# Learn Marathi with NativePal > Learn Marathi with NativePal: levelled reading, vocabulary with spaced repetition, and pronunciation coaching. Free app for iOS and Android. ## Quick facts - Native name: मराठी - Speakers: 83+ million speakers worldwide - Spoken in: the Indian state of Maharashtra, including Mumbai and Pune - Writing system: Devanagari in the Balbodh style - Proficiency framework: CEFR (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) ## What English speakers find hardest about Marathi - **Three genders**: Marathi kept the neuter gender that Hindi lost, so nouns are masculine, feminine or neuter and adjectives and verbs all have to agree. - **Split ergativity**: In perfective past tenses the subject takes ने and the verb agrees with the object, reversing the usual agreement pattern. - **Inclusive and exclusive "we"**: आपण includes the person you are speaking to and आम्ही excludes them, a distinction Hindi does not make. - **Case endings fused onto nouns**: Where Hindi uses separate postpositions, Marathi often fuses them into the noun and changes its stem first, so the word has to be reshaped before the ending is added. - **A heavy Sanskrit vocabulary layer**: Formal Marathi borrows extensively and unchanged from Sanskrit, so the written register can feel far removed from everyday speech. ## How you practise Marathi in NativePal - [Reading Lessons](https://nativepal.app/features/reading-lessons/): Marathi 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 Marathi vocabulary lessons plus a personal dictionary feeding spaced-repetition flashcards. - [Speaking Practice](https://nativepal.app/features/speaking-practice/): read Marathi 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 Marathi every day, analysed for grammar, vocabulary, and phrasing. - [Learning Scenarios](https://nativepal.app/features/learning-scenarios/): structured Marathi lessons from the alphabet for absolute beginners. ## FAQ ### How long does it take to learn Marathi? There is no official study-hour figure published for Marathi. As a rough guide, the US Foreign Service Institute budgets 600 to 750 hours for the languages closest to English and around 1,100 for those further away. Holding a simple conversation comes much sooner than full proficiency. 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 Marathi grammar? Three genders: Marathi kept the neuter gender that Hindi lost, so nouns are masculine, feminine or neuter and adjectives and verbs all have to agree. Split ergativity: In perfective past tenses the subject takes ने and the verb agrees with the object, reversing the usual agreement pattern. Inclusive and exclusive "we": आपण includes the person you are speaking to and आम्ही excludes them, a distinction Hindi does not make. Case endings fused onto nouns: Where Hindi uses separate postpositions, Marathi often fuses them into the noun and changes its stem first, so the word has to be reshaped before the ending is added. A heavy Sanskrit vocabulary layer: Formal Marathi borrows extensively and unchanged from Sanskrit, so the written register can feel far removed from everyday speech. ### Is Marathi hard for English speakers? Hard — new script and an unusually complex grammar for the region. The same script as Hindi with the extra letter ळ. If you read Hindi you can read Marathi, and from scratch it takes a few weeks. ### What writing system does Marathi use? Marathi uses devanagari in the Balbodh style. The same script as Hindi with the extra letter ळ. If you read Hindi you can read Marathi, and from scratch it takes a few weeks. ### What proficiency levels does NativePal use for Marathi? NativePal levels your Marathi 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 Marathi spoken? Marathi is spoken in the Indian state of Maharashtra, including Mumbai and Pune, with 83+ million speakers worldwide. ### Can I learn Marathi as a complete beginner? Yes. NativePal's Learning Scenarios start from the alphabet, numbers, greetings, and how to introduce yourself, with no prior Marathi assumed. Once those land, reading lessons and vocabulary packs pick up from wherever you are. ### Does NativePal correct my Marathi pronunciation? Yes. You read Marathi 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 Marathi, 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 Marathi? 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 custom characters and scenarios. Prices are set in the App Store and Google Play and vary by region. ### Do I need an account to start learning Marathi? No. NativePal uses anonymous sign-in, so you can start practising Marathi 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)