Photo: a Hausa family or city scene![A Hausa horseman in a red and silver turban and robes at a Durbar festival]()
Hausa
Kano Hausa, understood by relatives in Nigeria, Niger and Ghana.
Sannu · HelloNa gode · Thank you
Live online classes in Hausa, Yorùbá and Igbo
Your child, speaking your language.
Preserve your family’s voice across generations. We take your kids from nodding along to actively chatting with grandparents and cousins.
Who is learning?
✓ First class free✓ No card needed✓ Cancel anytime
Photo: a child on a live lesson![A smiling child at home]()
Next class in your time zoneSaturday
Vetted teachersNative speakers only
Small groups4–6 kids of the same age
Money-back first monthFull refund within 14 days
Pay your way£, €, US$ or C$ by card
How it works
What happens in a 45-minute class
Twice a week on Zoom, always the same teacher and the same small group.
5 minHello songGreet the class in the language
10 minNew wordsPictures, actions and repeating
10 minStory timeA folktale using the new words
10 minGameQuizzes and team challenges
10 minSpeaking timeEvery child speaks, every class
Level 1, 10 weeks:GreetingsFamilyNumbersMy bodyFoodColoursHomeFolktalesSongsWeek 10: your Family Call
Photo: a teacher with a small group of children![A girl at home taking notes during a live video lesson with her teacher]()
Book a free classPick a language and a time that works for you.
Meet the groupWe put your child with 4 to 6 kids around the same age.
Learn twice a weekLive on Zoom with songs, stories and games.
See the progressA short video of your child speaking, every month.
The Family Call
By week 10, your child talks to family. Live.
Every group ends with a real call to someone your child loves. A grandparent, an uncle, an auntie, a cousin: you choose who. Your teacher is on the call to help, and we get your relative ready beforehand.
How we get there
- Weeks 1–3: greetingsGood morning, how are you, thank you, goodbye
- Weeks 4–6: family wordsMummy, Daddy, grandparents, cousins, names and ages
- Weeks 7–9: practise the conversationYour child rehearses what they will say to their own person
- Week 10: the Family CallAbout 10 minutes, recorded for the family (with your permission). More than one relative can join.
A short guide for relatives
We share this with whoever joins, so nobody feels put on the spot.
- 🐢Speak slowly, in short sentencesA simple hello and "how are you?" is plenty.
- 👏🏾Praise every word, even a wrong oneSmile, say "well done!" and let them try again.
- 🤗Try not to switch to EnglishRepeat it slower, or ask the teacher to help.
- 💬Easy things to askWhat is your name? How old are you? What did you eat today?
Invite someone special
Pick who your child will talk to, then send them a friendly WhatsApp message. It takes 30 seconds, and you can invite more than one person.
We don't store this. WhatsApp opens with the message ready, and you choose to send it. We confirm the date with you before week 10.
Progress you can see
12 things your child can actually do
Instead of levels and scores, you see real skills. Your teacher ticks each one off and messages you. Then make a card to share it with the family.
Level 1, ten weeks. Tap a skill to see its card. Teachers confirm each one after class and send you a WhatsApp message.
Made for the family WhatsApp group. Share only when your child has reached the milestone.
Languages
See class times in your time zone →
Hausa, Yorùbá or Igbo
If Mum and Dad come from different parts of Nigeria, your child can learn more than one.
Photo: a Yorùbá family or city scene![A Yorùbá woman in a white beaded crown and white outfit at a festival in Ilé-Ifẹ̀]()
Yorùbá
Greetings for elders and proper tones from the very first lesson.
Ẹ káàárọ̀ · Good morningẸ ṣé · Thank you
Photo: an Igbo family or city scene![Igbo dancers in red caps, coral beads and wrappers dancing at a festival]()
Igbo
Standard Igbo, so kids can talk with relatives from any town.
