"Duolingo" meaning in English

See Duolingo in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

Forms: Duolingos [plural]
Etymology: All senses ultimately from Duolingo, a language learning app owned by the American educational technology company of the same name; from duo- (“two”) + lingo (“language”). The first two senses are genericized trademarks. Etymology templates: {{prefix|en|duo|lingo|t1=two|t2=language}} duo- (“two”) + lingo (“language”) Head templates: {{en-noun}} Duolingo (plural Duolingos)
  1. (colloquial) A language learning service or application. Tags: colloquial
    Sense id: en-Duolingo-en-noun-dE4xt7YI Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English terms prefixed with duo-, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 47 5 1 47 Disambiguation of English terms prefixed with duo-: 40 11 8 40 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 47 5 1 47 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 47 4 1 47
  2. (colloquial) A website, service or application that gamifies or simplifies learning, such as through having convenient, guided lessons and an informal (laidback) educational environment. Tags: colloquial
    Sense id: en-Duolingo-en-noun-no74l6nO Categories (other): English terms prefixed with duo- Disambiguation of English terms prefixed with duo-: 40 11 8 40
  3. (colloquial, chiefly Internet slang, uncommon) A lesson on Duolingo. Tags: Internet, colloquial, uncommon
    Sense id: en-Duolingo-en-noun-~1Zww24K
  4. (colloquial, Internet slang, rare) A language learning course on Duolingo. Tags: Internet, colloquial, rare
    Sense id: en-Duolingo-en-noun-4mAQLtvo Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English terms prefixed with duo-, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 47 5 1 47 Disambiguation of English terms prefixed with duo-: 40 11 8 40 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 47 5 1 47 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 47 4 1 47
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Related terms: Duo (english: the mascot owl of Duolingo)

