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If you opened Duolingo hoping to learn Yorùbá, you're not alone. "Learn Yoruba Duolingo" and "Is there Duolingo for Yoruba?" are common Google searches. This guide explains what's available instead, what each option is good and not good for, and how to combine them so you actually end up speaking.
Does Duolingo have Yorùbá?
No. We checked Duolingo's full course list on 24 October 2026. It includes African languages such as Swahili and Zulu, but not Yorùbá, despite Yorùbá having around 48 million first-language speakers.
That leaves Yorùbá learners piecing together their own mix of apps, courses and real conversation. The good news is that the mix can work better than any single app.
The main ways to learn Yorùbá, compared
| Option | Examples | Best for | Cost | What it won't do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary apps | Memrise, Drops, Ling, uTalk | Learning words and phrases in short daily sessions | Most have a free version or free lessons, with paid upgrades | Get you holding real conversations with people |
| Audio-lesson app | Nkenne | Listening practice on the go, including offline | Free first lessons; paid Premium, which includes live tutoring | Replace regular conversation with other speakers |
| Free courses and books | FSI Yorùbá course, textbooks like Colloquial Yoruba | Structured grammar, reading and writing | Free (FSI) or the price of a book | Talk back to you or correct your speaking. Some materials are dated |
| YouTube lessons | Channels such as Blessing Kayode's Yorùbá lessons | Free listening, pronunciation and everyday phrases | Free | Hear you, correct you or keep you accountable |
| Private tutors | Tutor marketplaces like Preply, or a local teacher | One-to-one attention at flexible times | Paid per hour; prices vary widely | Give you practice with other learners. Quality depends on the tutor |
| Schools and university courses | Online Yorùbá schools; university courses such as SOAS in London | Steady, structured progress, including reading and writing | Varies; university courses usually need enrolment | Fit easily around a busy job. Some focus more on grammar than conversation |
| Live speaking groups | Soro | Adults who already understand Yorùbá and need to speak it | Monthly or quarterly plans | Teach complete beginners from zero |
| Family and community | Parents, elders, friends, religious and community gatherings | Real-life practice and cultural context | Free | Always give you a safe place to make mistakes. Many people switch to English to help |
Why apps alone won't make you fluent
Apps are good at one thing: helping you recognise and remember words. You see a word, pick an answer, match a picture. That trains recognition, which is the skill most heritage speakers already have.
Speaking needs a different skill: pulling words out of memory on your own, putting them in order and saying them with the right tones while someone waits. Some apps now offer AI conversation partners, which are useful for rehearsing. But real speaking confidence comes from real conversations with real people, where the topic changes and the other person reacts.
Use an app for words. Use people for speaking.
Which option is right for you?
Start from your situation, not from the tool.
"I understand Yorùbá but can't speak it." Your gap is speaking, so put weekly live conversation first and use an app only to fill vocabulary gaps. Read why you understand Yorùbá but can't speak it.
"I'm a complete beginner." You need structure: a course, a school or a tutor, plus a vocabulary app and daily listening. Start speaking early with the phrases you learn. Read is Yorùbá hard to learn?
"I want to learn with my partner." Learning together keeps you both going, and gives you a daily practice partner at home. Soro's Tọ́kọ Tàyà plan puts the two of you in a private group with your own guide.
"I'm on a tight budget." Combine free tools: YouTube lessons, the free FSI course, Yorùbá films and music, BBC News Yorùbá and regular conversations with family. Add paid help when you can.
"I want my children to speak Yorùbá." Look for classes or tutors who teach children, and speak Yorùbá at home as much as you can, even imperfectly. Children copy what they hear around them.
A simple weekly plan that combines them
You don't have to choose just one option. This mix covers words, listening and speaking in about two hours a week.
| How often | What to do | What it builds |
|---|---|---|
| Every day, 10 minutes | An app, or your own list of words you needed this week | Vocabulary |
| Every day, 10 to 20 minutes | A Yorùbá film scene, song or news clip, listened to actively | Your ear for tones and natural phrases |
| Every day, a few minutes | Talk to yourself or send a Yorùbá voice note | The habit of speaking |
| Once a week, 1 hour | A live conversation with people at your level, led by a fluent guide | Speaking confidence |
| Once a week | A phone call with family, in Yorùbá for as long as you can | Real-life practice |
For a fuller plan, see how to speak Yorùbá fluently: a step-by-step guide.
Where Soro fits
Soro is the speaking part of the mix. It's a live programme for adults who already understand Yorùbá but don't speak it with confidence.
- Groups of three, so everyone gets time to talk.
- One hour, every week, online at the time slot you choose.
- A friendly Atọ́nísọ̀nà (guide) who keeps the conversation going and corrects you kindly.
- No streaks, no scores. Just conversation, and no one making fun of your mistakes.
Questions people ask
Does Duolingo have Yorùbá?
No. As of October 2026, Yorùbá isn't on Duolingo's course list, though Swahili and Zulu are.
Will Duolingo add Yorùbá?
We don't know. There's no Yorùbá course on Duolingo's course list as of October 2026, and we're not aware of one being announced. Other apps already teach Yorùbá, so there's no need to wait.
What is the best app to learn Yorùbá?
It depends on what you need. Memrise, Drops, Ling and uTalk are built for vocabulary and phrases. Nkenne focuses on audio lessons. No app replaces speaking with real people, so pair any app with regular conversation.
Is there a free app to learn Yorùbá?
Yes. Most Yorùbá apps have a free version or free first lessons, with paid upgrades for more content.
Is there a free Yorùbá course?
Yes. The FSI Yorùbá course, originally made for US government staff, is free online with audio. Many YouTube channels also teach Yorùbá for free.
Can I learn Yorùbá with Google Translate?
It helps with single words, but it isn't a way to learn to speak. Check translations with a fluent speaker, especially the tone marks.
What's the best way to learn Yorùbá online?
Combine an app for words, daily listening, and a weekly live conversation with people at your level. If you already understand Yorùbá, the live conversation matters most.
Ready to start speaking?
One live class with two others at your level, led by an Atọ́nísọ̀nà.