Who is the app designed for?
Learn Dutch is created for beginners, children, parents, heritage speakers and anyone discovering Dutch for the first time. No prior knowledge is needed.
FAQ
Learn Dutch FAQ
General
How do I start learning?
The most important thing is simply to start and to repeat. Pick a Learning Deck that interests you and explore the words with images, transliteration and audio. As new words are introduced, the app brings them back at the right time so they stick.
Do I need to know Dutch spelling before learning?
No. You can start learning right away. We provide clear spelling, audio and IPA to help you speak confidently from day one. The app also offers dedicated alphabet practice step by step.
Are pronunciations spoken by native speakers?
Yes. Audio is planned around native Dutch pronunciation so you can hear the natural rhythm, melody and pronunciation of the language.
How can I improve my pronunciation?
Listen to the native audio, repeat at your own pace, and use flashcards to reinforce sound and meaning. The more your ear gets used to Dutch, the easier speaking becomes.
How can I support my learning journey?
Explore a few words each day, repeat the audio and return to review your favourites, review-needed list, or I Don't Know list. Small moments of practice build confidence over time.
Children
Is this app suitable for children?
Yes. Learn Dutch is ad-free, simple to navigate, voice-guided, and uses friendly imagery. It works beautifully for multilingual families. Words marked as not kid friendly are hidden in Child Mode.
Word Learning System
How does the learning system work?
We use a modern spaced repetition scheduler. It learns per word and predicts when you are more likely to forget, then schedules reviews just in time. The goal is high long-term recall with minimal effort.
What are the learning stages?
Stages reflect how long we can wait before showing a word again. New means you have not reviewed the word yet. Introduced means the next interval is under 14 days. Familiar is 14 to 49 days. Learned is 50 to 99 days. Solid is 100 to 199 days. Mastered is 200 to 364 days. Grootmeester is 365 plus days. A card can also have the tag Improve when it needs extra practice.
How does a word move to a higher stage?
Each time you answer correctly, the scheduler increases the interval before the next review. Answering incorrectly or choosing I don't know resets the interval and marks the word for extra practice.
What does Mastered mean?
Mastered means the app predicts you will still remember the word after more than 200 days without seeing it. It is a strong signal of long-term retention, not just a recent correct answer.
What happens if I forget a word?
The word is rescheduled for sooner review and tagged as Improve. The app increases how often it shows up until your recall becomes reliable again.
Why don't I see every word every day?
The system spaces reviews to the moment just before you are likely to forget. Showing a word too early wastes effort. Showing it at the right time strengthens long-term memory most efficiently.
Can I force a word to Mastered or Grootmeester?
No. Stage is determined by your actual review history. Shortcuts would undermine the scheduler and give you an inaccurate picture of what you genuinely know.
How does the app choose quiz words?
The app prioritises words that are due for review today, then fills remaining slots with words most in need of practice based on difficulty and time since last review.
What is the Spaced Repetition Scheduler actually tracking?
The Spaced Repetition Scheduler models three things for each word: retrievability, stability, and difficulty. These values update after every review and drive the next interval.
How is the next review date calculated?
The scheduler uses your current stability score for that word and applies a formula that targets a recall probability just above the forgetting threshold. Words you find harder get shorter intervals; words you know well get longer ones.
Can I change the pace of reviews?
You can adjust the daily review load in Settings. Reducing it spreads reviews over more days. Increasing it speeds up the schedule but raises the daily workload.
Do same-day reviews count?
Yes, but they have less impact on the interval than reviews done on or after the scheduled date. The system is designed around time-spaced repetition, so waiting until the due date gives the best result.
Can I reset my learning progress?
You can reset individual words from the word detail screen. A full progress reset is available in Settings under Account. This cannot be undone.
Lesson Learning System
How is this app based on CEFR?
The app uses CEFR as a guide for what you should be able to understand and do at each level. We turn those goals into short, practical nano lessons. Each one is focused on a single real-life situation. Instead of abstract grammar blocks, you practise through conversation: you hear a dialogue, do focused exercises, and finish with a short quiz. Progress builds step by step.
What is the difference between the A1 levels?
A1 is split into four bands, A1.1 through A1.4, each one slightly more demanding than the last. A1.1 covers first contact: greetings, names, and basic introductions. A1.2 builds on this with daily basics: family, food, time, and simple planning. A1.3 and A1.4 take you further into practical situations and more flexible language use. The bands keep learning calm and measurable.
How does Lesson Mastery work?
Lesson Mastery is a simple way to show how settled a lesson feels for you. The more confidently you understand, recall, and use the lesson again later, the stronger that lesson becomes. The colour line gives you a quick visual signal: grey means still fresh, orange means still building, blue means becoming more solid, and green means the lesson is starting to feel strong and familiar.
