Duolingo

duolingo.com

Duolingo is one of the most popular free language learning platforms in the world, offering bite-sized lessons in dozens of languages—including German, French, and Italian, which are three of Switzerland’s four national languages. Designed to be fun, flexible, and user-friendly, Duolingo teaches vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure through gamified exercises that feel more like playing a game than studying. Its courses are structured progressively, so you can start as an absolute beginner and work your way toward conversational fluency. There’s also a paid version (Duolingo Plus) for an ad-free experience and extra features, but everything essential is available for free.

Why It’s Useful:
For many Swiss citizens born or raised abroad, returning to Switzerland can come with a significant language barrier—especially if you were not raised speaking one of the national languages. Even though Switzerland has a large population that speaks English, life in Switzerland still runs largely in German, French, Italian, and Romansh (depending on the canton). Whether you’re applying for jobs, signing a lease, enrolling in school, or even reading official government correspondence, basic knowledge of the local language can make day-to-day life far smoother.

Duolingo is a perfect starting point for those who may feel disconnected from their linguistic roots. It offers an approachable and low-pressure way to begin learning the language spoken in your future region of residence. If you’re not sure which language to study, start by identifying your destination: Zürich, Bern, and Basel are German-speaking; Geneva and Lausanne speak French; Lugano and parts of Ticino speak Italian. Romansh is much more limited in use but still culturally important.

Duolingo’s structure allows you to learn at your own pace. Whether you have 5 minutes a day or 30, the app makes it easy to build a habit and gain real-world vocabulary that’s useful for everyday living. It also offers speaking and listening exercises, so you can train your ear to the local accent and pronunciation, which is particularly helpful for Swiss German dialects, which can differ slightly from standard German.

How to Use/Tips:
Go to duolingo.com or download the Duolingo app on your phone. After creating a free account, select the language you want to learn. You’ll be asked if you’re a beginner or if you already know some of the language. From there, the app will place you at the appropriate level or start you from the beginning. You can set a daily goal—anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes a day—and Duolingo will track your streaks, progress, and even send you reminders to keep up with your learning.

The lessons start with basic words and phrases like greetings, food, and common verbs. As you progress, you’ll encounter more complex grammar, verb conjugations, sentence construction, and real-world conversations. Duolingo also includes a “stories” section and “podcasts” for more immersive learning experiences.

While Duolingo won’t make you fluent on its own, it’s an excellent foundation for building confidence and acquiring enough vocabulary to start speaking and understanding basic everyday language. As you grow more comfortable, you may consider transitioning to more advanced courses, language exchange groups, or even formal in-person classes offered by local Swiss integration offices.

For Swiss citizens who may feel like outsiders linguistically, Duolingo is a free, friendly, and flexible way to begin closing that gap—helping you feel more connected to the culture, people, and daily life of the country you call home.