Learning a new language comes naturally to children — their brains are brilliant at soaking up new sounds, words and patterns, especially when they start young. If you’d like to introduce a second (or third!) language to your family, a good app or website can make it feel like play rather than homework.
We’ve rounded up some of the best language learning apps and websites for kids, covering everything from toddler-friendly video lessons to sign language, Mandarin, Irish and beyond. Here’s where to start.
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Language Learning Apps and Websites for Kids
Little Pim
First up is Little Pim, an app that makes several foreign languages easy and accessible for children up to the age of six.
There’s also a section for parents to keep track of their children’s learning and reinforce what’s already been taught.
Available for iOS and Android.
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Gus On The Go
Gus On The Go is an interactive language learning app complete with lessons and games. Join Gus the friendly owl as he travels the world exploring different languages, including Spanish, French, Cantonese, Japanese, Italian, German, English and Mandarin, among others.
Each app teaches over 90 words through fun, educational activities. It’s easy to navigate, and children earn achievements by completing games for their very own trophy room.
Available for iOS.
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PetraLingua
PetraLingua offers foreign language courses for kids online, including German, English, Russian, Chinese, Spanish and French.
Using multimedia video and interactive games, it teaches children 500 basic words across 20 everyday topics.
It’s available online and in complete language learning sets with DVDs, CDs, activity books and games, and you can try a free lesson before buying a course.
SuperHands
Children have all sorts of different abilities, so we’ve included SuperHands, which teaches a non-verbal language. SuperHands is a sign language app for babies and young children.
SuperHands helps parents and carers teach simple signs so babies can communicate their needs before they learn to talk. The app builds up that natural ability to gesture things like “hungry”, “book” and “drink”.
Available for iOS and Android.
Duolingo
Duolingo remains one of the most popular language learning apps around, and it’s well suited to older kids and teens as well as adults. It teaches reading, writing, listening and speaking together, using short, game-like lessons that keep things engaging — users lose a “life” when they get something wrong and earn points for completing a lesson.
You can learn Spanish, German, English, Italian and many other languages through the app.
Available for iOS and Android.
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FluentU
FluentU describes itself as home to some of the web’s best foreign language content, teaching Chinese, Spanish, French, German and more.
FluentU offers a free trial before moving to a paid plan, with content including videos, quizzes and audio dialogue. Check the FluentU website directly for current trial length and pricing.
Available for iOS and Android.
Muzzy BBC
Muzzy BBC is an award-winning language website for kids, loved by families worldwide. It teaches Spanish, English, Italian, Korean, German, Chinese and French.
Muzzy is taught through episodes, using a natural immersion approach of “see and listen, say and learn”. It introduces over 1,200 words and suits all ages, including toddlers and preschoolers.
Kids Learn Mandarin
Kids Learn Mandarin is a word learning app for children aged 2–8. It teaches key Chinese vocabulary, including numbers, colours and shapes, through games.
The free version of the app includes 8 games, a song and collectable sticker activities, with additional lessons available to purchase separately.
Cúla4
Cúla4 offers a wide range of Irish language content for children in the pre-school and primary school age groups, making it a great choice for kids learning Irish.
The Cúla4 app lets younger viewers watch Irish language content whenever suits them (or you), including well-loved series such as Dennis & Gnasher, Peg & Cat and Masha agus an Béar, alongside original Irish language content like Is Eolaí Mé and Na Dúlradóirí.
Available for iOS and Android.
Don’t Forget About Google Translate!
And finally, maybe your child doesn’t want to learn a whole new language but just needs to know a particular word. Sometimes kids put you on the spot and want a word translated on the spot — that’s when Google Translate is your best friend. Simply type in a word and it will translate it into almost any language you need, quickly and for free.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age should my child start using a language learning app?
Many of the apps above are designed with very young children in mind, some from as young as one or two years old, using video, songs and repetition rather than reading. Older children can move on to more structured apps like Duolingo once they’re comfortable reading and typing.
Are these language learning apps free?
Several apps here, including Little Pim, Gus On The Go, Kids Learn Mandarin and Cúla4, offer free content with optional paid extras. Others, like FluentU and PetraLingua, offer a free trial before moving to a paid plan. Check each app or website directly for current pricing.
Which app is best for learning Irish?
Cúla4 is a strong choice for Irish, offering a large library of Irish language shows and original programming aimed at pre-school and primary school children.
Can an app really teach my child a language on its own?
Apps are a great way to build vocabulary, confidence and interest, but they work best alongside real conversation, whether that’s with family, friends, or at school. Think of them as a fun supplement rather than a full replacement for practice.
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Over to you now — does your child enjoy a language learning app we haven’t included here? Tell us in the comments below.
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