Guide

Looking for Punjabi on Duolingo? Here's what to use instead.

Duolingo still doesn't have a Punjabi course — and probably won't soon. The good news: there's a free, Duolingo-style alternative built specifically for Punjabi in the Gurmukhi script. It's called Gurmukhi Go, and you can start in 30 seconds, no signup.

Start your first Punjabi lesson

No signup. Takes 2 minutes. You'll learn your first 5 Gurmukhi letters.

Start free

Why isn't Punjabi on Duolingo?

Punjabi has over 125 million speakers worldwide — the 10th most-spoken language on earth — yet Duolingo has never shipped a course for it. They've added Yiddish, Latin, High Valyrian, and Klingon in the meantime. The Punjabi community has been asking for years on Duolingo's forums; the answer is always "maybe one day".

For diaspora kids, grandkids who want to talk to their dadi, or anyone curious about Punjab — that wait isn't useful. So a small team built the thing Duolingo wouldn't.

Gurmukhi Go vs the alternatives

 Gurmukhi GoDuolingoMango / Pimsleur
Has Punjabi Yes No Yes
Teaches Gurmukhi script Yes No~ Partial
Free forever Yes~ Partial No
Streaks & XP Yes Yes No
Works in browser, no install Yes~ Partial No
Diaspora context (festivals, family) Yes No~ Partial

What's inside Gurmukhi Go

  • The full Gurmukhi alphabet (Painti Akhari) with audio for every letter.
  • Greetings, family, numbers, food, festivals — the words you actually use.
  • Listen-and-choose, tap-to-build, and scenario lessons (at the dhaba, at a wedding).
  • Daily streaks and XP — same dopamine loop, no green owl guilt-tripping you.
  • Works offline once installed as a PWA on your home screen.
Start your first Punjabi lesson

No signup. Takes 2 minutes. You'll learn your first 5 Gurmukhi letters.

Start free

FAQ

Does Duolingo have Punjabi?
No. As of 2026 there is no Punjabi course on Duolingo in any direction.
Is Gurmukhi Go really free?
Yes — every lesson is free forever, supported by ads. No paywall on core content.
I don't know the script yet — can I still use it?
Yes. Unit 1 teaches the Gurmukhi alphabet from scratch. You'll be reading short words within a few lessons.
Does it work on iPhone?
Yes — open it in Safari and tap Share → Add to Home Screen. It runs like a native app, offline-ready.