Learn Latin

Systems: Android and iOS Apps, Online-Version (PC and Mac)

Suitable for: Beginners, intermediate, advanced learners, students, professionals

Content: Video and text lessons, browser extension to import any Latin texts, vocabulary trainer

Price: USD 10 (1 month subscription)

Overall Value:

The LingQ Latin App is basically a translation program that is combined with a personalized vocabulary trainer.

In addition to the lessons and texts that are included in this app, any Latin text can be imported. LingQ has its own browser extension for Firefox, Safari and Chrome to import texts (including ebooks).

You can click on any word in the texts to see a translation and this adds the word to your personal vocabulary trainer.

LingQ also has many videos and podcasts, the content of which appears as a text next to the video or podcast — so that any word there can be clicked on and saved as well.

Unfortunately, there are no grammar lessons, meaning that this app will not suffice on its own to learn Latin.

Summary: Very interesting way to learn Latin vocabulary on any subject. However, you need other apps for Latin grammar and conjugations.

Link: LingQ Latin Learning App

Systems: Android and iOS Apps, Online Version

Suitable for: Intermediate and Advanced Learners

Content: Multiple-choice selection of missing words in sentences (with native speaker audio)

Prices: USD 8 (1 month), USD 60 (12 months), USD 140 (lifetime access)

Overall Value:

The Clozemaster app is intended for intermediate and advanced learners who have already mastered the basic vocabulary and want to practice.

The only exercise is to choose the correct missing word in a sentence from a list of four words. The translation of the sentence is displayed as well. At the end, the sentence is also spoken by a native speaker.

In the English version of this app there are 70 languages to choose from.

Large languages have up to 50,000 vocabulary items (words, phrases, and verb variations), while smaller languages often have only 500.

In the online version, you can also type in the missing words. The smartphone app now offers speech recognition.

Summary: An interesting method that is quite fun. Since many apps teach only at a beginner level, this is a good addition for advanced users.

Systems: Online Access (PC, Mac, smartphones)

Content: Latin video lessons and quiz tests

Prices: USD 12.99 (one course), USD 24.99 (4-7 courses bundle)

Overall Value:

Cudoo is a kind of online university that offers courses with certificates on different topics.

This includes language courses for 160 languages. These are all beginner courses (CEFR level A1 and A2).

For each language there are 1-10 courses and each course has 20-40 lessons.

The lessons each include a short video with new vocabulary and there are short quiz questions below the video.

Summary: The videos are well made, so especially for smaller languages these courses are a good start.

Link: Cudoo Online Latin Language Course

Systems: Android App, iOS App, PC and Mac

Content: Exercises with native-speaker audio

Prices: Free (with ads), USD 12.99 (1 month), USD 60 (12 months)

Overall Value:

The Duolingo App offers beginner language courses for 36 languages, including Latin. Duolingo covers mostly the basics as well as some intermediate level Latin vocabulary.

The major drawback of Duolingo (just like Rosetta Stone) is that there are no grammar explanations.

The vocabulary learning with Duolingo is "gamified", which means it is structured like a game with levels, experience points, achievements, etc.

The interface is relatively similar to the apps from Mondly and Babbel, which have no Latin courses.

Summary: The vocabulary trainer and the exercises of the program are okay. However, it is not possible to learn Latin grammar with this app.

Systems: Android App, iPhone App, Online-Version (PC and Mac)

Content: Latin lessons and vocabulary trainer with native speaker audio, grammar

Prices: USD 8,99 (1 month), USD 60 (12 months), USD 110 (unlimited)

Overall Value:

With the Memrise App you can learn over 90 languages.

This includes even very small languages - however, in such cases the language courses are often limited to just a few lessons.

One special feature of the Memrise learning app is the large number of lessons created by users (native speakers).

The quality of these lessons varies greatly though. For example, only the basic forms of verbs are usually taught, without the conjugations. Some languages also do not have an audio recording of the words at all.

Another good idea of the Memrise app are the user-generated tips and mnemonics for each word to help you memorize them.

Summary: User-generated lessons are a good idea. In practice, the quality of the lessons leaves a lot be desired.

Systems: PC and Mac

Suitable for: Beginners and intermediate learners, travel vocabulary, business

Content: Latin vocabulary lessons and exercises

Prices: USD 35 (Level 1), USD 55 (Level 1-3)

Overall Value:

The Instant Immersion Latin learning software is available for download only for PCs and Macs.

According to the vendor, this software is supposed to be "as good as Rosetta Stone", but much cheaper because less money is spent on advertising.

Unfortunately, this promise cannot hold.

The software interface is chaotic and all three "language levels" offer a chaotic mix of easy and difficult words.

Essentially, this software only introduces new Latin vocabulary with native speaker audio and pictures, and then there are a few exercises.

Latin grammar is not included at all.

Summary: Limited scope and bad interface. At least it is relatively cheap and there is a 90-day money-back guarantee.

Systems: PC (Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP)

Content: Latin lessons with native speaker audio and speech recognition, grammar

Prices: USD 35 (second language for free)

Overall Value:

The Linguashop educational software ("TeachMe") is available for over 90 languages, including Latin. It also includes an audio CD.

The native speaker audio and speech recognition are relatively good.

However, the interface of the learning software is quite chaotic and there are no exercises — only lessons where new vocabulary is presented.

It is also unclear how many words are included in this Latin learning program. There is no information about this on the website.

Some grammar lessons are included — however, these are basically just images with short texts.

Summary: Poor quality for a relatively low price. You get language courses for two languages when you buy, one as a free bonus.