Lingo Books
Download on the App Store

Learn a language by reading real stories

Every sentence comes with its translation right underneath. Long-press any word for just that one. Seven languages, free to start.

I want to learn
El río fluye hacia el mar.
The river flows to the sea.

In the app this sits under every sentence of a real book.

Download on the App Store
4.8

from 250 ratings worldwide

Un escándalo en Bohemia open in Lingo Books, each Spanish sentence followed by its English translation, with the word Para selected
The Lingo Books library, showing Sherlock Holmes and Edgar Rice Burroughs titles
from 250 App Store ratings worldwide
4.8

from 250 App Store ratings worldwide

languages to read in
7

languages to read in

books, graded Easy to Hard
61

books, graded Easy to Hard

to download and start
Free

to download and start

  • I love the mix up of all the different methods. … It translate to English automatically so you can see it and hear it. … I felt like I could do this and actually learn without being frustrated.

    Melzmayzie · United States

  • This app is a simple but effective aid to language learning. You can read and/or listen to source and target language side by side to aid your comprehension.

    IrishMike2020 · Ireland

  • Очень крутое приложение, особенно параллельные книги.

    Really cool app, especially the parallel books.

    persikovalo · RussiaTranslated from Russian
Un scandale en Bohème open in Lingo Books, each French sentence printed with its English translation directly beneath it

Three steps and you are reading Sherlock Holmes

No placement test, no streak to protect before you have read a single sentence.

  1. Open a real book

    Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan, A Princess of Mars. Whole classics rather than sentences written to be practised.

  2. The translation is already there

    Each sentence is printed with English directly beneath it, so there is nothing to look up and nothing to interrupt you. Long-press a single word when you want that word on its own.

  3. Hear it read aloud

    Press play and the narration follows the text, so you learn how the words actually sound.

What you get when you open it

  • Sixty-one books, line by line

    Every sentence in the original with your language directly beneath it, so you are never stranded mid-paragraph.

  • Read aloud to you

    A built-in player reads the book while you follow along, with speed control and chapter skip.

  • Lessons for every level

    Guided vocabulary lessons and everyday conversations, running from absolute beginner through to advanced.

  • Learn through play

    Crossword, blitz, matching, sentence completion and more, at three difficulty tiers, so revision never repeats itself.

  • Your own dictionary

    Save any word as you read, mark it learned when it sticks, and review the rest whenever you like.

  • Works offline

    Download books and translation models in advance and read on a plane or the subway.

And when you close the book

Reading is the point, but it is not the whole app. There are lessons to work through, and practice at three difficulty tiers for every word you save.

The Lessons screen in Lingo Books, showing topics including Introductions and Greetings, Numbers and Counting, and Family and Relationships

Lessons that keep going

Guided vocabulary lessons that start at introductions and numbers and run all the way out to IT, marketing and legal terminology — so the app still has something to teach once the everyday words are done.

  • Introductions and Greetings
  • Food and Drink
  • Travel and Transportation
  • Business and Economy
  • IT Terminology
  • Exact Sciences
  • and more
The Exercises screen in Lingo Books, showing the Crossword, Blitz and Matching Pairs games

More than one way to practise

Every word you save can be drilled several different ways, at three difficulty tiers, so revision does not turn into the same flashcard for the hundredth time.

  • Word – Translation
  • Word Constructor
  • Phrase Constructor
  • Sentence Completion
  • Audio Recognition
  • Crossword
  • Matching Game
  • Blitz
  • and more

Seven languages, one way to learn them

Each page below covers what reading that language is actually like, and hands you the first words with real sentences.

Questions people ask first

Is Lingo Books free?

The app is free to download and comes with stories and lessons at every level. Premium unlocks the full library for $4.99 a month, $29.99 a year, or $29.99 once for lifetime access.

What levels does it cover?

The guided lessons run from absolute beginner to advanced. The books are real literature, so the side-by-side translation is what makes them readable earlier than you would expect.

Do I need an account?

No. Download the app and start reading.

Does it work offline?

Yes. Download books and translation models in advance, then read with no connection at all.

Which languages can I learn?

Spanish, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian and English — seven in total.

What can I actually read?

Sixty-one books: classics by Conan Doyle, Verne, Austen, Dickens, Twain, Stevenson, Christie and others, plus a set of original children’s books written for the app. Every one is graded by reading difficulty, from Easy to Hard.

Read your first story today

Free on the App Store. Ten minutes of reading a day adds up faster than you would think.

Download on the App Store