Top Real Apps for Learning Cantonese (2024/2025)

1. Drops (by Kahoot!)
   • What it is: A visual, game-like vocabulary app. Its strength for Cantonese is its clear, high-quality audio and its focus on visual association.
   • Why it’s great for couples: It’s fast (5-minute sessions), fun, and you can easily compete against each other to see who learns the most words in a week.
2. Memrise
   • What it is: A flashcard-based app that uses spaced repetition. Its key feature for Cantonese is the use of “Learn with Locals” videos, where native speakers say words and phrases in real-life contexts.
   • Why it’s great for couples: The videos are invaluable for learning pronunciation and seeing body language. You can watch the videos together and mimic the speakers.
3. Pleco Cantonese Dictionary
   • What it is: As mentioned in the article, this is the essential, non-negotiable dictionary app for any Cantonese learner. It’s much more than a dictionary; it’s a powerful learning suite.
   • Why it’s great for couples: You can both install it and use the built-in flashcard system to create shared decks. The Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature is a party trick you can use together to translate menus and signs.
4. CantoneseClass101 (by Innovative Language)
   • What it is: A comprehensive podcast and video-based learning platform. It offers structured lessons from absolute beginner to advanced, with a strong focus on audio and cultural notes.
   • Why it’s great for couples: Listen to the podcast lessons together during a commute or while making dinner. The dialogue-based lessons are perfect for role-playing practice.
5. HelloTalk / Tandem
   • What it is: Language exchange platforms that connect you directly with native Cantonese speakers around the world.
   • Why it’s great for couples: You can partner up to find another couple learning a language you know! This allows for a fun, four-way language exchange via text, audio, or video call.