂 Couldn’t subscribe to pro for a bit, but after updating, I could! 🙂“

★★★★★
Ami Patel

What You Can Achieve In Your First Week Using Ling

Since the Ling app has a 7-day free trial, let’s see some of the things you can learn in your first week.

But this is assuming you only do one unit per day. You can learn much more in those seven days if you’re an overachiever!

Frequently Asked Questions: No Icelandic On Duolingo

Start Learning Icelandic With Ling!

Even if there’s no Icelandic on Duolingo, don’t let that stop you from learning the language comfortably on your phone or tablet.

You can use the Ling app and discover its engaging lessons, useful dialogues, flashcards, points, leaderboards, native-speaker audio, and many other features.

So, what are you waiting for? Download the Ling app now and start learning Icelandic today! And as I mentioned, you can try it for free for 7 days and see how you like it. If it’s not for you, you can cancel anytime.

But Ling has 10M+ downloads and is rated 4.7/5 by learners across the Play Store and App Store for its gamified approach and intuitive interface, so something tells me you’ll want to keep using it.

Enjoy your learning! – Njóttu námsins!

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