What do you do with voice recordings?
Voice recordings are used only to support speaking practice. They let you listen back to yourself and, in some lesson activities, get a quick spoken check.
How long is my voice recording saved, and where?
Try it recordings stay on your device during the lesson and are deleted when they are replaced or when the lesson closes. AI feedback recordings are used briefly for the spoken check and then deleted automatically. They are not meant to become a permanent voice library.
Can I use voice recording offline?
You can still record and listen back to yourself in some speaking activities while offline. But the full spoken check needs an internet connection.
What does a typical lesson look like?
Each lesson follows a clear structure. You start with a short goal, then see and hear new vocabulary. A dialogue shows the language in a real conversation. You then do focused exercises, such as word matching, word order practice, or grammar questions. Every lesson ends with a short quiz and a culture or grammar card. Lessons take around 5 to 10 minutes.
What is a capstone lesson?
A capstone is the final lesson of a learning path. Instead of introducing new vocabulary, it brings together everything from the path in a longer, more natural dialogue. You answer 15 comprehension questions and need to score at least 60 percent to pass. It is a light check that the path has settled, not a high-stakes test.
What are situational lessons?
Situational lessons are short, standalone lessons focused on a specific real-life moment, such as ordering food, visiting the doctor, or asking for directions. They are great for practising language you need right now, separate from the core learning path.
Features
What is a Learning Deck?
Learning Decks are carefully curated collections of words grouped by theme, such as home, food, nature, emotions, or travel. They help you learn with structure and purpose.
What are Flashcards?
Flashcards help you practice recall. Tap to reveal the meaning and move through words at your own pace.
What is a Quiz?
A quiz tests how well you remember your words. The app selects the right words based on your progress and spaced-repetition schedule.
What's the difference between flashcards and quizzes?
Flashcards help you learn and explore vocabulary. They don't affect your progress or schedule. Quizzes test what you actually remember. They do affect your progress and decide when a word should appear again.
What are Due Cards?
Due Cards are words the app says you should review today. They are shown when the system predicts it's the right time to refresh them and keep recall strong.
What is Improve?
Improve appears when a word needs extra practice, usually after an incorrect answer. It is not a penalty, just support.
What is Plan Your Exercise?
Plan Your Exercise shows how many words are due right now and lets you build a short session. You can include postponed reviews and add new words to fill the session up to 20 words.
What is the I Don't Know List?
This list collects words you marked as I don't know. The app brings them back more often so you can learn them with extra support.
Subscription
What do I get with a free account?
You can explore the app ad-free and learn a small collection of beginner words. This lets you experience the core learning flow at your own pace.
What does the subscription unlock?
You can use Learn Dutch for free, without ads, and build your foundation by following your Daily Routine, reviewing words and tracking progress, completing the first Dutch lessons, practising the first Dutch alphabet lessons, exploring the dictionary, and playing the Memory Game. As you continue, Learn Dutch Pro lets you keep learning more than 1,000 new Dutch words without interruption, continue with Dutch lessons beyond the free section, continue with Dutch alphabet lessons beyond the free section, and create and use custom decks. Without Pro, you can keep practising what you've learned, but adding new words and advanced lessons will pause.
What extra information does each word include?
To support deeper understanding, every word offers transliteration, IPA, an image, example sentences, native audio, plural forms when applicable, formal and informal synonyms, and usage notes.
Why does the app include spelling and pronunciation support?
Seeing a Dutch word, hearing it, and comparing it with IPA helps long-term reading and pronunciation skills. You grow in both areas naturally.
Other
How often is the app updated?
We regularly add new words, sets, audio, and improvements. Updates are shaped by user feedback to make learning feel smooth and enjoyable.
Can I use the app offline?
Yes. Once a learning set is downloaded, you can practise anytime, even without internet.
Something isn't working. What should I do?
You can send feedback directly through the app. We read every message and respond as quickly as possible.
Does Learn Dutch teach grammar too?
Yes. Every lesson includes a grammar card that explains one or two grammar points in plain language. Exercises such as word order rebuilding, sentence slot practice, and error correction actively practise grammar in context. Grammar is always connected to the dialogue you just heard, not presented as an isolated rule.
Can I study verbs and conjugations?
Yes. The app includes a Dutch verb catalog covering common A1 and A2 verbs. In lessons, you can practise full conjugation tables for the most relevant verbs. Exercises show the present-tense forms and ask you to complete or identify them. Verb-focused practice grows with each path you complete.
Can I request new topics or features?
Absolutely. Many of our learning sets and tools come from user suggestions. Your ideas help shape the future of the app.