{"id":5599,"date":"2024-02-16T22:26:58","date_gmt":"2024-02-17T03:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/?p=5599"},"modified":"2025-06-09T10:37:48","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T14:37:48","slug":"free-language-learning-websites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/free-language-learning-websites\/","title":{"rendered":"31 Free Language Learning Websites to Try in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Websites and smartphone apps<\/a> have brought the world closer to us and its thousands of languages.\u00a0The benefits of learning a new language<\/a> no longer have to come with a hefty price tag\u2014or any price tag at all.<\/p>\n

Whether you prefer flashcards or face-to-face interaction, want to learn Amharic or Zulu, are a novice or near-native, here are 31 free language learning websites<\/strong> you can use to fine-tune your language skills without spending a cent.<\/p>\n

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General Language Learning Websites<\/h2>\n

When most of us think about taking a language course, we picture a classroom full of wobbly desks, and potentially a three- or four-digit tuition fee.<\/p>\n

These free language learning websites offer online courses<\/a> and other general knowledge about a wide variety of languages, so you can keep the structure and formality of a traditional course but skip the fees.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Live Lingua<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Arabic, French, Japanese, Russian, Cantonese, Tagalog and many more.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>According to the site, Live Lingua is the internet’s largest collection of free public domain language learning materials.<\/p>\n

It’s not hard to believe. There are thousands of free e-books, audio recordings and foreign language video materials<\/strong> available in over 130 different languages.<\/p>\n

It’s also one of the most user-friendly websites hosting the US Foreign Service Institute’s public domain language courses<\/a>, which were developed by the US Department of State for expert language learning and are now freely available on various sites across the web.<\/p>\n

See our full review of all of Live Lingua’s offerings here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Learn a Language<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> English, Spanish, German, Chinese, Greek, Norwegian and more.<\/p>\n

\"free-language-learning-websites\"<\/a>Learn a Language contains vocabulary, phrases, courses, games and activities<\/strong> for a number of popular languages.<\/p>\n

You can learn over 1,400 words in your target language for free with their vocabulary lists and verb conjugation charts, and there’s plenty more free learning to be done in the actual courses.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Open Culture<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Icelandic, Korean, Swedish and many more.<\/p>\n

\"free-language-learning-websites\"<\/a>Open Culture is an e-learning website that hosts “the best free cultural and educational media on the web.”<\/p>\n

When it comes to languages, they’re not bluffing.<\/p>\n

Their free courses and materials contain language learning resources from governments, universities and respected private institutions<\/strong> worldwide, so you can find free lessons without sacrificing quality.<\/p>\n

Click here for our full review<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

4. Omniglot<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Arabic, Hebrew, Gaelic, Gujarati, Korean, Thai and many, many more.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Whether you’re learning one language or in a polyamorous love affair with multiple languages, Omniglot should live on your browser’s bookmarks bar.<\/p>\n

This online encyclopedia of languages and writing systems<\/strong> is like the Wikipedia of all things linguistics.<\/p>\n

Not only does it provide linguistic and cultural information on hundreds of world languages, but it also offers some of its own free video lessons.<\/p>\n

5. LanguageGuide.org<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Spanish, Turkish, Korean, Portuguese, Hindi, Polish and more.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Here you’ll find easy-to-understand vocabulary lessons<\/strong>, complete with audio recordings to help you learn pronunciation.<\/p>\n

The lessons are perfect for both audio and visual learners because they incorporate images with each audio file. Some exercises are already set to an advanced level by default, but you can adjust the difficulty level in the settings.<\/p>\n

When it’s time to test your knowledge, you can do so with both the speaking and listening challenges.<\/p>\n

Video-based Language Learning Websites<\/h2>\n

Turning on the TV is great for language learning<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you want your brain to soak up the sights and sounds of actual everyday speech and how it’s used in your target language, tune in and kick back for some quality input-based learning with these free websites.<\/p>\n

6. Easy Languages<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Catalan, French, Italian, Russian, Dutch, Czech and more.<\/p>\n

