KOR Vocab: Korean Flashcards is now available in the Apple App Store! It's a flashcards app for learning Korean vocabulary, built with the same philosophy behind HeroMode: make progress in bite-sized pieces, celebrate the micro-wins, and keep the momentum going. If you are learning Korean, or have been meaning to start, we hope you'd give it a try!
Way back in 2022, we wrote about using HeroMode for language learning. One of our early users turned vocabulary learning into a HeroMode adventure: each new word became a quest, and each learned word became a point. It worked surprisingly well, because vocabulary learning is a perfect match for the HeroMode formula: small action items, frequent repetition, and a visible sense of progress.
So we thought: what if we build a dedicated app around that formula? Today, we are happy to announce that KOR Vocab, our Korean flashcards app, is now available in the Apple App Store!
Speak, Type, and Learn
In KOR Vocab, you engage with each word in multiple ways: you hear each word spoken aloud, you speak the word out loud with speech recognition checking your pronunciation, and you type the word in Hangul from memory. Each word also comes with romanization, so the app works whether you are just starting out or already comfortable reading Hangul.
Behind the scenes, KOR Vocab uses spaced repetition to decide when to show you each word again -- right around when you are about to forget it, which is when reviewing does the most good.
Above: A learning session in KOR Vocab. Here we are typing 진짜 ("really") in Hangul from memory. And really, each little green checkmark is quite satisfying. 진짜!
HeroMode-Style Motivation
Of course, knowing how to learn vocabulary is the easy part. Actually showing up day after day is the hard part. This is where we brought in everything we learned from building HeroMode.
Every review session earns you XP, so just like quest points in HeroMode, you can watch your effort accumulate. Daily streaks give you a gentle nudge to come back. And in keeping with our belief that motivation should be joyful rather than punishing, streaks come with a recovery window. Life happens; missing one day shouldn't negate all the effort you had put in.
Above: Complete your daily session to earn XP and level up (left), and watch your streak and activity calendar grow (right).
Your Words, Your Way
KOR Vocab comes with starter packs -- Basics, Everyday, Food -- to get you going. But everyone learns for their own reasons, so you can also create your own custom packs. And if you want a pack on a specific topic, say K-dramas or travel, you can have AI generate one for you.
Above: Toggle packs on and off to choose what shows up in your learning sessions (left). Want to understand your favorite K-dramas? Just tell the AI what you want to learn, and it'll generate a pack for you (right).
Local-First, Like We Like It
Just like Minimal Fast Tracker, KOR Vocab is local-first: your learning data stays on your own device. There is no account to create, no subscription, and no ads. It even works offline, so you can squeeze in a review session on the subway or on a flight (perhaps a flight to Seoul?).
Give It a Try!
If you are currently learning Korean, we hope KOR Vocab will be a useful and joyful addition to your journey -- it certainly has been for us. As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback at kor@ovisly.com.
Annyeong, and happy learning!