Quick “Use-It-Today” Spanish Cards

The 10 Best Apps For Kids To Learn Spanish

Each pick includes: what it’s best at, what to watch for, and where to read real reviews. (Yes, you should peek at reviews before handing an app to a tiny human with unlimited tapping power.)

1) Studycat Learn Spanish

Best for: Preschool and early elementary kids who learn through play, repetition, and quick wins.
Why it’s #1: It’s built specifically for kids (not a grown-up app wearing a cartoon hat). Lessons feel like games, but the vocabulary is practical and the pacing works for short attention spans.
Watch-outs: Like most kid-first apps, progress can look “messy” to adults—trust the repetition. Consistency is the secret sauce.

Check reviews: Common Sense Media search for Studycat Spanish. Find it fast: App Store search • Google Play search.

2) Pili Pop Español

Best for: Kids who need extra speaking practice and confidence.
Why it’s strong: It’s known for encouraging kids to say words and phrases out loud (which is where learning gets real). Great when your kid understands a bunch but hesitates to speak.
Watch-outs: Speaking features can be sensitive to background noise—quiet corner helps.

Check reviews: Common Sense Media search for Pili Pop Español. Find it fast: App Store search • Google Play search.

3) DinoLingo

Best for: Families who want a wider “curriculum vibe” (songs, videos, printables, themed units).
Why it’s strong: It’s more than just an app—great if you want Spanish to show up in different ways across the week.
Watch-outs: Because it’s broad, it helps to pick one theme at a time (animals, food, family) instead of bouncing around.

Check reviews: Common Sense Media search for DinoLingo Spanish. Find it fast: App Store search • Google Play search.

4) Gus On The Go: Spanish

Best for: Little kids who love cute characters and simple, themed vocabulary (animals, foods, colors).
Why it’s strong: Straightforward, kid-friendly, and usually easy to jump into without a big setup.
Watch-outs: It’s more “vocab builder” than “conversation builder,” so pair it with a few speaking phrases at home.

Check reviews: Common Sense Media search for Gus on the Go Spanish. Find it fast: App Store search • Google Play search.

5) Mondly Kids

Best for: Elementary kids who like fast, colorful activities and daily practice.
Why it’s strong: Good variety—vocabulary, short phrases, and a “keep coming back” design that works for routine learners.
Watch-outs: If your kid is very young, you’ll want to sit with them at first so it doesn’t turn into random tapping.

Check reviews: Common Sense Media search for Mondly Kids Spanish. Find it fast: App Store search • Google Play search.

6) Mango Languages

Best for: Families who want more “real phrase” Spanish, especially for older kids and tweens.
Why it’s strong: It’s practical and often available free through libraries (which is my favorite price).
Watch-outs: The style can feel less “gamey,” so it works best for kids who like learning with a bit more structure.

Check reviews: Common Sense Media search for Mango Languages. Find it fast: App Store search • Google Play search.

7) Duolingo

Best for: Older kids, tweens, and teens who thrive on streaks, points, and bite-size lessons.
Why it’s strong: It’s super approachable and great for building a habit—especially if you do it together for 5–10 minutes a day.
Watch-outs: Some sentences can be goofy. Useful? Sometimes. Silly? Often. Pair it with speaking phrases so it doesn’t stay “tap-only Spanish.”

Check reviews: Common Sense Media search for Duolingo. Find it fast: App Store search • Google Play search.

8) Drops

Best for: Visual learners who enjoy quick word bursts (especially older kids).
Why it’s strong: Great for vocabulary—think “flashcards got a glow-up.”
Watch-outs: Vocabulary alone doesn’t equal speaking. Use it as a supplement, not the whole plan.

Check reviews: Common Sense Media search for Drops. Find it fast: App Store search • Google Play search.

9) LingoDeer

Best for: Teens (and motivated tweens) who want clearer explanations and a more “study-friendly” path.
Why it’s strong: It tends to explain patterns more than pure game apps, which some older kids actually prefer.
Watch-outs: Not as “little kid” friendly—this is for the older crowd.

Check reviews: Common Sense Media search for LingoDeer. Find it fast: App Store search • Google Play search.

10) FluentU

Best for: Teens who like learning through real videos (music clips, interviews, ads, etc.).
Why it’s strong: Video-based Spanish can be super motivating because it feels like the real world—not “textbook land.”
Watch-outs: Best with some basic foundation first, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

Check reviews: Common Sense Media search for FluentU. Find it fast: App Store search • Google Play search.

Quick Comparison Chart

App	Best Ages	Best At	Parent Tip
Studycat Learn Spanish	3–8	Play-based vocab + listening	Do 1 short lesson daily
Pili Pop Español	4–10	Speaking confidence	Quiet room = better results
DinoLingo	3–10	Themed units + variety	Pick one theme per week
Gus on the Go	3–7	Simple themed vocabulary	Add home speaking phrases
Mondly Kids	5–11	Daily practice + variety	Sit together at first
Mango Languages	8+	Practical phrases	Use library access if available
Duolingo	9+	Habit building	5–10 min together helps
Drops	10+	Visual vocabulary	Use as a supplement
LingoDeer	12+	Clear learning path	Great for motivated learners
FluentU	13+	Real-world listening	Start with easier videos

Useful Phrases For “App Time” Spanish

These are the phrases that turn a Spanish app into actual Spanish at home. Each one includes an English meaning and a real sentence you can say right away.

