# Polygloss — Learn languages stress-free > Interactive language learning app for active vocabulary and speaking practice. (iPhone/iPad app by Etiene da Cruz Dalcol.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polygloss/id1536428473 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Etiene da Cruz Dalcol](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536428475) - Category: Education, Games, Word - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.69/5 from 88 App Store ratings · 34 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 12+ - Requires: iOS 12.1 · 68 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2022-04-06 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polygloss/id1536428473/reviews.md ## What is Polygloss? Are you feeling stuck in the "I can understand but I can't speak" part of your language learning journey? Despite all you've learned so far, do you feel you can't communicate? Look no more, Polygloss is right for you! - Guess images with friends. - Write creatively and increase your active vocabulary! - Available for 80+ languages for FREE.(English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Welsh, German, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Italian, Norwegian, Greek, Dutch, Mandarin, Russian, Arabic, Esperanto, and any more) - Ideal for motivated beginners and intermediate language learners (A2-B2). Not recommended for complete beginners. - Works really well alongside popular language learning apps like Duolingo. For most language learners, moving from ‘understanding’ to ‘communicating’ is difficult. Those first conversations are stressful and don’t get any results. This is where Polygloss comes in. Our mission is to help language learners be independent and enjoy life using a foreign language. How do we do it? Polygloss is an image guessing game that offers you sufficient interaction, guidance and lets you express yourself with freedom. Using new words, in your own personal context, is the best method for increasing your vocabulary. Better than simply reading, re-reading and memorizing words out of context! Polygloss works, is science-backed, and was awarded best paper* at the 9th NLP4CALL workshop series at The University of Gothenburg. Why does it work? It is normal for language learners to experience more language exposure than language creation. Language creation is hard and needs to be nurtured. There are different ways to increase your active vocabulary (words that you have the ability to use, not just understand). This includes intense repetition, consuming content you enjoy (books, series, movies), flashcards, etc. These methods are great and should be part of any language learners tool kit. But, there is another way to increase your active vocabulary. Simply by using words. Ideally in your own personalized context. And that’s why Polygloss works. It allows you to start communicating in a low stress environment. Helping you easily increase your active vocabulary and communication confidence. Ready to make the jump from understanding to communicating? Download Polygloss today. Features: - Image based lessons give you something to talk about. - No translation required! Use words you know to describe what you see. - Low stress opportunity to creatively use your target language. - Receive feedback and improve your writing. - Add people as friends or get randomly paired with other players. - Collect stars and progress through dozens of topics. - Compete with other learners in optional daily writing challenges. - Bookmark your favorite sentences and corrections for later study. - No right, wrong or useless sentences. Say what you want to say! - Get word and sentence tips (Available only in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian. New languages and levels coming soon!) - All minority and dialect languages possible. As long as you have a partner, you can play! -- Polygloss is a work in progress Join the newsletter at https://polygloss.app Questions, suggestions or bug reports? https://instagram.com/polyglossapp https://twitter.com/polyglossapp etiene@polygloss.app -- FAQ Q. What languages are available? A. All of them! But it needs at least one other player in the same language so you can play together. Don’t forget to invite your friends! Q. Is the app free? A. Yes. There is an option to pay for a premium subscription with extra features, but all of the content is freely accessible. Q. Is there a web version? A. Not yet! But it's in our plans. -- Privacy Policy: https://polygloss.app/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://polygloss.app/terms/ *Link to award: https://tinyurl.com/m8jhf2w ## Key features - Image guessing games with friends - Creative writing exercises - Support for 80+ languages - Low-stress communication practice - Personalized vocabulary building - Daily writing challenges - Bookmark favorite sentences ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Polygloss Unlimited | $2.49 | per month | | Polygloss Unlimited | $1.49 | per month | | Polygloss Unlimited | $4.99 | per month | | Polygloss Unlimited Yearly | $12.99 | per year | | Polygloss Unlimited Yearly | $19.99 | per year | | Polygloss Unlimited Yearly | $27.99 | per year | | Polygloss Unlimited Yearly | $39.99 | per year | **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Polygloss Unlimited Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time | | Polygloss Unlimited Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time | | Lifetime Polygloss Unlimited | $74.