Wait… There’s no Sundanese on Duolingo?!
Many people are surprised by this. Sundanese is spoken by over 40 million people in western Java, Indonesia. That part of the country gets many visitors, who want to learn Sundanese to talk with locals in markets, villages, and tourist spots outside Jakarta.
There’s also people of Sundanese ancestry who want to recover family histories and speak with older relatives who don’t use Bahasa Indonesia at home.
And yet all of these people are having trouble finding resources to learn Sundanese.
But guess what? Ling has now added a complete Sundanese lesson course to its collection. It’s the best alternative out there to learn Sundanese, and in this post we’ll go through everything you need to know before getting started.
Why Sundanese Deserves A Spot On Duolingo
Sundanese, also known as Bahasa Sunda, is spoken by over 40 million people. That makes it the third most widely spoken language in Indonesia. In other parts, people speak Javanese and the Indonesian languages, also known as Bahasa Indonesia.
The language is deeply tied to Sundanese and Indonesian culture. It’s used in daily conversations, traditional arts such as the Wayang Golek puppet theater, music, literature, and even local media.
Learning Sundanese gives access to a rich folklore, proverbs, songs, and local stories that can’t fully be appreciated in translation.
Despite its large number of speakers and cultural significance, Sundanese remains underrepresented on major language learning platforms. The language deserves a spot on language apps because it would give learners a chance to explore a language with a long history, a living culture and a practical use in everyday communication.
On top of that, it supports preservation efforts of a language that faces pressure from the dominance of other Indonesian and global languages.
Where Is Sundanese Spoken?
Sundanese is mainly spoken in Indonesia, especially in the western part of Java Island. This includes West Java, Banten, and parts of Jakarta. Major cities like Bandung, Bogor, Sukabumi, and Cirebon are cultural and linguistic centers where the language is widely used.
Outside Indonesia, smaller Sundanese communities exist because of migration. In Singapore, a few hundred descendants maintain their heritage within the larger Malay community.
Australia, especially Melbourne, also hosts Sundanese families who continue to speak the language and celebrate cultural traditions.
While the global number of Sundanese speakers is small compared to other languages, these communities show that the language has a presence beyond Indonesia.
While Sundanese is widely spoken in West Java, some people in markets and cities sometimes switch to informal Indonesian for casual conversations, so learners can often pick up both at the same time.
Is Sundanese Hard To Learn?
Sundanese is not impossible to learn, but it has some features that make it a bit different from many other languages.
One of the first things you’ll notice about Sundanese is its sound. It has some unique vowels and consonants, like the ‘eu’ sound, and the way pitch and intonation work can completely change the meaning. It might take a little practice at first, but that’s also what makes the language so full of beauty.
Sundanese has many dialects. The Priangan dialect from West Java is standard, but you also have Banten, Cirebon, and communities like the Baduy that have their own variations. This diversity is interesting, but it may take time to adjust to different pronunciations. Think of it like the difference between American and British English. Some words, sounds, and expressions are different, but the core language stays the same.
Sundanese is normally written using the Latin alphabet, but the traditional Sundanese script, Aksara Sunda, is still used in some contexts.
The grammar of the language reflects social respect, with polite and neutral forms. Beginners should start with the neutral, and explore polite forms later.
All in all, Sundanese has challenges, but its Latin-based writing system and simple core phrases make it approachable. Learning it is rewarding for anyone interested in culture or connecting with the local communities in West Java.
Why Is There No Sundanese On Duolingo?
There could be plenty of reasons why there is no Sundanese on Duolingo yet.
In the past, volunteers could contribute to courses through something called the Incubator. That program let people help build lessons for languages that were not on Duolingo. The Incubator closed in 2021, so now Duolingo creates courses themselves.
To make a new course, Duolingo needs a few things: enough people who know the language well, enough learners who want to study it, and the resources to create lessons. Sundanese probably does not meet all of these yet, which is why it is not on the app.
But even though there’s no Sundanese on Duolingo, Ling has managed to include a complete course. Ling does not rely on volunteer programs like Duolingo used to. Instead, they work directly with language experts to create complete courses from scratch.
