Learn vocabulary efficiently using science-backed spaced repetition
Learnglish helps you learn vocabulary from books you actually want to read. Instead of memorizing random word lists, you learn the exact words you need to understand your chosen books.
We analyze the vocabulary and rank words by importance
Review words at optimal intervals for long-term memory
Reach comprehension milestones and enjoy your book
The science behind effective vocabulary learning
We use the SM-2 algorithm, the same system used by Anki and Duolingo. It's based on the "forgetting curve" - the idea that you forget things at predictable intervals, and reviewing just before you forget creates the strongest memories.
Track your progress from unknown to mastered
You haven't studied this word yet, or you failed your last review. It will appear in your next practice session.
You're actively learning this word. It will come back for review within a week to reinforce your memory.
You know this word pretty well! Reviews are spaced out to weekly or bi-weekly to maintain your memory.
You've truly learned this word! The 30+ day interval means it's in your long-term memory. Mastered words are removed from daily practice so you can focus on new vocabulary.
A word is considered mastered when you've correctly recalled it multiple times over an extended period, and your next scheduled review is 30+ days away. This typically requires 4-5 successful consecutive reviews over several weeks. At this point, the word is stored in your long-term memory and you'll recognize it when reading.
Choose how many words to focus on
When you open a book, you'll see learning packs of different sizes (50, 100, 200, or all words). Words are ranked by frequency - the most common words in your book come first.
Learn the 50 most frequent words. Great for beginners or short books. Often gives you 60-70% text coverage.
A balanced approach. Typically covers 75-85% of the text.
For intermediate learners. Usually achieves 85-92% text coverage.
Master every unique word in the book. Recommended for advanced learners or books you really want to understand deeply.
Pro tip: Words you've already mastered from other books are tracked globally. If you've mastered "beautiful" in one book, you won't need to learn it again in another!
What the coverage percentage means
Text coverage is the percentage of words in the book you'll understand after mastering a word pack. It's based on word frequency - common words appear many times, so learning them gives you more "coverage."
Research suggests you need about 95-98% coverage to read fluently without a dictionary. However, 85% is often enough to enjoy a book while learning from context.