The 9 Best Apps to Learn Irish in a Flash

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Dia dhuit! If you want to learn Irish, a language app can be a great place to start. They’re a convenient and entertaining way to study. We’ve put together a list of the best apps to learn Irish. Some focus on specific skills while others offer an all-around approach to language learning. No matter your level or reason for studying Irish, you’re sure to find an app that’s a good fit for you on this list.

While English is the most common language used for daily communication in Ireland, Irish is the first official language of the country. In recent years, the government has made efforts to promote the use of the language. It was announced that 20% of all new government employees must be proficient in Irish by 2030, and 20% of all public advertising must be in Irish. And in 2021, Irish was declared an official and working language of the European Union.

Learning Irish can also be a way to connect with your heritage. It’s estimated that there are about one million Irish migrants living abroad in countries like England, USA, and Australia among others. But many more people have Irish descent. Over 70 million people worldwide have Irish ancestry or heritage. In the United States alone, 35 million people claim Irish ancestry.

What Are The Best Apps To Learn Irish?

To find the best apps to learn Irish, I first identified which apps offer Irish. Since it’s not one of the most spoken languages in the world, there are fewer options available than other languages like Spanish or French. Then, I read reviews on trusted websites like G2 and Trustpilot to see what users thought about them. After that, I tested out the apps to see which ones are the best, and how they can help you learn.

In the table below you’ll find the best apps to learn Irish. Scroll down to learn more about each one.

Best Overall Irish App	Pimsleur
Best for Grammar	Mango Languages
Best for Speaking Practice	italki
Best for Immersive Learning	Rosetta Stone
Best for Vocabulary	Ling App
Best for Pronunciation	Irish Gaelic by Nemo
Best for Gamified Experience	Caoga Caoga
Best for Intermediate Learners	Clozemaster
Best Free Irish App	Duolingo

Pimsleur is the best overall app to learn Irish because it focuses on speaking and pronunciation. In each lesson, you listen to a conversation between two Irish speakers. Then, they break down what was said so you understand and practice speaking along with them.

The lessons are audio-based so you can listen wherever and whenever you want. There are also supplemental activities for each lesson to practice what you learned. The Pimsleur Irish course isn’t as extensive as some of the other languages they offer, but it’s a great way to begin learning. You can try Pimsleur for free with a 7-day trial or learn more about the app in this Pimsleur review.

Key Features

• Audio lessons
• Focus on pronunciation and conversation
• Start speaking from the very first lesson

Pricing

There is a free 7-day trial that gives you access to all of Pimsleur’s features. If you enjoy it, a Pimsleur subscription costs between $14.99 and $20.99 per month for access to all languages. You can also buy the complete Irish course with a one-time payment of $49.99.

Mango Languages is a good choice for Irish learners because it has a set course that builds upon what you learned in the previous lessons. It covers the basics and helps you build a strong foundation in the language. The app is easy to use and the content is high-quality. It’s more than just flashcards and random phrases.

Mango Languages’ lessons are easy to complete and have interesting cultural notes. Mango teaches natural speech and shows the understood translation and the literal translation so you know why you are saying something in a colloquial way versus a direct translation.

Try Mango Languages for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Mango Languages review.

Key Features

• Easy-to-follow course
• Variety of lesson activities
• Learn through repetition

Pricing

You can subscribe to the Mango Languages app for $7.99 per month to access one language or $17.99 per month to access all languages available. But the monthly price is cheaper if you purchase a yearly subscription. There’s a free 14-day trial that lets you test out the app, so you can see if you enjoy using it.

The italki platform helps connect you with experienced Irish tutors. There are only a few Irish tutors on italki, but they all have excellent reviews from past students. You can find a tutor that’s right for you by reviewing their profile, watching an introduction video, and reading past student reviews.

Tutors set their own price so you’re sure to find someone that fits your budget. italki is a secure platform that will keep your personal data safe. You can learn more about italki in this review.

Key Features

• Flexible way to learn
• Focus on speaking and conversation
• Take live classes whenever you want
• Customize how you want to study

Pricing

Tutors set their own prices on italki, and Irish lessons generally cost between $15.00-$30.00 per hour. Most tutors also offer discounted trial lessons to see if they’re a good fit for you. That way, you can try out a few tutors to see who is the best choice for you.

Rosetta Stone provides an immersive way to learn because the lessons are entirely in Irish without translations. You learn the language the way a child would, through context. The lessons are short, around 10 minutes, so you won’t feel overwhelmed.

In the interactive lessons, you’ll see pictures and hear pronunciation by native speakers. The words and phrases gradually build up during the lesson. Voice recognition technology helps you see how accurate your pronunciation is. Try Rosetta Stone for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Rosetta Stone review.

Key Features

• No translations
• Short, interactive lessons
• Listen to native speakers during the lessons

Pricing

Rosetta Stone costs $36.00 for a 3-month subscription and is cheaper if you buy a longer subscription. You can use a free 3-day trial of the Rosetta Stone Irish course to see if you like it before purchasing.