This means learners can start studying Sundanese now with structured lessons, interactive exercises, and tools for effective language learning.
Duolingo Vs. Ling: Which One Supports Sundanese?
Ling offers interactive lessons and exercises similar to Duolingo, but with Sundanese fully supported.
Here’s a quick overview of Ling and Duolingo’s features:
| Feature | Duolingo | Ling |
|---|---|---|
| Sundanese course | Not available | Available |
| Course development | Internal development | Developed with native speakers |
| Lesson types | Gamified lessons, translation exercises | Interactive lessons, quizzes, and dialogues |
| Speech recognition | Available | Available |
| A playful mascot | Green owl Duo | A monkey called Master Ling |
| User interface | Gamified, colorful | Clean, user-friendly design |
| Pricing | Free with ads; subscription available | Free trial and premium options |
The Best Alternative To Duolingo For Learning Sundanese
Ling was created to teach rare and underrepresented languages. Here are the Ling app’s key features to learn Sundanese:
- Interactive exercises for speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
- Speech recognition to help improve pronunciation.
- Progress monitoring and adaptive lessons tailored to your level.
- Short, step-by-step lessons with basic vocabulary and pronunciation.
- Offline access for learning anywhere and anytime.
- Fun quizzes and challenges to keep learning engaging.
Why Serious Learners Choose Ling
Ling has been downloaded by more than 1 million people worldwide and holds a solid 4.8 rating on the Apple Store and 4.6 on Google Play. That clearly shows that it’s a true favorite among language learners.
Here’s what our learners have to say about it:
”A natural way of learning a language by listening and reading in the native language by showing you, rather than sharing the English to learning language translation. This method allows the learner to absorb grammar, like children learn a language instead of memorizing words and rules. It is a very useful app!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
– Sestra Mae
”I’ve tried a lot of language apps, Duolingo, drops, jumpspeak, and more. Tagalog options are limited in most apps on the market. This is the first app that I’ve found with Tagalog that gives real applicable conversational inputs. I love the real life examples of sentences and conversations. I just tried the conversation simulator and am stoked!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
– Patrick Hageman
What You Can Expect From Ling In The First Week Of Using It
Starting Sundanese on Ling is easy and fun. In the first week, you will:
- Learn the basics, like words and phrases for greetings and simple conversations.
- Practice pronunciation with native Indonesian speaker recordings and speech recognition.
- Get introduced to simple sentence structures and polite forms.
- Complete interactive exercises for reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
- Track your progress and build a daily learning habit.
By the end of the week, you’ll be able to say hello, introduce yourself, ask simple questions, recognize the most common Sundanese verbs, and maybe even talk to a local friend.
Frequently Asked Questions About Learning Sundanese
What's The Best App To Learn Sundanese?
The best app to learn Sundanese is Ling. Created with native speakers, it offers structured lessons, interactive exercises, and speech practice. From the first lesson, you can read, write, listen, and speak while the app tracks your progress and adapts to your level.
How Long Does It Take To Learn Sundanese?
It depends on your goals. For short conversations, you can start greeting people and asking simple questions within a few weeks. Everyday conversations usually take a few months to feel comfortable. Fluency, including reading, understanding songs, and using polite forms naturally, can take a year or more.
Which Countries Speak Sundanese?
Sundanese is mainly spoken in West Java, Banten, and parts of Jakarta, with smaller communities in Central Java. Outside Indonesia, some speakers live in Singapore and Australia and keep the language and culture alive abroad.
Start Learning Sundanese Today With Ling!
The wait to connect with one of Indonesia’s most fascinating languages is over. With Ling, you can hit the ground running with interactive lessons that cover vocabulary in 50 different units.
It’s a fact that learning a language goes hand in hand with getting to know the culture. So anyone who wants to visit the places where Sundanese is spoken, connect with their heritage, or explore new business opportunities will find Ling to be the perfect tool.
Ling is available on both Android and Apple. Start learning Sundanese today and experience the joy of speaking the language from day one!
