Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Learn a new language (or 14) with Babbel app for desktop, iOS, Android

babbel language app screen shot 2017 01 14 at 1 29 44 pm
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The path to polyglotism may just be an app away. Babbel is a language app that promises to help users expand their linguistic horizons by learning up to 14 different languages. Available on the web, iOS, and Android, the app provides digestible lessons that you can fit into even the busiest of schedules.

With more than a million paying subscribers to the app, Babbel seeks to empower users to start speaking in new tongues. Lessons are divided into real-world topics — you’ll learn how to introduce yourself, order food, and make travel arrangements, so that each word and phrase you use can serve a logistical purpose. This, Babbel says, is to ensure that students can start having real, meaningful conversations as soon as possible.

While learning a language may seem like a serious time investment, Babbel promises to develop your vocabulary with just a few minutes every day. More than 100 linguists and education experts developed a methodical approach to language, building upon what students already know within their own language in order to teach them a new one. That, the company behind the app claim, allows for engaging ways of teaching grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Babbel also features a voice recognition tool so that new speakers aren’t mispronouncing words.

In a survey of its users, Babbel found that 73 percent of customers said they’d feel comfortable holding a short conversation within five hours of using the app. But most of Babbel’s customers remain subscribers to the app for more than a year, as it continues to “motivate and empower” them to succeed in their linguistic endeavors.

So whether you’ve planned a vacation in a foreign country, are looking to impress your significant other’s parents, or are just hoping to brush up on your old high school Spanish skills, Babbel may just be the app for you.

Download for iOS Download for Android

Editors' Recommendations

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
8 iPhone browser apps you should use instead of Safari
iPhone browser apps

By default, the Safari web browser is available on every iPhone, including the iPhone 15 series. Nevertheless, several other web-browsing options can be found on the App Store, each with at least one unique feature that distinguishes it from the others. While some web browser apps like Google Chrome, DuckDuckGo, and Microsoft Edge might already be familiar to you, others such as Aloha and Arc Search may not be.

If you're looking for a Safari alternative, here are our favorite iPhone browser apps you should consider using instead.
Google Chrome

Read more
Apple Sports app looks to rule live scores and stats on iOS
The Apple Sports app on an iPhone.

As if what it's done with MLS Season Pass wasn't proof enough that Apple is serious about sports, today we have another example. Enter Apple Sports, a new app for iPhone that aims to be the only app you'll need for live sports scores, real-time stats, and more.

Apple Sports is available today in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Inside it you'll find the likes of MLS, NBA, college basketball, Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Liga MX, Ligue 1, and Serie A — and that's just for starters. We're still in the offseason for sports like Major League Baseball, the NFL and college football, and the National Women's Soccer League and WNBA, but you'll see them all in Apple Sports once games begin.

Read more
The best iPhone and Android apps for Black History Month 2024
best iPhone and Android apps for Black History Month.

February is celebrated as Black History Month to honor Black Americans' remarkable achievements and contributions. The theme for this year is "African Americans and the Arts," which shines a light on the impact of African Americans in different artistic fields, such as cultural expression, visual and performing arts, fashion, literature, and more.

In this regard, we present a list of popular iOS and Android apps developed by Black-owned businesses and cover various topics such as finance, entertainment, wellness, and more. These apps run on all the latest smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro.
Calendly

Read more