Flashcards that check your pronunciation
Recognising a word is not the same as saying it. Lingato flashcards pair studio-quality voices with a strict speech-recognition check so every card earns real speaking practice — the habit research keeps pointing to as essential for durable language learning.
Why saying it out loud matters
Silent study feels efficient, but it under-trains the skill you need in conversation. Laboratory work on the production effect shows that saying a word aloud makes it more memorable than reading it quietly. In second-language learning, production practice during study improves later comprehension, and Swain’s output hypothesis describes how pushed speaking helps learners notice gaps that input alone can hide. Building accurate pronunciation from the start is a better default than “I’ll fix the sound later,” once silent forms have already solidified.
Hopman & MacDonald (2018), Psychological Science
Production practice during language learning improves comprehension — speaking while you learn is not a
side quest; it strengthens understanding too.
MacLeod et al. (2010) — the production effect
Words spoken aloud are remembered better than words studied silently, a robust memory advantage Lingato
leans on by scoring spoken answers.
MacDonald (2013), Frontiers in Psychology
Open-access review of how language production shapes form and comprehension — useful background for why
speaking practice belongs in everyday vocabulary study.
Comprehensible output (Swain)
A clear overview of the idea that learners need to produce language, not only receive it, to notice and
refine what they cannot yet say.
What makes Lingato flashcards different
Studio-quality audio first
Pre-generated clips for displayed text, with a Web Speech fallback when a clip is missing — gaps never block study.
Speak to score
Points come from accepted spoken answers. Peeking at the translation does not count as studying, so the loop stays honest.
Six languages
Spanish, Italian, Polish, Norwegian, Russian and English — pick a known language and a learning language, then practise a few minutes a day.
Same streak as the games
Flashcards, Word Snake, Just a Minute, Opposites Attract and Word Keys all feed one daily goal and streak, so speaking practice is not siloed from play.
How a good speaking habit looks
- Hear the studio clip before you guess, so the target sound is fresh.
- Say the word clearly; the speech check decides if it counts.
- Misses are cheap — try again immediately while the audio is still in mind.
- Stack a few cards daily rather than bingeing silently once a week.
- Pair flashcards with Word Keys when you want generative Spanish or Italian patterns, not only single items.
FAQ
Do I need an account?
No. Try as a guest. Create a free account when you want streaks and the leaderboard to follow you across devices.
What else can I practise?
Word Keys for Spanish and Italian cognates,
Spanish cognate patterns,
Italian cognate patterns,
plus in-app word games for speed and recall.
Is this only for beginners?
No. Beginners get pronunciation right from day one; intermediate learners use the same loop to keep oral vocabulary active instead of “known on paper only.”