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (10 of 34) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polygloss/id1536428473/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Love it! *2025-08-25, version 2.6.1* I’ve only been playing for a few days and I can already see an improvement. Such an amazing app for daily practice I absolutely love it and will be telling all my friends! ### 5/5 — Great for smaller languages too *2025-04-27, version 2.6.1* I love Polygloss for many reasons. I enjoy the variety of its prompts, the easy/approachable expectations it has for learners, and the openness of answers I’m allowed to enter. It encourages the user to explore what they can say, regardless of their language level. One of the most special things about Polygloss has to be the customization of the language options, though! It makes it very easy to enter even smaller languages (minority languages/understudied languages/constructed languages) and find people to practice with, or add friends who are learning them too. I very much recommend it for practice in this way. ### 5/5 — Nice, clean app *2025-03-27, version 2.5.0* The app works very well and has a nice design. Doesn’t look like an indie project at all. You get exactly what’s promised. Some images are very good to refresh some basics, some challenge you to check out new vocabulary in the language you are learning. There is also a Discord Server where you can directly talk to the Dev. Love it! ### 5/5 — I can practice Toki Pona with my friend *2025-01-18* Title ### 4/5 — pretty great, has some issues *2024-12-29* Namely the fact that the AI can’t work with toki pona, and certain tests with the minigames cause me to get things wrong due to the order of words (that wouldn’t matter usually). I do love this app, and understand why those issues can’t exactly be *easily* fixed, but you should take that into consideration. ### 5/5 — Когда я стану богатой я задоначу вам *2024-12-13, version 2.5.0* Listening time - то, что привело меня сюда. Очень плохо знаю английский , но в целом понимаю о чем говорится в подкастах и я будто слушаю друга . Спасибо!! Плюс мотивация углублять знания, что бы понимать больше ! Правда, я желаю вам всего лучшего ### 4/5 — Can’t add new language- overall great *2024-09-07* I’m working on a new language and was unable to locate a way to add it after I’d added my initial languages- it would be nice to be able to easily add in a new practice target language! **Developer response:** Hi Catalina, you can add more languages if you click to edit your profile then click on the languages. Cheers! ### 5/5 — A fun language app *2024-07-03, version 2.4.0* I’ve tried a few different language apps and they all have strengths and weaknesses. This one is particularly fun and engaging. ### 3/5 — Problem with picking different card after swiping *2024-05-22* Whenever I swipe cards for see more different cards then pick one, for somehow it won't apply the card I picked. Thus my partners get confused due to it shows the wrong card. Please fix this problem. **Developer response:** Hi, this was a bug we have now fixed. Please make sure your app version is at least 2.5.0. Thanks so much for your review! ### 5/5 — Highly effective writing practice *2024-05-13* This fun app/game lets me practice language areas I need and makes the process fun. I needed an app to help get me from Italian B1 to B2 with writing practice so I can improve my spoken Italian. Duolingo isn’t useful at this level. Busuu’s writing is a chore. italki lessons are great but expensive. Polygloss is perfect for fun writing practice. Highly recommended! ## Frequently asked questions about Polygloss ### What does Polygloss do? Polygloss is a language learning application designed to help users transition from passive understanding to active communication. It achieves this through interactive image guessing games and creative writing exercises, aiming to boost vocabulary and speaking confidence. ### What are the key features of Polygloss? Key features include image-based lessons for conversation prompts, no translation required for describing images, low-stress creative language use, feedback on writing, the ability to connect with other learners, and progress tracking through topics. ### Is Polygloss free to use? The app is available for free and supports over 80 languages. While the core functionality is free, it does offer in-app purchases and may include advertisements. ### Who is Polygloss for? This app is ideal for motivated beginners and intermediate language learners at the A2-B2 level. It is not recommended for complete beginners. It works well alongside other popular language learning applications. ### How does Polygloss help with language learning? Polygloss focuses on increasing active vocabulary by encouraging users to use new words in their own context through creative writing and interactive games. This method is science-backed and aims to build communication confidence in a supportive, low-stress environment. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.6.1 — 2025-04-05 - Fixes critical bug selection language during account creation ### 2.6.0 — 2025-04-02 - Fewer character requirements for Japanese and Mandarin - Friends now default view in community tab instead of classroom - Bug fixes - (Test) Get points immediately after writing ### 2.5.0 — 2024-09-04 Fix critical bug choosing images ### 2.4.0 — 2024-03-21 - New matching algorithm - Translate and listen when writing a message - Show latest messages in player profile - More player discovery options - UI improvements - Faster respond match button - Bug fixes ### 2.3.4 — 2024-02-27 - Bug fixes ## Apps similar to Polygloss | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Drops: Language Learning Games](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drops-language-learning-games/id939540371) | 4.7 (71,194) | Free | Education | | [Duolingo: Language Lessons](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duolingo-language-lessons/id570060128) | 4.7 (5,228,682) | Free | Education | | [Babbel - Language Learning](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/babbel-language-learning/id829587759) | 4.7 (740,596) | Free | Education | | [Hilokal: Language Exchange App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hilokal-language-exchange-app/id1537500613) | 4.4 (761) | Free | Education | | [Busuu: Language Learning](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/busuu-language-learning/id379968583) | 4.7 (98,549) | Free | Education | | [Earthlingo](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earthlingo/id1472136498) | 4.5 (66) | Free | Education | --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*