\"Easy<\/a>The Easy Languages website and YouTube channel<\/a> post videos that show real people using their native language in an everyday context.<\/p>\n

The videos feature on-the-street interviews with locals<\/strong>, who discuss language, culture and life in general. Note the name\u2014you don’t<\/em> need advanced-level skills to enjoy the material!<\/p>\n

Not only can these videos help you practice listening to authentic spoken language, but they can also give you valuable insight into local culture.<\/p>\n

Videos include subtitles in the target language and English. While not all the language channels are active anymore, there’s still a lot of pre-existing content for learners of a number of languages.<\/p>\n

7. Streema<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Spanish, Korean, Gujarati, Arabic and many more.<\/p>\n

\"free-language-learning-websites\"<\/a>Although not designed as a language learning tool, Streema offers free TV streaming from over 100 countries<\/strong> worldwide in nearly as many languages.<\/p>\n

This is an especially exciting resource if you’re learning a less commonly studied language with limited video materials available.<\/p>\n

Tuning into your favorite Albanian or Nepali TV station can easily compensate for the lack of other learning materials online.<\/p>\n

8. LanguagePod101.com<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Afrikaans, Cantonese, Filipino, Greek, Italian, Turkish and many more.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>LanguagePod101.com offers free video and audio lessons<\/strong> in over 40 languages made by professional teachers.<\/p>\n

It’s typically updated with new lessons every week, with material for beginner to advanced learners and including grammar, vocabulary, everyday conversations and culture.<\/p>\n

You’ll be directed to language-specific sites once you enter your email and pick a language. Some offerings include SpanishPod101<\/a>, FrenchPod101<\/a>, GermanPod101<\/a>, ChineseClass101<\/a> and RussianPod101<\/a>, among many others.<\/p>\n

While there is the option to pay for additional content and learning tools, LanguagePod101.com has thousands of professionally produced audio and videos for free.<\/p>\n

9. YouTube<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and many, many more.<\/p>\n

\"free-language-learning-websites\"<\/a>Did you know that YouTube has an insane number of TV shows and movies available worldwide?<\/p>\n

Beyond language learning channels<\/a> by a wide variety of teachers in an even bigger array of languages<\/strong>, there’s also the option of finding movies, TV shows, commercials, talks and more.<\/p>\n

YouTube is also a fantastic resource if you’re studying a less common language. The channel Wikitongues<\/a>, for example, contains numerous videos of rare languages and unique regional dialects.<\/p>\n

After checking the main site for whatever you’re looking for, you can also look through YouTube’s Movies & TV section<\/a>.\u00a0Some options here do require payment, but some are free (typically with ads).<\/p>\n

Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs)<\/h2>\n

Many world universities are making lesson materials and entire courses online for free. Here are some of the best MOOCs for learning a language.<\/p>\n

10. MIT Open Courseware<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German and other related topics.<\/p>\n

\"free-language-learning-websites\"<\/a>MIT was one of the university hipsters making their course content available online before it was cool.<\/p>\n

Under the “Global Studies and Languages”<\/a> section of the website, you’ll find courses ranging from Chinese II to Contemporary French Politics.<\/p>\n

The courses are designed to help you engage with the language and its greater cultural context<\/strong>. Courses are available to download.<\/p>\n

11. edX<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Japanese, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Italian and related topics.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>This is one of the biggest MOOC websites. You can find tons of college-level courses here, created and taught by professors from top universities.<\/span><\/p>\n

You might take a dedicated language class or a topic course in your target language<\/strong> if you’re more advanced. For example, you could sign up to take an algebra class entirely in Spanish!<\/span><\/p>\n

Some courses have certificates you can get for completing them. In general, it does cost money to get a verified certificate, so make sure you check the details before you sign up. Additionally, you may be able to get college credit<\/a>, depending on your course.<\/span><\/p>\n

12. Coursera<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Korean, Chinese, Spanish, French, Russian and more.<\/p>\n

\"free-language-learning-websites\"<\/a>The courses offered on Coursera are run by professors from world-renowned institutions<\/strong>, and you can earn a certificate from many of them.<\/p>\n