The Ling App is an excellent choice if you want to learn Irish vocabulary quickly. The lessons consist of interactive practice activities that help you learn new words in an entertaining way.

There are also audio pronunciations of the words and phrases, which can help you improve your listening skills. Repeating the correct pronunciation will help you sound more like a native speaker. Overall, it’s a simple, yet effective, app. You can learn more in this Ling App review.

Key Features

• Useful way to learn vocabulary quickly
• Fun, interactive lessons
• Audio recorded by native speakers

Pricing

You can access the first 8 lessons for free in the Ling App. A subscription costs $8.99 per month or $54.99 per year for access to all of the content.

Irish Gaelic by Nemo (ioS) or Nemo Irish Gaelic (Android) is a straightforward app for learning useful words and phrases. The lessons are simple and mostly involve listening, pronunciation practice, and reading. The free version of the app lets you learn more than 100 of the most common words and phrases, but there is an upgrade available if you want access to the 1,200+ words and phrases on the app.

It’s a great app for pronunciation because you can select different modes such as Voice Power Trainer mode and compare your voice recordings to a native speaker, or the Accent Inspector mode to fine tune your accent.

Key Features

• Learn thousands of words and phrases
• Different activities make learning more interesting
• Perfect your pronunciation

Pricing

You can download the Irish Gaelic by Nemo app for free. This version includes access to all the different practice activities for 6 units, or 101 words and phrases. If you want access to all content, which includes 32 units with over 1,200 words and phrases, you can purchase an upgrade for $11.99.

Caoga Caoga is basically a game that helps you learn Irish vocabulary. There are different categories of words that you learn through a progression of activities. It begins with choosing the correct word for the picture and increases to you writing and multiple choice questions.

Unlike other apps, you can also choose which regional dialect you want to focus on (there are three options). While the Caoga Caoga app alone probably won’t get you fluent in Irish, it’s a fun way to start learning.

Key Features

• Learn useful vocabulary words
• Feels like a game so you’ll want to keep learning
• Free!

Pricing

The Caoga Caoga app is completely free.

Clozemaster is an app that teaches Irish through context. There aren’t long explanations, and you learn by using words in a natural way. There are tons of practice sentences and you choose the correct word to complete the sentence. You can choose multiple choice mode or, for a challenge, type the word in yourself.

It’s a simple app but is great for learning vocabulary. Its straightforward design makes it easy to practice and can be done on the go. It’s not comprehensive, so you’ll probably need another app to learn all aspects of Irish, but it’s a useful supplement to add to your language learning routine.

Try Clozemaster for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Clozemaster review.

Key Features

• Thousands of practice sentences
• Learn words in context
• Natural sentences and phrases

Pricing

You can use Clozemaster for free to practice 30 sentences per day. To have unlimited access, Clozemaster Pro costs $8.99 per month or $69.99 per year.

Duolingo is the best free app to learn Irish because its course is quite extensive. There are many lessons available that mostly have multiple choice and translation actvities. There is some grammar practice available, and it’s mostly taught in context, not through lengthy explanations.

Duolingo is gamified to make learning fun and motivates you to keep studying. There’s also a social aspect that connects with your friends to encourage them to keep learning.

Try Duolingo for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Duolingo review.

Key Features

• Quick, interactive lessons lessons
• Many features to keep you motivated
• Completely free!

Pricing

The Irish course on Duolingo is free, but it’s ad-supported so there are ads that interrupt your learning. There is an ad-free version, Super Duolingo, for $12.00 per month, or $83.99 per year ($6.99 per month). You can try Super Duolingo for free for 14 days.

Why You Should Use Apps To Learn Irish

If you want to learn Irish, a language app is a great place to start. It can be difficult to find an in-person class or tutor, and apps make learning the language accessible to everyone. Most offer an inexpensive monthly subscription and can teach you the basics from the comfort of your home.

They are also comprehensive. Most apps help you practice all language learning skills like reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Many apps even have speech recognition technology to let you know if you are saying the words correctly. While an app can never replace a qualified teacher, it can help you start learning Irish quickly.

How To Use Apps To Learn Irish

The first step is to find the right app for you. First, you should consider your learning style. Do you want to listen to an audio lesson on your commute to work? Do you want to learn a few words and phrases for an upcoming trip? Identifying your goals is the first step to choosing an app.

Using this list, you can find 2 or 3 apps that might be right for you. Since most apps offer a free trial, you can test them out to see if they fit your learning style. After you sign up for the app you like best, the rest is up to you. It helps to have a learning routine. You can dedicate a few minutes every day, or a slightly longer amount of time a couple of days per week that you set aside to learn Irish. As with any language, it takes dedication and practice to reach a conversational level.

Best Apps To Learn Irish: Final Thoughts

There are many reasons to learn Irish. Whatever your reason, you can use this list to guide you to the right app that will help you on your language journey. Once you identify your language goals, finding the right app is a snap. The apps on this list are high-quality choices that provide an interactive and interesting learning experience. Good luck, or as they say in Irish, Go n-eirí an t-ádh leat!

Best Apps To Learn Irish: FAQ