Ndewo · HelloDaalụ · Thank you
Class times
Pick a language, then a time
All times are on your clock, not Lagos time.
Preview: seat counts here are saved in this browser only. Connect the Google Sheet to share them with every parent.
Groups of 4–6 children of similar age · 45 minutes · the same teacher every week.
Teachers
Meet the people teaching your child
Every teacher is a native speaker, background-checked, and trained to teach children online.
Teacher photo![Fatima Lawan, Hausa teacher]()
HausaFatima Lawan3+ years teaching childrenTeacher photo![Afolashade Ogunjimi, Yorùbá teacher]()
YorùbáAfolashade Ogunjimi5+ years teaching childrenTeacher photo![Chiamaka Odumegwu, Igbo teacher]()
IgboChiamaka Odumegwu4 years teaching childrenTeacher photo![Motunraya Ifakorede, Yorùbá teacher]()
YorùbáMotunraya Ifakorede3+ years teaching childrenWhy Vernacula exists. Many families across Nigeria and in the diaspora speak mostly English at home, making it difficult for children to speak their parents' native language. This leaves kids unable to connect deeply with relatives back home, even while thriving in school and public life. Vernacula was born to bridge this gap, helping children retain their heritage language so they can confidently converse with grandparents, cousins, and family everywhere. We personally vet every teacher and watch them teach a live class before they ever meet your child.
Teach with us
For the kids
Pick a game to play
Four games in Hausa, Yorùbá or Igbo. Tap one to start, collect stars, and new words come up every time you play.
Bubble Pop
Pop the bubble that matches the word
Ayò Seeds
Sow the seeds and count them in your language
Touch & Tap
Find the body part, dressed in traditional clothes
Family Call
Answer your family in full sentences
Bubble Pop
Read the word, pop the matching bubble.1 / 8
Tap the glowing pit and count the seeds as they drop.
Read the word, then tap that part of Musa's body.
Grandma is calling! Tap the right sentence to answer her.
Who is calling?
GrandmaOn a video call from home
Student corner
Ready for class?
Everything your child needs before, during and after class.
Open the student cornerHide the student corner
Join my class
Classes happen right here on Vernacula. Use the private class code we sent you on WhatsApp. Only families with a code can get into a class.
Join live classNo code yet, or lost it? Ask us on WhatsApp
Before class
You're ready for class!
Class rules
- Be kind to everyone in class.
- Raise your hand when you want to talk.
- Keep it secret: never share your full name, address or school online.
- Chat is for class things only.
- Tell your grown-up if anything makes you worried.
Pricing
Simple monthly plans
Prices for children. Pay monthly in pounds, euros, US or Canadian dollars, and stop whenever you want. Every plan starts with a free class.
Group class
/ child / month
About per class, per child
- 2 live classes a week, 45 minutes each
- Small group of 4–6 kids the same age
- Same native-speaker teacher every week
- Worksheets sent before every class
- Recording of every class
- Monthly video of your child speaking
- Family Call in week 10: your child talks to someone they love
- All four learning games on the website
One-to-one
/ child / month
About per lesson
- Everything in Group, plus:
- 2 private lessons a week, 45 minutes each
- Lessons paced to your child's level
- Times that fit your family's week
- Easy rescheduling with 24 hours' notice
- A parent can join any lesson
- A written progress report every month
Churches, mosques & schools
from / term
Up to 15 children per group
- A live teacher on your screen, 10 weeks
- 2 sessions a week at a time you choose
- Full Level 1 curriculum and lesson plans
- Printed-ready worksheets for every child
- End-of-term showcase for parents
- Certificate for every child
- Child safety policy and recorded sessions
Our promise: the right group and teacher for your child. If they aren't settling in, we'll move them to another group or teacher at no cost. Not happy in your first month? Full refund within 14 days.
Bring a family, you both save
You both get 30% off a month when a family you refer joins. Refer 5 families and your next month is free. Their child can even join the same group as yours.