Many courses will be geared toward beginners (like First Step Korean<\/a>) and others will engage more generally with language learning (like Miracles of Human Language<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Note that not all courses are free, but many are. Additionally, you can take them at much the same rate you would an actual university course (a few months) or speed up the process and go at your own pace.<\/p>\n

Whatever you find here, it’s coming from a respected university or educational institute, and if it’s not on offer now, sign up to get an alert when it is.<\/p>\n

13. Alison<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> French, Irish, Japanese, Swedish, Spanish, Chinese and more.<\/p>\n

\"free-language-learning-websites\"<\/a>Each of the languages offered on Alison’s platform includes at least an introductory course, and popular languages like French include more advanced and detailed materials and topics.<\/p>\n

Best of all, if you complete all modules and score at least 80% on all your course assignments, you’ll be rewarded with a fancy (and free) certificate<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Free Language Exchange Websites<\/h2>\n

The biggest secret to effective language learning isn’t a secret at all: You’ve gotta talk! And who better to talk with than a native speaker?<\/p>\n

It’s okay if you can’t hop on a plane this weekend\u2014instead, just click over to one of these websites, where you can connect with native speakers<\/a> of your target language for free.<\/p>\n

14. The Polyglot Club<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Chinese, Vietnamese, Turkish, Danish, French, Estonian and many more.<\/p>\n

\"free-language-learning-websites\"<\/a>The Polyglot Club is an awesome all-purpose language learning website with tons of free features for connecting with native speakers of your target language.<\/p>\n

You can find language exchange partners, submit written texts for correction, hang out in chat rooms, browse through target language videos and attend language events and meetups<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If you scroll all the way to the bottom of the link above, you’ll also find “from scratch” introduction courses to many common and not-so-common languages.<\/p>\n

15. Tandem<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Chinese, German and more.<\/p>\n

\"learn-language-websites-2\"<\/a>You can use Tandem to find your next language partner or interact with them directly through the app. You can also set your language levels to let other users know your proficiency before you connect.<\/p>\n

Tandem allows you to exchange audio calls, video calls, texts and voice messages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Tandem can even hook you up with text translations in the app if you need extra support to chat more easily, making Tandem a great choice for beginning learners.<\/p>\n

See our complete Tandem review here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Language Learning Websites for Reading Skills<\/h2>\n

As one of the major language skills, reading is a great way to both grow your abilities and practice what you’ve already learned.<\/p>\n

These free sites can help make reading in a foreign language<\/a> simpler and more efficient.<\/p>\n

16. Readlang<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Spanish, German, French, Russian, Polish, Norwegian and many more.<\/p>\n

\"learn-language-websites-2\"<\/a>Readlang downloadable web reader converts tons of authentic websites into powerful learning tools<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Once you’ve installed it, you can go to any website in your target language and click any word you don’t know for an instant translation. Words you click are saved so you can practice them with flashcards.<\/p>\n

Readlang also has some great content to get you started on the right path if you don’t feel like sourcing your own. You can filter the library selections by difficulty level, word count and category, too.<\/p>\n

17. Lingua.com<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Czech, Danish, Spanish, French, Turkish, Polish and more.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Lingua.com offers plenty of authentic reading material, like dialogues, short stories and articles<\/strong>.\u00a0Texts are conveniently organized by level.<\/p>\n

Readings are usually brief, and each is accompanied by questions to test your comprehension. Once you complete the questions, the website will suggest additional texts you might enjoy, making it easy to keep your reading practice going.<\/p>\n

If you prefer printed exercises, Lingua.com also offers printable PDFs that feature both the reading, associated questions and answers to the questions.<\/p>\n

Language Learning Websites for Writing Skills<\/h2>\n

Writing in your target language<\/a> will help you learn proper digital communication and give you practice producing the language on your own.<\/p>\n

Try out one of these websites to take your writing abilities for a spin for free.<\/p>\n

18. MyLanguageExchange.com<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Arabic, Hawaiian, Icelandic, Persian, Spanish, Chinese and many more.<\/p>\n