Inflected forms

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        "1": "en",
        "2": "duo",
        "3": "lingo",
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      "name": "prefix"
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  "etymology_text": "All senses ultimately from Duolingo, a language learning app owned by the American educational technology company of the same name; from duo- (“two”) + lingo (“language”).\nThe first two senses are genericized trademarks.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "Duolingos",
      "tags": [
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      "args": {},
      "expansion": "Duolingo (plural Duolingos)",
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  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 55 45",
      "english": "the mascot owl of Duolingo",
      "word": "Duo"
    }
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      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "47 5 1 47",
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        {
          "ref": "2020 January 2, Carys Betteley, quoting Dr. Baron, “Language apps: Can phones replace classrooms?”, in BBC News:",
          "text": "Traditional language teaching has backed away from this a bit - especially at degree level - maybe there's been an element of elitism, snobbishness about the Duolingos and the Babbels that they're not for us, but we're becoming very aware of the modern way students want to learn.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2020, Elina Emerald, “Author Notes”, in Betrothed to the Beast (Reformed Rogues), FSES Taito, →ISBN, unnumbered page:",
          "text": "I speak languages other than English. Unfortunately, none of those are Gaelic (I am trying to learn through a Duolingo app, but it is very slow going). So, I tried to keep the Gaelic to a minimum and even the accents as well because I did not want to massacre a beautiful language with my ineptitude.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2021 November 12, Chelsea B, “COP26 Verbs and Nouns in Swedish”, in Swedish Language Blog, Transparent Language Online:",
          "text": "When learning new vocabulary in your target language, it's best to do it within context, rather than drilling yourself with flashcards. The Duolingos of the world are great, but it's proven that people remember new words easier when they are tied to a good story, article, song, or even memory.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2022 March 9, Anne O'Donoghue, quoting Dáithí de Mórdha, “House in the Country: homes needed to sustain rural communities”, in Irish Farmers Journal, The Agricultural Trust:",
          "text": "If the community disappears then throw your hat at the Irish language as a living language, because you can have all the Duolingos or Irish language classes, the singing and music that you want, but if Irish ceases to be a living language, if communities go from being living communities to being summer communities – that's it for the language.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
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      "raw_glosses": [
        "(colloquial) A language learning service or application."
      ],
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          "_dis": "40 11 8 40",
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      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2017 August 17, Bruno Skvorc, “Duolingo for PHP – How Much PHP Can Apps like Mimo Teach?”, in SitePoint:",
          "text": "Again, hardly a reason to purchase premium at this point. The approach does seem logical, however – if it really aims to be the Duolingo of programming, then it makes sense to present the same concepts you’re already familiar with in another language you’re not familiar with.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2019 December 5, Will Betts, “Melodics music practice app comes to iPad”, in MusicTech, BandLab Technologies:",
          "text": "Melodics, the music practice app that’s been described as the Duolingo of music learning, is now available on iPad for all subscribers.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2022 March 25, Noami May, “Meet the sisters behind Your Juno, the app aiming to become the Duolingo of finance”, in Stylist, The Stylist Group:",
          "text": "The appetite is clear: the sisters have just raised $2.2 million (£1.7m) in funding from angel investors, 70% of whom are women, to drive them forward in their mission to build Your Juno, which they hope will become the Duolingo of finance – with its short educational videos and gamified content.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2024 May 28, Carolyn Steber, “This App Is Like The Duolingo Of Productivity Lessons”, in Bustle:",
          "text": "Ahead calls itself the \"Duolingo of emotional intelligence\" because it allows you to pick something to work on — like keeping your cool when you’re mad, being more confident, coping with anxiety, or getting stuff done — and then it presents you with a personalized plan full of skills to practice until you improve.",
          "type": "quote"
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      "glosses": [
        "A website, service or application that gamifies or simplifies learning, such as through having convenient, guided lessons and an informal (laidback) educational environment."
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        [
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          "convenient"
        ],
        [
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        ],
        [
          "informal",
          "informal"
        ],
        [
          "laidback",
          "laidback"
        ],
        [
          "environment",
          "environment"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(colloquial) A website, service or application that gamifies or simplifies learning, such as through having convenient, guided lessons and an informal (laidback) educational environment."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "colloquial"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2015 October 9, @hollie_bainton, Twitter:",
          "text": "I DIDN'T DO MY DAILY DUOLINGO YDAY. S H I T",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2020, Alexandra Babino, Mary Amanda Stewart, quoting Carmen Elvira, Radicalizing Literacies and Languaging: A Framework Toward Dismantling the Mono-Mainstream Assumption, Springer International Publishing, →ISBN, page 198:",
          "text": "Because when I wake up in the morning and I see that my daughter is awake so I prepared the lunch for my husband, lunch box, and I get here in my dining room and I started to do it. Or if I am waiting here maybe or waiting in my car, I am doing my Duolingo.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2021 December 4, @nycnamjoon, Twitter:",
          "text": "no girl i was doing the duolingo^([sic]) DURING the concert",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2023 June 10, @JulieGittoes, Twitter:",
          "text": "This evening my Duolingo has: \"there will be a by-election\" and \"will there be an election next year?\"",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2024 December 29, @KarenMMcKellar, Twitter:",
          "text": "Today I completed the first read of a manuscript. Have also done today's Duolingo.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A lesson on Duolingo."
      ],
      "id": "en-Duolingo-en-noun-~1Zww24K",
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          "Internet",
          "Internet"
        ],
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        ],
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          "lesson"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(colloquial, chiefly Internet slang, uncommon) A lesson on Duolingo."
      ],
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        "colloquial",
        "uncommon"
      ]
    },
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          "_dis": "40 11 8 40",
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          "_dis": "47 5 1 47",
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          "parents": [],
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          "_dis": "47 4 1 47",
          "kind": "other",
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          "parents": [],
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        }
      ],
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        {
          "text": "Is doing two Duolingos at once, say Spanish and Russian, a bad idea?",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
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        "A language learning course on Duolingo."
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      "links": [
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        "(colloquial, Internet slang, rare) A language learning course on Duolingo."
      ],
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        "Internet",
        "colloquial",
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "Duolingo"
  ],
  "word": "Duolingo"
}
{
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  ],
