The popular language-learning app celebrates the unveiling of their 100th free course: Yiddish

Mazel tov is in order for Duolingo! Already firmly cemented as one of the world’s foremost language-learning apps, today they released Yiddish on their platform. The Jewish language joins Hebrew, Welsh, Gaelic, Navajo, Latin and many more that make up their 40 dialects. The launch also marks their 100th free course.

"Reaching 100 courses and 40 languages is a proud moment for us," said Colin Watkins, Duolingo’s UK Country Manager, in a press statement. "All our courses are free because our mission is to make education universally accessible.

“People are also becoming more interested in improving their mental health and wellbeing. Language learning is the perfect way to do this. All it takes is a phone and 10 minutes a day and you have a positive, life affirming distraction.”

The Yiddish course has been put together by a group of young volunteers, featuring Brooklyn twin brothers Isac and Israel Polasak, who were raised Satmar and spoke mainly Yiddish for most of their childhood. Plus Modern Orthodox-raised 32-year-old Meena Viswanath from New Jersey; Williamsburg native Libby Pollak, who was raised Hasidic, but left her community at 23 and discovered the secular Yiddish-speaking world; and youngest volunteer Josh, a 15-year-old based in Georgia.

By Danielle Goldstein

Download Duolingo’s Yiddish course for free now at duolingo.com