As someone who has lived in Greece for a while, I quickly fell in love with the country and, most of all, with the beautiful-sounding Greek language. Being surrounded by native speakers every day, I wanted to understand what they were saying, so I decided the best way to get to know the Greek language and grasp the basics was to use a language-learning app.
I did some research and found a bunch of apps, each great in its own way. That’s why I decided to share with you in this post the ones I found the most effective and useful. The one that truly stood out for me was the Ling app, but there are many other apps to learn Greek out there. Let’s find out what they can offer to language learners.
Table Of Contents
Best Apps To Learn Greek
1. Ling – Best Overall Language Learning App
After trying out different Greek learning apps, I found one that truly stood out, and that’s the Ling app. It was created to teach over 60 languages, some of which aren’t easy to find elsewhere, including Greek!
The app does a great job of helping you build solid language skills in a fun and effective way. It’s a great way to start learning from scratch, and it’s got you covered whether you’re using a computer or a mobile device. I’d say it’s great for beginners as well as intermediate learners.
What sets Ling apart from other apps like Duolingo or Rosetta Stone is its unique blend of interactive lessons, games, quizzes, and review tools. Greek can be tough at first, but Ling helps you get started with the basics, like its unique alphabet and essential vocabulary. Plus, you can test your skills with its chatbot, which is available on both the app and the website. Ling also breaks down key grammar points to give you a well-rounded understanding of the language.
Reviews describe Ling as a fun and engaging language-learning app with a wide range of languages, effective gamified elements, real human audio recordings, and short lessons that are great for fitting into a busy schedule.
Transform your Greek language skills in a week – Get the Ling app today!
Devices: Android, iOS, Web.
Features
- You can have conversations with a chatbot. This way, you practice real-life situations and improve fluency.
- The app’s review function lets you practice what you find difficult to help you improve in those areas.
- The app has got fun lessons with games and quizzes that help you learn important grammar and vocabulary.
Pricing
Ling has different pricing plans to match what you need:
- Free with beginner lessons and an introductory chatbot.
- Monthly: $14.99
- Six Months: $39.99
- Yearly: $79.99 (7-day free trial)
- Lifetime: $149.99
2. Duolingo – Best For A Game-Like Approach
Duolingo also wasn’t a bad choice when it came to starting out with the Greek language. The app uses a playful system that makes learning the Greek alphabet and basic vocabulary a breeze. A big win here was a writing system tool, as I wasn’t so familiar with the Greek letters yet. However, the lessons on writing system tool do not follow a linear path. So, it can get a bit a tricky for new learners, who are not language-savvy, to learn the Greek letters without getting confused.
Moreover, the course is a bit on the shorter side and doesn’t dive deeply into advanced topics or speaking practice. Sometimes, the sentences can be a bit quirky or funny, which adds a bit of charm but might not always make perfect sense. Overall, it’s a great way to get started, but you might want to mix in some extra resources if you’re aiming for a more comprehensive understanding of Greek.
Features
- A writing-system tool that helps you learn the Greek alphabet and its sounds.
- Experience points for completing lessons and competing in weekly leagues to stay motivated.
- Collecting gems to buy items like streak freezes and timer boosts.
Pricing
Duolingo is free to use. The premium version, Duolingo Plus, costs around $6.99 per month and offers additional features like an ad-free experience and offline access.
3. Memrise – Best For Personalized Learning
Memrise takes a cool approach to learning Greek by customizing lessons based on your interests and using real-world video content. It’s great because it tailors the material to your preferences and skill level, making the whole learning experience more engaging and relevant. Plus, you get to practice speaking Greek with MemBot, an AI language partner that simulates real conversations. It’s a fantastic way to build your speaking confidence and have some fun along the way.
Reviews praise Memrise for its engaging video lessons from native speakers and its smart use of spaced repetition for learning vocabulary. The variety of user-generated courses is a big plus, too. On the flip side, the free version is pretty limited, and you might find the conversational practice isn’t as deep as you’d like. Also, the experience can vary depending on which device you’re using. Overall, it’s a solid tool with a few things to keep in mind.
Features
- Personalized lessons that are based on your interests, helping you learn vocabulary and phrases you’re actually likely to use.
- Authentic video lessons made from native speakers, adjusted to your current level and interests.
- Practice speaking with MemBot, which uses AI to simulate conversations and provide on-demand practice.