  "etymology_text": "All senses ultimately from Duolingo, a language learning app owned by the American educational technology company of the same name; from duo- (“two”) + lingo (“language”).\nThe first two senses are genericized trademarks.",
  "forms": [
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      "form": "Duolingos",
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  "head_templates": [
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      "expansion": "Duolingo (plural Duolingos)",
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  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "english": "the mascot owl of Duolingo",
      "word": "Duo"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English colloquialisms",
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2020 January 2, Carys Betteley, quoting Dr. Baron, “Language apps: Can phones replace classrooms?”, in BBC News:",
          "text": "Traditional language teaching has backed away from this a bit - especially at degree level - maybe there's been an element of elitism, snobbishness about the Duolingos and the Babbels that they're not for us, but we're becoming very aware of the modern way students want to learn.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2020, Elina Emerald, “Author Notes”, in Betrothed to the Beast (Reformed Rogues), FSES Taito, →ISBN, unnumbered page:",
          "text": "I speak languages other than English. Unfortunately, none of those are Gaelic (I am trying to learn through a Duolingo app, but it is very slow going). So, I tried to keep the Gaelic to a minimum and even the accents as well because I did not want to massacre a beautiful language with my ineptitude.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2021 November 12, Chelsea B, “COP26 Verbs and Nouns in Swedish”, in Swedish Language Blog, Transparent Language Online:",
          "text": "When learning new vocabulary in your target language, it's best to do it within context, rather than drilling yourself with flashcards. The Duolingos of the world are great, but it's proven that people remember new words easier when they are tied to a good story, article, song, or even memory.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2022 March 9, Anne O'Donoghue, quoting Dáithí de Mórdha, “House in the Country: homes needed to sustain rural communities”, in Irish Farmers Journal, The Agricultural Trust:",
          "text": "If the community disappears then throw your hat at the Irish language as a living language, because you can have all the Duolingos or Irish language classes, the singing and music that you want, but if Irish ceases to be a living language, if communities go from being living communities to being summer communities – that's it for the language.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A language learning service or application."
      ],
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          "language learning",
          "language learning"
        ],
        [
          "service",
          "service"
        ],
        [
          "application",
          "application"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(colloquial) A language learning service or application."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "colloquial"
      ]
    },
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        "English colloquialisms",
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2017 August 17, Bruno Skvorc, “Duolingo for PHP – How Much PHP Can Apps like Mimo Teach?”, in SitePoint:",
          "text": "Again, hardly a reason to purchase premium at this point. The approach does seem logical, however – if it really aims to be the Duolingo of programming, then it makes sense to present the same concepts you’re already familiar with in another language you’re not familiar with.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2019 December 5, Will Betts, “Melodics music practice app comes to iPad”, in MusicTech, BandLab Technologies:",
          "text": "Melodics, the music practice app that’s been described as the Duolingo of music learning, is now available on iPad for all subscribers.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2022 March 25, Noami May, “Meet the sisters behind Your Juno, the app aiming to become the Duolingo of finance”, in Stylist, The Stylist Group:",
          "text": "The appetite is clear: the sisters have just raised $2.2 million (£1.7m) in funding from angel investors, 70% of whom are women, to drive them forward in their mission to build Your Juno, which they hope will become the Duolingo of finance – with its short educational videos and gamified content.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2024 May 28, Carolyn Steber, “This App Is Like The Duolingo Of Productivity Lessons”, in Bustle:",
          "text": "Ahead calls itself the \"Duolingo of emotional intelligence\" because it allows you to pick something to work on — like keeping your cool when you’re mad, being more confident, coping with anxiety, or getting stuff done — and then it presents you with a personalized plan full of skills to practice until you improve.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A website, service or application that gamifies or simplifies learning, such as through having convenient, guided lessons and an informal (laidback) educational environment."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "website",
          "website"
        ],
        [
          "gamifies",
          "gamification"
        ],
        [
          "convenient",
          "convenient"
        ],
        [
          "guided",
          "guide#verb"
        ],
        [
          "informal",
          "informal"
        ],
        [
          "laidback",
          "laidback"
        ],
        [
          "environment",
          "environment"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(colloquial) A website, service or application that gamifies or simplifies learning, such as through having convenient, guided lessons and an informal (laidback) educational environment."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "colloquial"
      ]
    },
    {
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        "English colloquialisms",
        "English internet slang",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with uncommon senses"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2015 October 9, @hollie_bainton, Twitter:",
          "text": "I DIDN'T DO MY DAILY DUOLINGO YDAY. S H I T",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2020, Alexandra Babino, Mary Amanda Stewart, quoting Carmen Elvira, Radicalizing Literacies and Languaging: A Framework Toward Dismantling the Mono-Mainstream Assumption, Springer International Publishing, →ISBN, page 198:",
          "text": "Because when I wake up in the morning and I see that my daughter is awake so I prepared the lunch for my husband, lunch box, and I get here in my dining room and I started to do it. Or if I am waiting here maybe or waiting in my car, I am doing my Duolingo.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2021 December 4, @nycnamjoon, Twitter:",
          "text": "no girl i was doing the duolingo^([sic]) DURING the concert",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2023 June 10, @JulieGittoes, Twitter:",
          "text": "This evening my Duolingo has: \"there will be a by-election\" and \"will there be an election next year?\"",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2024 December 29, @KarenMMcKellar, Twitter:",
          "text": "Today I completed the first read of a manuscript. Have also done today's Duolingo.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A lesson on Duolingo."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Internet",
          "Internet"
        ],
        [
          "slang",
          "slang"
        ],
        [
          "lesson",
          "lesson"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(colloquial, chiefly Internet slang, uncommon) A lesson on Duolingo."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Internet",
        "colloquial",
        "uncommon"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English colloquialisms",
        "English internet slang",
        "English terms with rare senses",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Is doing two Duolingos at once, say Spanish and Russian, a bad idea?",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A language learning course on Duolingo."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Internet",
          "Internet"
        ],
        [
          "slang",
          "slang"
        ],
        [
          "course",
          "course"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(colloquial, Internet slang, rare) A language learning course on Duolingo."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Internet",
        "colloquial",
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "Duolingo"
  ],
  "word": "Duolingo"
}

Download raw JSONL data for Duolingo meaning in English (7.6kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-03-30 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-03-21 using wiktextract (fef8596 and 633533e). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.