Duolingo is a language-learning platform with a website, an app, and a sociopathic owl mascot that threatens users to continue their courses.

From passive-aggressive notifications after a period of inactivity to visiting your bedroom while you’re asleep, it knows no limits.

As the owl became more and more confident in its wicked ways, some 300 million Duolingo users started creating memes to tell about the times it came hunting for them.

That’s right. It doesn't matter if they’re learning conjunctions or idioms; the owl is always watching and waiting. And if they haven’t completed their daily task by midnight, it’s a bloody nightmare.

Continue scrolling and enjoy some of the funniest Duolingo memes from Twitter, Instagram, and any other corner of the internet!

#1

When Apps Team Up

Duolingo meme showing notifications: forgot Spanish lesson warning and a simultaneous ADT intruder alert.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
FortnitePlayerGirl
Community Member
6 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm scared for my life now, since I'm taking Japanese with duo.

View more commentsArrow down menu
RELATED:
    #2

    Mother-in-law negotiations

    Funny Duolingo meme about selling a mother-in-law for a euro.

    noamastenbroek Report

    The Duolingo project was started in 2009 in Pittsburgh by Carnegie Mellon University professor Luis von Ahn (creator of reCAPTCHA) and his graduate student Severin Hacker. Initially, Luis Von Ahn wanted to create a program that would both teach its users a foreign language and have them translate simple phrases in documents, though the translation feature has since been removed.

    #3

    Silent But Deadly

    Duolingo notification humorously paired with a missile alert, playing on language lesson reminders.

    Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #4

    Language Learning Threats

    Duolingo bird meme showing a blurred bird with text about not practicing for two days.

    Report

    The project was originally sponsored by Luis von Ahn's MacArthur fellowship and a National Science Foundation grant. Additional funding came from an investment Union Square Ventures and actor Ashton Kutcher's firm, A-Grade Investments.

    #6

    Lost in Translation Mood

    Duolingo meme with humorous Norwegian phrase, "I am eating bread and crying on the floor."

    williamstafford Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Kaisu
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Good for us with mental illnesses who still need to eat

    View more commentsArrow down menu

    Duolingo started its private beta on November 30, 2011, and more than 300,000 users joined the waiting list. On June 19, 2012, Duolingo launched for the general public. Due to popular interest, it has received many investments including a $20 million Series C round of investment led by Kleiner Caufield & Byers and a $45 million Series D round of investment led by Google Capital. Currently, Duolingo employs 95 people, of whom many had been working for Google.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #7

    Midnight Motivation Meltdown

    Comic of a brain reminding someone they missed a Duolingo lesson, featuring the Duolingo owl holding a knife.

    Report

    ADVERTISEMENT

    All language-learning features in Duolingo are free of charge, but it uses periodic advertising in both its mobile and web browser applications. Users can get rid of it by paying a subscription fee.

    #9

    Lost in Translation Moments

    Funny Duolingo meme depicting conversation misunderstanding with native speakers from a TV show scene.

    ambervalentina Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Rakan Rakan
    Community Member
    11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Duollingo: you forgot your lesson you now what will ha_ wait what Are you eating

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #14

    Heart Rates and Language Fates

    Duolingo meme showing normal, flatline, and chaotic heartbeat related to Spanish lesson reminders.

    Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #15

    Existential Language Lessons

    Duolingo meme with humorous sentence translation, asking profound questions like "Who am I?"

    valeriecodes Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    PandaLover
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Where am I? What is the meaning of life? Why are you not doing your duolingo lessons every day?

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #16

    Keep The Streak Alive

    Duolingo owl with speech bubble saying, "5 in a row! Well done! Your family is safe today!"

    Report

    #17

    Fitness Goals vs Reality

    Duolingo app icon among various workout apps, creating a humorous meme contrast.

    Report

    #18

    Language Lessons Or Else

    Duolingo meme featuring the owl holding a gun, humorously demanding language practice.

    Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #19

    Buffering Brain Blues

    Duolingo meme with humorous text about downloading languages into the brain and slow buffering.

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Bored Phoenix
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    NO! Do NOT TELL DUOLINGO OWL YOUR LOCATION! *whispers* you might die

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #21

    Silent but Deadly

    Duolingo meme: Black crow with knife, text reads "beg for your life in Spanish."

    ghoulcabin Report

    #22

    Language Lessons Gone Wrong

    Duolingo meme featuring an incorrect answer message and joking about the Duolingo owl's intensity.

    Report

    #23

    Language Coach Gone Rogue

    Buff Duolingo owl humorously confronting user for inactivity.

    Report

    #24

    Making Some Noise Midnight Visitor Alert When Panic Hits Peak

    Patrick panicking with a radio as Duolingo owl appears in the doorway; a hilarious Duolingo meme moment.

    Report

    #25

    Lost in Translation Laughs

    Duolingo meme parody with app mascot; top text censored, bottom text in Spanish translation.

    Report

    #27

    Late Night Language Lessons

    Duolingo meme: Owl appearing at bedroom door at 2am, urging Chinese practice.

    nomadbcrnes Report

    #28

    When Apps Get Serious

    Two people running in a hallway, with text about Duolingo memes and daily language lesson reminders.

    FloofKing Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Panda Bae
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have some questions about what is going on in the picture...

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #29

    First Words Fail

    Cartoon character humorously reminds about a missed Duolingo lesson.

    Report