Pricing
- Monthly: $16.65
- Annual: $76.90
- Lifetime: $265.65
4. Rosetta Stone – Best For Getting Started With The Basics
I found Rosetta Stone easy to use as it gives a lot of visual and audio support to help you get started with the language. It can be good for learning basic vocabulary and getting used to how the language sounds. If you like a step-by-step method, it might be a decent option to begin with.
Reviews say Rosetta Stone is pretty user-friendly and helps you get familiar with a new language’s sounds and basic vocabulary. However, some users feel it doesn’t always give enough context, which can make learning a bit tricky. It’s also noted that the course might not dive deeply into more advanced topics or practical conversation practice. So, it might be better as a starting point rather than a complete learning solution.
Features
- Bite-sized lessons available online and offline.
- Immersive environment with real-world context.
- Leading speech recognition technology for pronunciation.
Pricing
- 3 Months: $15.99 per month, billed as $47.97
- 12 Months: $10.50 per month, billed as $126
- Lifetime Subscription: $199 (regularly $399)
5. Mondly – Best For Immersive VR And AI-Driven Language Learning
When I tried out Mondly, I really enjoyed its modern twist on language learning. The app’s use of speech recognition and VR makes practicing pronunciation and conversation pretty engaging. The interactive lessons are short and gamified, which keeps things fun. I also like how you can track your progress to stay motivated.
Mondly gets a lot of praise for its cool tech features and how it makes learning enjoyable with its game-like elements. It’s definitely affordable and offers some neat VR and AR experiences. However, the app doesn’t go too deep into grammar, and the speaking practice might feel a bit basic if you’re aiming for advanced fluency. The free version is quite limited, so if you’re looking to become really fluent, you might need more than what Mondly offers. Overall, it’s a fantastic choice for beginners who want to start learning a new language in a fun and budget-friendly way.
Features
- You can perfect your pronunciation with real-time feedback from native speakers.
- Immersive VR and AR environments to practice language skills in realistic settings.
- You can stay motivated by setting goals, competing with other learners, and enjoying interactive games.
Pricing
Mondly uses a freemium model. This means you can get started with basic features for free, but if you want access to everything, you’ll need to pay for a premium subscription.
- Monthly plan: $10.99
- Yearly plan: $52.99
- Lifetime plan: $109.75
6. Pimsleur – Best For Learning Greek Vocabulary
Pimsleur is another great app if you’re serious about picking up Greek. I’ve found it to be super effective for building Greek vocabulary. They’ve got this thing called the ‘Pimsleur Method,’ created by Dr. Paul Pimsleur himself, that is all about making sure you really remember what you learn, and it works!
From my experience, Pimsleur’s method helps you remember Greek words and phrases by spacing out your reviews just right. This means you don’t forget what you’ve learned, and you can start using Greek in real conversations with native speakers sooner than you’d think.
Features
- You can remember Greek words better because they’re reviewed at spaced intervals, which helps keep them in your long-term memory.
- You can focus on a few words at a time, so you really get to know each one before moving on to the next.
- You can get used to Greek pronunciation and how the language flows by learning through real-life conversations with native speakers.
Pricing
- Monthly Premium: $20 for access to one language.
- Monthly All Access: $21 for access to all Pimsleur languages.
- Annual Premium: $150 for access to one language for a year.
- Annual All Access: $165 for access to all Pimsleur languages for a year.
Why Should I Learn Greek?
In my humble opinion, Greek is one of the most interesting languages that you can learn. First off, Greek opens up a whole new world of culture and history. Just imagine wandering through Athens and seeing the Acropolis up close. Trust me when I say it’s a life-changing experience.
Greek’s got that cool looking alphabet, and it can feel really rewarding learning to read a whole new script on top of learning the language!
If you’re planning to travel to Greece or Cyprus, or better yet, move there, being able to talk with the people there will make your experience a thousand times better. Why? Greeks are some of the nicest, most hospitable people I’ve ever met! And if you’re into Greek food—who isn’t?—you’ll be able to order just what you want with confidence.
All in all, learning Greek will be your gateway to a whole new fascinating world of history, culture, and personal growth. Plus, it’s not as hard to learn as you might think, especially with the right resources and practice. So, why not give it a shot?
It’s All Greek To Me
Have you heard the expression, “It’s all Greek to me?” It’s a funny way of saying that you don’t understand something. But guess what? Learning Greek doesn’t have to be that hard if you make it fun and take the right approach. With Ling, the process is engaging and enjoyable, making it the best choice for picking up the language!
Ling can be found on both Google Play and the App Store. Once you’ve downloaded it, you can access a 7-day free trial right away and let Ling become your virtual Greek teacher.
