# Learn Hindi with NativePal > Learn Hindi with NativePal: levelled reading, vocabulary with spaced repetition, and pronunciation coaching. Free app for iOS and Android. ## Quick facts - Native name: हिन्दी - Speakers: 600+ million speakers worldwide - Spoken in: northern and central India, with speakers across the Indian diaspora - Writing system: Devanagari, an abugida of around 46 characters - FSI difficulty category: III - Estimated study to professional working proficiency: 1100 hours (about 44 weeks full-time, per the US Foreign Service Institute) - Proficiency framework: CEFR (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) ## What English speakers find hardest about Hindi - **Split ergativity**: In completed past tenses the subject takes the marker ने and the verb agrees with the object instead. English has nothing like this, and it catches out even advanced learners. - **Postpositions and verb-final order**: Hindi puts the verb last and places its equivalent of prepositions after the noun, so "in the house" comes out as "house in". - **Two genders with agreement everywhere**: Every noun is masculine or feminine, and adjectives and verbs both agree with it, so gender errors ripple through a whole sentence. - **Aspirated and retroflex consonants**: Hindi distinguishes क from ख and dental त from retroflex ट. English speakers usually cannot hear these pairs at first, yet they separate unrelated words. - **Three levels of "you"**: तू, तुम and आप mark intimacy, familiarity and respect, each with its own verb forms, so you must judge the relationship before you speak. ## How you practise Hindi in NativePal - [Reading Lessons](https://nativepal.app/features/reading-lessons/): Hindi stories generated for your level, every word tappable for a translation, comprehension quiz at the end. - [Vocabulary & Dictionary](https://nativepal.app/features/vocabulary-and-dictionary/): themed Hindi vocabulary lessons plus a personal dictionary feeding spaced-repetition flashcards. - [Speaking Practice](https://nativepal.app/features/speaking-practice/): read Hindi aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual sounds, prosody, fluency, and connected speech. - [Daily Challenges](https://nativepal.app/features/daily-challenges/): 60 seconds of freeform Hindi every day, analysed for grammar, vocabulary, and phrasing. - [Learning Scenarios](https://nativepal.app/features/learning-scenarios/): structured Hindi lessons from the alphabet for absolute beginners. ## FAQ ### How long does it take to learn Hindi? The US Foreign Service Institute puts Hindi at roughly 1100 hours of instruction — about 44 weeks full-time — to reach professional working proficiency. Holding a simple conversation comes much sooner: most learners manage it inside the first few months. NativePal shortens the part you control: reading at your level every day, vocabulary that returns before you forget it, and speaking practice that scores your pronunciation instead of just ticking a box. ### What is hardest about Hindi grammar? Split ergativity: In completed past tenses the subject takes the marker ने and the verb agrees with the object instead. English has nothing like this, and it catches out even advanced learners. Postpositions and verb-final order: Hindi puts the verb last and places its equivalent of prepositions after the noun, so "in the house" comes out as "house in". Two genders with agreement everywhere: Every noun is masculine or feminine, and adjectives and verbs both agree with it, so gender errors ripple through a whole sentence. Aspirated and retroflex consonants: Hindi distinguishes क from ख and dental त from retroflex ट. English speakers usually cannot hear these pairs at first, yet they separate unrelated words. Three levels of "you": तू, तुम and आप mark intimacy, familiarity and respect, each with its own verb forms, so you must judge the relationship before you speak. ### Is Hindi hard for English speakers? Moderate to hard — logical script, unfamiliar grammar. Consonants carry an inherent vowel and marks are added around them. The script is regular and most learners read it within a few weeks. ### What writing system does Hindi use? Hindi uses devanagari, an abugida of around 46 characters. Consonants carry an inherent vowel and marks are added around them. The script is regular and most learners read it within a few weeks. ### What proficiency levels does NativePal use for Hindi? NativePal levels your Hindi practice with CEFR, so reading lessons, vocabulary, and speaking prompts are generated for the level you select rather than a generic average. The ladder runs A1 through to C2. ### Where is Hindi spoken? Hindi is spoken in northern and central India, with speakers across the Indian diaspora, with 600+ million speakers worldwide. ### Can I learn Hindi as a complete beginner? Yes. NativePal's Learning Scenarios start from the alphabet, numbers, greetings, and how to introduce yourself, with no prior Hindi assumed. Once those land, reading lessons and vocabulary packs pick up from wherever you are. ### Does NativePal correct my Hindi pronunciation? Yes. You read Hindi aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual vowels and consonants, stress, rhythm and intonation, fluency, and connected speech — not just a pass or fail. The 60-second daily speaking challenge adds freeform practice on top. ### Can I practise speaking Hindi, not just reading it? Yes, and it is the most-used part of the app. Speaking Practice is a teleprompter you read aloud for scored pronunciation feedback, the daily challenge gives you 60 seconds of freeform talk, and you can reply with your voice in any chat or roleplay scenario. ### Is NativePal free for learning Hindi? NativePal is free to start, with a daily allowance across reading, vocabulary, speaking practice, and chats. A premium subscription removes the daily limits and unlocks the longer formats. Prices are set in the App Store and Google Play and vary by region. ### Do I need an account to start learning Hindi? No. NativePal uses anonymous sign-in, so you can start practising Hindi without an email address or social login. ## More - [All supported languages](https://nativepal.app/languages.html) - [All features](https://nativepal.app/features/) - [Compare NativePal with other apps](https://nativepal.app/compare/) - [llms.txt](https://nativepal.app/llms.txt)