• ¿Qué es esto? — What is this?
  ¿Qué es esto? Es un gato. (What is this? It’s a cat.)
• ¿Cómo se dice ___ en español? — How do you say ___ in Spanish?
  ¿Cómo se dice “dog” en español? Se dice “perro”. (How do you say “dog” in Spanish? It’s “perro.”)
• Muy bien, inténtalo otra vez. — Very good, try again.
  Muy bien, inténtalo otra vez con calma. (Very good, try again calmly.)
• Te toca. — Your turn.
  Te toca. Di la palabra. (Your turn. Say the word.)
• Me toca. — My turn.
  Me toca. Yo voy primero. (My turn. I’ll go first.)
• Escucha con atención. — Listen carefully.
  Escucha con atención y repite. (Listen carefully and repeat.)
• ¡Lo lograste! — You did it! / You made it!
  ¡Lo lograste! Terminaste. (You did it! You finished.)
• No pasa nada. — It’s okay / No worries.
  No pasa nada. Todos nos equivocamos. (It’s okay. We all make mistakes.)
• ¿Quieres ayuda? — Do you want help?
  ¿Quieres ayuda o puedes solo/sola? (Do you want help or can you do it yourself?)
• Un minuto más. — One more minute.
  Un minuto más y guardamos la tableta. (One more minute and we put away the tablet.)
• Buen intento. — Good try.
  Buen intento. Casi. (Good try. Almost.)
• ¿Cuál es la respuesta? — What’s the answer?
  ¿Cuál es la respuesta? A ver… (What’s the answer? Let’s see…)
• Hazlo conmigo. — Do it with me.
  Hazlo conmigo: “Hola, ¿cómo estás?” (Do it with me: “Hi, how are you?”)
• ¡Aplauso! — Clap! (Kid-friendly “celebration” word.)
  ¡Aplauso! ¡Muy bien! (Clap! Very good!)
• Hoy aprendimos ___. — Today we learned ___.
  Hoy aprendimos colores. (Today we learned colors.)

Tables Of Words (Save These For Daily Practice)

Praise & Motivation (15 Handy Phrases)

Spanish	English Meaning	Example 1	Example 2	Example 3
¡Excelente!	Excellent!	¡Excelente! Qué rápido. (Excellent! So fast.)	¡Excelente trabajo! (Excellent work!)	¡Excelente, sigue así! (Excellent, keep it up!)
¡Qué bien!	How great!	¡Qué bien! Lo dijiste perfecto. (How great! You said it perfectly.)	¡Qué bien te salió! (That went really well!)	¡Qué bien, otra palabra! (Great, another word!)
¡Buenísimo!	Awesome!	¡Buenísimo! Vamos con la siguiente. (Awesome! Let’s do the next one.)	¡Buenísimo, ya casi! (Awesome, almost!)	¡Buenísimo, lo lograste! (Awesome, you did it!)
Buen trabajo	Good job	Buen trabajo con los colores. (Good job with colors.)	Buen trabajo, te concentraste. (Good job, you focused.)	Buen trabajo hoy. (Good job today.)
Buen intento	Good try	Buen intento. Casi casi. (Good try. Very close.)	Buen intento, inténtalo otra vez. (Good try, try again.)	Buen intento, no pasa nada. (Good try, it’s okay.)
¡Tú puedes!	You can do it!	¡Tú puedes! Con calma. (You can do it! Calmly.)	¡Tú puedes! Ya casi. (You can do it! Almost.)	¡Tú puedes! Inténtalo. (You can do it! Try.)
Con calma	Calmly / Take it easy	Con calma. Respira. (Take it easy. Breathe.)	Vamos con calma. (Let’s go calmly.)	Con calma, escucha primero. (Calmly, listen first.)
Sin prisa	No rush	Sin prisa. Tienes tiempo. (No rush. You have time.)	Hazlo sin prisa. (Do it without rushing.)	Sin prisa, repite. (No rush, repeat.)
¡Qué orgullo!	So proud!	¡Qué orgullo! Aprendiste mucho. (So proud! You learned a lot.)	¡Qué orgullo verte intentar! (So proud to see you try!)	¡Qué orgullo, lo hiciste! (So proud, you did it!)
Muy bien	Very good	Muy bien. Ahora otra. (Very good. Now another.)	Muy bien, escuchaste. (Very good, you listened.)	Muy bien, repítelo. (Very good, repeat it.)
Perfecto	Perfect	Perfecto. Así se dice. (Perfect. That’s how you say it.)	Perfecto, ya entendiste. (Perfect, you got it.)	Perfecto, seguimos. (Perfect, we continue.)
¡Eso!	That’s it!	¡Eso! Así mero. (That’s it! Exactly.)	¡Eso! Te salió. (That’s it! You got it.)	¡Eso! Otra vez. (That’s it! Again.)
¡Bravo!	Bravo!	¡Bravo! Qué buena pronunciación. (Bravo! Great pronunciation.)	¡Bravo! Aplauso. (Bravo! Clap.)	¡Bravo! Terminaste. (Bravo! You finished.)
¡Qué listo/lista!	So smart!	¡Qué lista! Aprendiste rápido. (So smart! You learned fast.)	¡Qué listo! Te acordaste. (So smart! You remembered.)	¡Qué lista! Muy bien. (So smart! Very good.)
Te salió	You got it / It worked out	¡Te salió! Bien hecho. (You got it! Well done.)	Te salió a la primera. (You got it on the first try.)	Te salió mejor hoy. (You did better today.)