One offer per month: referral discounts don't combine with founding or sibling discounts.
For grown-ups
It's not too late for you either
Never learned as a child? Married into a Hausa, Yorùbá or Igbo family? Our teachers teach adults too, at times that fit around work.
See adult optionsHide adult options
One-to-one for adults
per 50-minute lesson4 lessons · 8 lessons a month
For grown-ups who understand a little but freeze when it's time to speak.
- Private lessons with a native speaker
- Speaking from the first lesson, not drills
- Lessons built around your goals
- Morning, evening and weekend times
- Free rescheduling with 24 hours' notice
- Notes and audio after every lesson
Meet the in-laws
for the full course6 one-to-one lessons over 3 weeks
Greetings, respect and family words, ready for the introduction, the wedding and every visit after.
- Greetings and respect for elders
- Family titles: who to call what
- Words for the introduction and wedding
- Thank-you and prayer phrases
- A practice call with “the in-laws”
- A phrase sheet with audio to keep
Learn with your child
+ a monthon top of your child's group plan
Join your child's class and practise the same words together at home.
- Join your child's live group classes
- The same teacher as your child
- Your own copy of every worksheet
- A weekly practice guide for home
- Access to every class recording
- Join the Family Call, together
Practise for real life
Four games for grown-ups
Real moments with family and friends, plus quick word practice. Learn why each answer is right. New questions every time.
Meet the In-laws
Say the respectful thing at family visits
Market Day
Greet, ask the price, bargain and buy
Sentence Builder
Put the words in the right order
60-Second Challenge
Right or wrong? Beat the clock
Your referral link
When a family you refer joins, you both get 30% off a month. Refer 5 families and your next month is free.
Where is your child now?
Meet the In-laws
Safety
Is it safe for my child?
It's the first thing we'd ask too. Every class follows our written child safety policy, and you can read it here.
- Background-checked teachersVetted and trained before teaching children.
- No private messagingTeachers only contact families through parents.
- Recorded sessionsClasses are recorded for safety review.
- A parent nearbyA grown-up stays at home during class.
FAQ
Questions parents ask
My child doesn't speak any Hausa, Yorùbá or Igbo. Is that okay?
Yes, most of our students start that way. Level 1 begins with the very first greeting.
What does my child need?
A laptop or tablet with a camera, good internet and a quiet corner. We send worksheets before each class.
What if we miss a class?
It happens. You'll get the recording, and if another group has space that week, your child can join it for free.
Can siblings join the same class?
Yes, if they're at about the same level. If not, they go into different groups and the second child gets a sibling discount.
Do you have a referral reward?
Yes. Share your referral link with another family. When they pay for their first month, they get 30% off it and you get 30% off your next month. Refer 5 families and your next month is free. There's no limit, and their child can join the same group as yours if the age, level and seats fit. Referral discounts can't be combined with other offers (founding families or siblings) in the same month. If more than one applies, you get the bigger one, and your usual discounts carry on from the next month.
What if a class doesn't go well?
Tell us. If the problem was on our side, we'll give you a free replacement class. If your child isn't settling in, we'll move them to a group or teacher that suits them better, at no cost. And if you're not happy in your first month, we'll refund you in full within 14 days.
How do I pay?
By card, once a month, in pounds, euros, US dollars or Canadian dollars. Families everywhere else pay in US dollars. If you want to stop, just tell us before your next payment date.
Free trial
Book your free class
Fill this in and WhatsApp will open with your details ready to send. We'll reply within a day with a time for the free class.
Where is your child now?A 1-minute check you do with your child at home: say three short lines and see how they respond.
Prefer to pick a time yourself? Choose a slot →
Almost done! Send it on WhatsApp.
Tap the green button to open WhatsApp with your booking filled in, then press send. If WhatsApp doesn't open, copy the details and send them to us using the button below.
Save the date: . We'll confirm it on WhatsApp.