# Learn Urdu with NativePal > Learn Urdu with NativePal: levelled reading, vocabulary with spaced repetition, and pronunciation coaching. Free app for iOS and Android. ## Quick facts - Native name: اردو - Speakers: 230+ million speakers worldwide - Spoken in: Pakistan and parts of India, with a large diaspora in the UK and Gulf states - Writing system: Perso-Arabic script in Nastaliq style, around 39 letters, written right to left - 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 Urdu - **Split ergativity**: In perfective past tenses the subject takes نے and the verb agrees with the object rather than the subject, which reverses the pattern learners have just internalised. - **Verb-final order with postpositions**: The verb comes last and relational words follow their noun, so English word order has to be rebuilt from scratch. - **Two genders with pervasive agreement**: Nouns are masculine or feminine and both adjectives and verbs must agree, so one wrong gender changes several words. - **Persian and Arabic constructions**: Formal Urdu uses the Persian izafat linker and Arabic plural patterns, so literary vocabulary follows rules imported from other languages. - **Mutual intelligibility with Hindi**: Spoken Urdu and Hindi share a grammar and most everyday vocabulary. If you learn one you largely understand the other, but the scripts are entirely different. ## How you practise Urdu in NativePal - [Reading Lessons](https://nativepal.app/features/reading-lessons/): Urdu 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 Urdu vocabulary lessons plus a personal dictionary feeding spaced-repetition flashcards. - [Speaking Practice](https://nativepal.app/features/speaking-practice/): read Urdu 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 Urdu every day, analysed for grammar, vocabulary, and phrasing. - [Learning Scenarios](https://nativepal.app/features/learning-scenarios/): structured Urdu lessons from the alphabet for absolute beginners. ## FAQ ### How long does it take to learn Urdu? The US Foreign Service Institute puts Urdu 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 Urdu grammar? Split ergativity: In perfective past tenses the subject takes نے and the verb agrees with the object rather than the subject, which reverses the pattern learners have just internalised. Verb-final order with postpositions: The verb comes last and relational words follow their noun, so English word order has to be rebuilt from scratch. Two genders with pervasive agreement: Nouns are masculine or feminine and both adjectives and verbs must agree, so one wrong gender changes several words. Persian and Arabic constructions: Formal Urdu uses the Persian izafat linker and Arabic plural patterns, so literary vocabulary follows rules imported from other languages. Mutual intelligibility with Hindi: Spoken Urdu and Hindi share a grammar and most everyday vocabulary. If you learn one you largely understand the other, but the scripts are entirely different. ### Is Urdu hard for English speakers? Hard — largely because of the script. Letters change shape by position and short vowels are usually not written, and the flowing Nastaliq style adds difficulty. Expect a couple of months to read comfortably. ### What writing system does Urdu use? Urdu uses perso-Arabic script in Nastaliq style, around 39 letters, written right to left. Letters change shape by position and short vowels are usually not written, and the flowing Nastaliq style adds difficulty. Expect a couple of months to read comfortably. ### What proficiency levels does NativePal use for Urdu? NativePal levels your Urdu 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 Urdu spoken? Urdu is spoken in Pakistan and parts of India, with a large diaspora in the UK and Gulf states, with 230+ million speakers worldwide. ### Can I learn Urdu as a complete beginner? Yes. NativePal's Learning Scenarios start from the alphabet, numbers, greetings, and how to introduce yourself, with no prior Urdu assumed. Once those land, reading lessons and vocabulary packs pick up from wherever you are. ### Does NativePal correct my Urdu pronunciation? Yes. You read Urdu 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 Urdu, 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 Urdu? 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 Urdu? No. NativePal uses anonymous sign-in, so you can start practising Urdu 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)