\"learn-language-websites-2\"<\/a>If you want a pen pal relationship to perfect your writing skills, you don’t have to sort through users who want speaking practice to find one. MyLanguageExchange.com has a page just for pen pals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This website focuses on connecting users for an email-based pen pal relationship<\/b>, and they provide helpful tips<\/a> to make sure you both get the most out of the exchange.<\/p>\n

You can browse for pen pals by language or country. An advanced search provides an even broader array of criteria, like city, age, gender and more.<\/p>\n

19. Reddit<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, German and more.<\/p>\n

\"learn-language-websites-2\"<\/a>Reddit can connect you with like-minded individuals<\/a> who are as passionate about your unique interests as you are. It’s also an awesome tool for practicing writing in your target language.<\/p>\n

There are several subreddits in foreign languages, so you can snag the writing (and reading) practice you’re looking for.<\/p>\n

And let’s be real\u2014someone will be prepared to correct your grammar. This is the internet, after all.<\/p>\n

Most foreign language forums are subreddits for foreign countries<\/strong>\u2014like the Italy subreddit<\/a>, the Mexico subreddit<\/a> or the Brasil subreddit<\/a>\u2014but there may be subreddits for learners of certain languages too, such as r\/LearnJapanese<\/a> or r\/German<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Free Websites for Getting Language Help<\/h2>\n

Perhaps you’re not ready to fork out money for a private tutor<\/a>, or you don’t have the time to attend language classes.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, though, you’ll run into questions you just can’t answer on your own\u2014that’s where these sites will come in handy.<\/p>\n

20. HiNative<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Turkish and more.<\/p>\n

\"hinative\"<\/a>HiNative is an innovative app that takes a nontraditional approach.<\/p>\n

Rather than giving you flashcards and courses or even facilitating Skype sessions, HiNative allows you to ask questions to native speakers<\/strong> of the language you’re learning.<\/p>\n

Whether it’s about the difference between two confusing words, getting a pronunciation check or figuring out how and when to use the subjunctive, just send a text and wait for a response.<\/p>\n

For more information, here’s our full review of HiNative<\/a>.<\/p>\n

21. italki<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> German, Korean, Hindi, Russian, Basque, Serbian and many, many more.<\/p>\n

\"free-language-learning-websites\"<\/a>italki is one of the biggest names for practicing your language skills online with native speakers.<\/p>\n

Designed for language learners to find native-speaking teachers and exchange partners via Skype or the online classroom, the free version of their service includes great benefits, including access to their learner community.<\/p>\n

This access allows you to connect with other learners, ask questions and receive corrections from native speakers<\/strong> of your target language.<\/p>\n

If you’re looking to invest a little more to have a private tutor or teacher at some point, you can do that on italki too<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can also read more about italki in our complete review<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Free Websites for Vocabulary and Flashcards<\/h2>\n

Learning vocabulary<\/a> is essential for language learning success, and these websites will help you do so\u2014efficiently!\u2014for free.<\/p>\n

22. Duolingo<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Japanese, Portuguese, Arabic, Welsh, Hebrew, German and more.<\/p>\n

\"duolingo\"<\/a>Duolingo’s user-friendly vocabulary games<\/strong> made language learning cool again.<\/p>\n

They use a gaming strategy to make sure you retain more of what you learn, and the truly dedicated will be rewarded by being asked to translate sentences of increasingly comical ridiculousness as they work up through the levels of their language.<\/p>\n

To learn more, see our complete Duolingo review here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

23. Memrise<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Spanish, Italian, Korean, Dutch, Mongolian, Yoruba and more.<\/p>\n

\"free-language-learning-websites\"<\/a>Memrise gives you a more hands-on option for flashcard learning.<\/p>\n

You can use the cards provided by Memrise and its users, or you can create your own mnemonic devices<\/strong> by composing and finding images for your own cards.<\/p>\n

Somehow, repetition doesn’t seem so repetitive when you can turn all your flashcards into irreverent memes and personal in-jokes tailored to you and your own brain.<\/p>\n

