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Icelandic or “Íslenska” is a rich language that’s deeply connected to Old Norse. Honing decades of mythology, folklore, and literature, it certainly has a lot to offer—both historically and culturally.
However, if your first move is to install Duolingo, then I’ve got bad news for you: There is no Duolingo Icelandic course, nor are there any plans of making one at this time.
But don’t let that stop you. Rather than relying on Duolingo, you can instead try out these great Duolingo alternatives and get the Icelandic lessons you so desire—right here and right now!
Why is there no Icelandic on Duolingo?
Does Duolingo have Icelandic? Despite the uproar on online forums, the developers are yet to produce this course.
With that in mind, I’ve speculated on some possibilities as to why that may be the case:
Icelandic is a complex language for English speakers
Icelandic is rated a “hard” language for English speakers, with the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) giving it a Category III ranking.
Since it’s an Indo-European language, its words are extremely long, use complex conjugations, and have distinct pronunciations. This is likely because it retains archaic characteristics of Old Norse and refrains from loanwords.
In short, it’s incomparable to English. That being said, there is no Duolingo Icelandic course since it could be too complex to be taught using mini-games and leaderboards alone.
I suppose the app has to modify and restructure its approach, in order to teach it effectively.
Duolingo ended their volunteer contributor arrangement
Last 2021, the company announced the end of its volunteer contributor program, effectively shutting down the Duolingo Incubator. Instead, they will be relying on their employees to create and facilitate lesson content.
In light of this development, they probably can’t make an Icelandic course due to the lack of in-house professionals. Given that it’s already hard to learn, attempting to teach the language without the right expertise would only be counterproductive.
Plans on Icelandic Duolingo seem nonexistent for the time being. But, given the lingering demand from students and online communities, there is no reason to delay this any further.
Apps to learn Icelandic other than Duolingo
Luckily, there are many Icelandic learning apps out there—and we’re not just talking about Duolingo! Filled with games, media, and multi-level courses, these three alternatives can get your studies up and running.
1. Pimsleur
Get FREE access to Pimsleur Icelandic
Studying colloquial Icelandic is crucial, especially if you plan on engaging with native speakers.
Using Pimsleur’s core audio lessons, you’ll learn to read, speak, and understand the language in an authentic, stress-free manner. Incorporating a scientifically-backed method with its material, the app guarantees that you’ll be proficient and speaking comfortably by the end of it.
Compared to Duolingo, this app has more focus on conversational skills and incorporates more dialogue into its course.
Learn more about Pimsleur with this review.
Key features:
- Daily 30-minute audio lessons
- Comes with digital flashcards and speed round games
- Based on the effective Pimsleur Method
2. Glossika
Learn Icelandic on Glossika
There’s no denying that vocabulary is most important to your studies.The innovative Glossika app helps but not with usual word lists.
Instead, Glossika uses a “mass sentence approach” to expose you to thousands of sentences in Icelandic, covering a wide range of topics and situations. You will learn how to speak Icelandic fluently and confidently, without memorizing grammar rules or vocabulary lists.
Plus, Glossika trains you through a spaced repetition system, reviewing the sentences you have learned at optimal intervals, based on your performance and memory. This way, you will not forget what you have learned and you will progress faster.
Key features:
- Learn thousands of Icelandic sentences
- Hands-free listening-only mode trains both listening and speaking skills
- Teaches vocabulary that’s relevant to your interests
3. Memrise
Learn Icelandic on Memrise
To set things straight, Memrise has an official Icelandic course as well as community-generated courses tackling vocabulary, grammar, and dialogue tutorials to get you started all the same.
Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you’ll gain access to a variety of learning material—more than what Duolingo typically offers, in fact!
Packed with several lessons, games, and media—overall, this app makes a decent add-on to your studies.
Key features:
- Icelandic language courses, games, and media
- Content made for different fluency levels
- Free to access
Other great resources to learn Icelandic
The sky’s the limit! In just a simple search, you’ll find that there are dozens of online resources that can help you learn Icelandic, from apps to books and more. Here are some of my faves:
Cudoo: A great tool for mastering Icelandic, Cudoo offers three levels of Icelandic courses and a special Business Icelandic course. There’s also a bundle course that covers all four aforementioned courses. Each course is packed with lessons on vocabulary, grammar, and tips on pronunciation. And when you’re done, you get a certificate of completion!
IcelandicOnline.com: This website features six online courses conceptualized by the University of Iceland for self-teaching. Inside, you’ll find oral and written texts, interactive exercises, supplementary resources, and more!
RUV: Owned by the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, this platform lets you read Icelandic news articles and stream the latest broadcasts.
Beginner’s Icelandic: Should you want a more practical introduction to Icelandic, then this dialogue-heavy book will definitely come in handy! The lessons here are centered on colloquialisms and common expressions.
italki: italki hosts a wide range of tutors you can personally choose from! Find a conversation partner or a professional tutor who can provide you with structured lesson plans.
Complete Icelandic: Designed for beginners and intermediates, this fast-paced workbook will get you through Icelandic vocabulary, grammar, dialogue, and pronunciation straight away!
Preply: Although Preply only has a couple of Icelandic tutors onboard, they’re expert tutors with glowing reviews. Whether you need help with general Icelandic lessons or want to hone in on pronunciation, it’s worth enlisting Preply’s help!
Viltu læra íslensku? Are you the type to watch videos while reviewing? Check out this 21-episode series of delightful Icelandic skits.
Mimir: Split into nine sections, this webpage serves as a quick grammar reference for students. It contains brief tutorials and exercises.
Beygingarlýsing Íslensks Nútímamáls: On this website, you’ll find information on Icelandic vocabulary, conjugations, and declensions, provided by the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies.
Conclusion
Duo, Duo, Duo…I’m sure we’re all familiar with this notoriously competitive platform, what with its lively word games and intense, streak-based leaderboard.
Unfortunately, not all languages—like Icelandic—are featured on this app. But that shouldn’t be the end of it, not when there are other Icelandic language apps, books, media, and games to choose from. Starting with these alternatives, you’ll get your lessons with less cost and more fun!