App Time & Routines (15 Daily-Use Phrases)

Spanish	English Meaning	Example 1	Example 2	Example 3
Es hora de español	It’s Spanish time	Es hora de español, cinco minutos. (It’s Spanish time, five minutes.)	Es hora de español antes de cenar. (Spanish time before dinner.)	Es hora de español, ¿listo/lista? (Spanish time, ready?)
Una lección más	One more lesson	Una lección más y terminamos. (One more lesson and we’re done.)	Solo una lección más. (Just one more lesson.)	Una lección más, por favor. (One more lesson, please.)
Guarda la tableta	Put away the tablet	Guarda la tableta, ya terminó. (Put away the tablet, it’s done.)	Guarda la tableta con cuidado. (Put away the tablet carefully.)	Guarda la tableta y ven. (Put it away and come.)
Vamos a empezar	Let’s start	Vamos a empezar con colores. (Let’s start with colors.)	Vamos a empezar despacio. (Let’s start slowly.)	Vamos a empezar juntos. (Let’s start together.)
Escucha y repite	Listen and repeat	Escucha y repite: “hola”. (Listen and repeat: “hello.”)	Escucha y repite dos veces. (Listen and repeat twice.)	Escucha y repite conmigo. (Listen and repeat with me.)
Lee en voz alta	Read out loud	Lee en voz alta, por favor. (Read out loud, please.)	Lee en voz alta una palabra. (Read one word out loud.)	Lee en voz alta y despacio. (Read out loud and slowly.)
¿Qué escuchaste?	What did you hear?	¿Qué escuchaste? ¿“perro”? (What did you hear? “dog”?)	¿Qué escuchaste en el audio? (What did you hear in the audio?)	¿Qué escuchaste primero? (What did you hear first?)
¿Qué viste?	What did you see?	¿Qué viste? Un gato. (What did you see? A cat.)	¿Qué viste en la pantalla? (What did you see on the screen?)	¿Qué viste en la lección? (What did you see in the lesson?)
¿Cuál es la respuesta?	What’s the answer?	¿Cuál es la respuesta? Piensa. (What’s the answer? Think.)	¿Cuál es la respuesta correcta? (What’s the correct answer?)	¿Cuál es la respuesta? Tú sabes. (What’s the answer? You know.)
Inténtalo otra vez	Try again	Inténtalo otra vez, sin prisa. (Try again, no rush.)	Inténtalo otra vez, por favor. (Try again, please.)	Inténtalo otra vez conmigo. (Try again with me.)
¿Quieres ayuda?	Do you want help?	¿Quieres ayuda o puedes solo/sola? (Do you want help or can you do it alone?)	¿Quieres ayuda con esa palabra? (Do you want help with that word?)	¿Quieres ayuda? Estoy aquí. (Do you want help? I’m here.)
Yo te ayudo	I’ll help you	Yo te ayudo. Mira. (I’ll help you. Look.)	Yo te ayudo a decirlo. (I’ll help you say it.)	Yo te ayudo con la pronunciación. (I’ll help you with pronunciation.)
Hazlo conmigo	Do it with me	Hazlo conmigo: “buenos días”. (Do it with me: “good morning.”)	Hazlo conmigo una vez. (Do it with me once.)	Hazlo conmigo y luego tú. (Do it with me, then you.)
Ya casi	Almost done	Ya casi terminamos. (We’re almost done.)	Ya casi, tú puedes. (Almost, you can do it.)	Ya casi, una más. (Almost, one more.)
Terminamos	We’re finished	Terminamos. ¡Aplauso! (We’re finished. Clap!)	Terminamos por hoy. (We’re done for today.)	Terminamos y descansamos. (We finish and rest.)

A Simple 10-Minute Daily Routine (No Overthinking Required)

• Minute 1: Say hi in Spanish: Hola (Hi) + ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?)
• Minutes 2–8: One short lesson in the app.
• Minutes 9–10: Repeat 3 words out loud and use them in one sentence.

Quick sentence frame you can reuse forever: Es un/una ___. (It’s a ___.)
Es un perro. (It’s a dog.) • Es una manzana. (It’s an apple.)