See our full review of Memrise here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

24. Digital Dialects<\/a><\/h3>\n

Available languages:<\/strong> Afrikaans, Filipino, Japanese, French, Hungarian, Polish and more.<\/p>\n

\"free-language-learning-websites\"<\/a>For beginners and those suffering from 90s nostalgia, Digital Dialects is a techno-retro online game site<\/strong> with animated and interactive lessons in dozens of languages.<\/p>\n

Listen to the voice as it names fruits, click them and drag them into a basket, or match English phrases to those in your target language.<\/p>\n

It’s a simple platform free of distraction, and it offers that old-school vibe for the Nintendo\u00a0kids who still have a knack for learning in 16-bit.<\/p>\n

Free Learning Websites for Specific Languages<\/h2>\n

If you already know which language you’re going to study<\/a>, perhaps one of these free language-specific sites can help you get started.<\/p>\n

25. French: The French Experiment<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>Free French lessons, stories, reviews and cats!<\/p>\n

This site is full of incredible digital artwork and helpful French content<\/strong>. Alongside 15 free lessons for beginners, there’s user-friendly stories (like “The Three Little Pigs”) complete with French, English translations and adorable illustrations.<\/p>\n

You can find more free online French lessons here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

26. German: DeutschAkademie<\/a><\/em><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>DeutschAkademie<\/em> (German Academy) has helpful audio clips, interactive lessons and links to in-person courses<\/strong> in Berlin and other parts of Central Europe.<\/p>\n

Note that the website is fully in German\u2014but if you scroll down to the sections titles “Gratis Online-Deutschkurs”<\/em> (Free Online German Course) and “Gratis Deutsch Audiokurs A1”<\/em> (Free German Audio Course A1), you should be able to find your way around.<\/p>\n

For more resources, check out our in-depth post about how to learn German for free<\/a>.<\/p>\n

27. Spanish: 123 Teach Me<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"free-language-learning-websites\"<\/a>A mega-resource for all things Spanish<\/strong>, including free online games, courses, word of the day and a handy verb conjugator.<\/p>\n

Lessons include grammar explanations, review quizzes and native speaker audio. You can find content for absolute beginners all the way up to intermediate level Spanish.<\/p>\n

There are more tips and resources in our full guide to learning Spanish for free<\/a>.<\/p>\n

28. Chinese: Chinese-Tools.com<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>Start learning Mandarin with this free 30-lesson online course<\/strong>, covering everything from greetings, discussing jobs, talking about sports and more.<\/p>\n

There’s also a Chinese dictionary, multiple phrasebook and writing lessons, as well as plenty of information about Chinese culture, like calligraphy, astrology and traveling in China.<\/p>\n

Our guide to learning Mandarin online for free<\/a> will give you even more resources to explore.\u00a0<\/p>\n

29. Portuguese: Learn Portuguese with Rafa<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>Beyond introductory lessons on topics like counting and ordering food, Rafa maintains a sidebar full of links on everything from traditional recipes to doing business in Portuguese.<\/p>\n

There’s a whole host of Portuguese information<\/strong> on this site\u2014including further resources for your studies.<\/p>\n

Check out our full blog post to explore more free Portuguese learning resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n

30. Japanese: NHK World<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"free-language-learning-websites\"<\/a>This Japanese public broadcaster maintains its own online magazine that includes language lessons, audio clips and video resources<\/strong> for learners.<\/p>\n

There are dozens of short lessons, typically including audio for pronunciation, a script and grammar tips.<\/p>\n

If you’re more of an app person, check out this post on free Japanese apps<\/a> for more budget-friendly options.<\/p>\n

31. Arabic: Arabic Online<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

You can start learning Arabic on this easy-to-use website from the European Union.<\/p>\n

Arabic Online aims to help beginners familiarize themselves with the language<\/strong>, and it offers several paid courses beyond the beginner level.<\/p>\n

How to Learn a Language with Free Websites<\/h2>\n

Using free resources to learn your target language may take a bit of extra organizing on your part in order to get the most out of the experience. You can and should:<\/p>\n