Duolingo has launched a new 'Learn English from Punjabi' literacy course, designed to make English learning more accessible for Punjabi speakers in India and across the globe. The course allows users to begin studying English through Gurmukhi, the widely used script for Punjabi in India, removing a significant barrier for millions of learners who find it easier to start in their mother tongue.
Punjabi is spoken by more than 100 million people worldwide, with large communities in India, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. For many of these speakers, English remains a key gateway to better education, employment and international opportunities. By offering instruction directly from Punjabi, Duolingo aims to help learners build foundational language skills in a familiar linguistic environment before progressing further.
The new course marks Duolingo’s second regional-language English offering for North India, following the earlier launch of its Hindi course. Punjabi now joins the company’s expanding portfolio of regional-language courses, which already includes Hindi, Bengali, Telugu and Tamil. This gradual expansion reflects Duolingo’s strategy of reaching learners in their own languages rather than requiring them to navigate English-only interfaces from the start.
Karandeep Singh Kapany, Regional Marketing Director for India and South East Asia at Duolingo, described the launch as personally significant. “Being able to launch this course in my mother tongue is incredibly meaningful and a moment of real pride for me,” he said. “Punjabis have long embraced opportunities beyond borders, pursuing education, careers and new beginnings around the world. By making English learning available in Punjabi, we’re helping remove language barriers and enabling even more people to access the opportunities that English can unlock.”
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The course is structured around Duolingo’s signature short, game-like lessons that encourage consistent daily practice. Learners start with basic vocabulary and sentence structures presented in Gurmukhi, gradually building confidence as they move toward more complex English usage. The approach is intended to feel less intimidating than traditional classroom methods or English-only apps, particularly for first-time language learners or those returning to education after a long gap.
Duolingo positions the launch as part of its broader effort to expand access to language education through regional languages. The company has consistently argued that learning becomes more inclusive and relevant when it meets users where they are linguistically. In South Asia, where multiple major languages coexist and English often functions as a second or third language, this model has particular resonance.
The platform itself is already one of the most widely used education apps in the world. It offers courses not only in languages but also in mathematics, music and chess, all delivered through brief, interactive lessons designed to fit into busy daily schedules. The company describes its app as the world’s most downloaded education application, a claim supported by its large global user base and continued expansion into new language combinations.
For Punjabi speakers, the practical benefits could be substantial. English proficiency continues to influence access to higher education, government jobs, private-sector employment and migration opportunities. In India, many competitive examinations and professional courses still require or strongly prefer English-medium instruction. Abroad, English remains the dominant language of higher education and international workplaces. By lowering the initial barrier to entry, the new course may help more learners take the first step toward these opportunities.
The timing of the launch also reflects growing interest in digital education tools across India. Mobile phones have become the primary device for learning for millions of people, especially in smaller towns and rural areas where access to formal language institutes is limited. An app-based course that begins in the user’s own script can reach people who might never enroll in a traditional English class.
Duolingo’s decision to prioritise Gurmukhi rather than the Shahmukhi script used by some Punjabi speakers in Pakistan further underlines its focus on the Indian market and the diaspora communities that primarily use Gurmukhi. The course is now live on the Duolingo app and available to users worldwide.
As regional-language offerings expand, the platform continues to test how far mother-tongue instruction can improve retention and outcomes. Early courses in Hindi and other Indian languages have already demonstrated demand for this approach. The addition of Punjabi strengthens Duolingo’s presence in North India and adds another pathway for speakers of one of the world’s major languages to engage with English on their own terms.
The launch ultimately underscores a simple but powerful idea: language education works best when it respects the languages people already know. By meeting Punjabi speakers in Gurmukhi, Duolingo is attempting to turn a potential barrier into a bridge one that could open doors to education, careers and global mobility for a new generation of learners.
