These Apps Will Help You Learn Spanish From Your Own Couch

Spanish is one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world, with roughly 500 million people using the language globally. In the United States, 13% of the population speaks Spanish, making it the most common non-English language spoken by residents. And that percentage is only growing. Per Forbes, Spanish is expected to be spoken by one in three people in the U.S. by the year 2050.

There are so many benefits to picking up a new language. For kids, learning a second language can boost problem-solving, critical-thinking and listening skills, in addition to improving memory, concentration and the ability to multitask. Having a kid-friendly app is a great way to help them explore a dialect. For adults, fluency in Spanish in particular may increase your chances at landing certain jobs, not to mention expand your horizons into cultures different from your own.

Learning Spanish might seem like a daunting task, but there are ways to make it easier — in other words, there's an app for that. Here, we round up the best apps to learn Spanish for both parents and kids. Nearly all the apps on here are free to download, but many require in-app purchases or monthly subscriptions to take full advantage of the offerings. However, there are a few that will give you a trial and/or limited features for free to try.

To dive even further into cultures that speak Spanish, check out Spanish-language movies, read a book by a Latinx author and listen to some Spanish and Latinx podcasts.