Much of the Esperanto online is written for people who already read it. Look for comprehensible input, which is Esperanto you can mostly follow, with about one new word per sentence and the meaning still clear.
Courses, tutors and word apps are in our full Esperanto app comparison.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn Esperanto. You learn from Esperanto you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Say you want to tell a new friend in Brazil about your town. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes an Esperanto lesson on it at your level, and the words you save return in new lessons.
LingQ, below, can import an Esperanto article you found yourself.
- Pick a topic and a level, and Poppy writes the Esperanto to match.
- Each lesson has AI audio to play while you read.
- Tap a word to see what it means, or ask Poppy to explain a whole line.
- Regenerative Review™ brings saved words back in new lessons.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- You can't turn an Esperanto article you found into a lesson. However, you can paste a paragraph into the chat, and Poppy will explain it.
- Bubblegum has no practice tests for the Esperanto language exams.
- Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read.
- Regenerative Review™
Mobile
LingQ
Esperanto is a beta language on LingQ, and its audio lessons have transcripts. Read a lesson while you play it, tap the words you miss, and save them for review.
- Esperanto audio lessons with matching transcripts.
- Bring in your own Esperanto text, and look up words with a tap.
- Flashcards
MobileWeb
Other Apps We Looked At (2)
- 50LANGUAGES100 short lessons with Esperanto text and MP3 audio, free on the website, at about the A1 and A2 levels.
- LernuFree interactive lessons with exercises and sounds, made for Esperanto only.
The 50LANGUAGES lessons are short, and each one has Esperanto text with an MP3. Read a lesson, then play the MP3 again without the text. When a line feels easy, move to the next lesson.
Vikipedio, the Esperanto Wikipedia, has more than 390,000 articles. Start with a topic you already know in English, because the names and facts will help you follow along.
Monato is a monthly magazine in Esperanto with articles on topics such as music, trade and book reviews, and Libera Folio publishes news from the Esperanto movement. Both are written for readers who know Esperanto well, so try them once longer lessons feel comfortable.
Muzaiko has a button on its front page (Aŭskulti, "listen") that plays its Esperanto audio. Catch the words you already know. You don't need every sentence.
| What You Can Follow | Try This | You're Ready to Move On When |
|---|---|---|
| Short, simple lines | A Bubblegum lesson at your level, or a 50LANGUAGES lesson with its MP3 | You can say what each line means without looking |
| Articles on topics you know | Vikipedio | You can say what an article is about after one read |
| Longer articles | Monato or Libera Folio | You can guess a new word from its parts |
| Live speech | Muzaiko | You catch the main idea of a short stretch |
Word meanings and lesson explanations may differ, so try one lesson before you pay.
| App | Languages You Can Use It In | Full List |
|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | 74 | Full list
|
| LingQ | 17 | Full list |
| 50LANGUAGES | 58 | Full list |
| Lernu | 40 | Full list |
| Vikipedio | — | — |
| Monato | — | — |
| Libera Folio | — | — |
| Muzaiko | — | — |
Which Esperanto app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning Esperanto, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. If you'd rather listen first, try the 50LANGUAGES lessons with their MP3 audio. If you'd rather read first, try the free lessons on Lernu.
How do I choose Esperanto at the right level?
Read a few sentences. If most have about one new word and you can still tell what's happening, it's a good level. If you can't, pick something easier.
Can I read Esperanto by guessing words from their parts?
Often, yes. Esperanto builds words from parts, so malbona (bad) is bona (good) with mal- in front. Check a guess in the lesson before you rely on it.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read. Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- 50LANGUAGES: English to Esperanto lessons and MP3 audio
- 50LANGUAGES: iPhone App Store listing (100 lessons, languages you can use it in)
- LingQ: Learn Esperanto online
- LingQ: languages (Esperanto is a beta language)
- LingQ: sign-up page (free account saves 20 words and phrases)
- LingQ: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Lernu: free Esperanto lessons
- Wikipedia: Esperanto (Zamenhof published the first book in 1887; speaker numbers are estimates)
- Vikipedio: Esperanto Wikipedia (390,455 articles)
- Monato: monthly magazine in Esperanto
- Libera Folio: independent movement bulletin in Esperanto
- Muzaiko: Esperanto audio (Aŭskulti button)
- Bubblegum
