Several factors protected Guarani: its widespread adoption by the Jesuits in the 17th century as a mission language (creating a written tradition), the fact that Spanish colonists intermarried with Guarani families (creating a bilingual ruling class), and the War of the Triple Alliance (1864–1870), which wiped out 60–70% of Paraguay's male population, women, the vast majority of them Guarani speakers, then transmitted the language to the following generations. It is a unique story of linguistic survival.

Is Guarani useful for travelling in Paraguay?

Absolutely, more than its co-official status would suggest. In the working-class neighbourhoods of Asunción and across rural Paraguay, Guarani dominates and Spanish alone is not enough for genuine connection. A few phrases in Guarani trigger a strong emotional response from Paraguayans, it is their language of the heart, of the familia and of deep identity. It is also useful for travel to Argentina (Corrientes) and Bolivia (Santa Cruz department).

Does Guarani have a writing system?

Yes, modern Guarani is written in the Latin alphabet with a few diacritics (nasal tilde ñ, apostrophe for the glottal stop, tonal accents). The official Paraguayan spelling is standardised. The older Guarani used in the Jesuit missions also had a writing system, and many texts from the 17th and 18th centuries have been preserved. Reading Guarani is easy once the phonetic rules are absorbed, the apostrophe for the glottal stop is the main new element for an English speaker.

Can I learn Guarani for research in Indigenous American linguistics?

Guarani is one of the most thoroughly documented and most accessible Indigenous American languages for research. Its complex morphology (verbs that incorporate arguments, animate/inanimate distinction, rich verbal aspect) makes it a fascinating study subject for linguists. And with 6 million speakers, it is also a living language you can work with in the field. Several European universities run Guarani studies programmes.

How long does it take to learn Guarani?

Guarani is classed as a very difficult language for Europeans, polysynthetic morphology, glottal stop, tones, grammatical animate/inanimate distinction. Expect 12 to 18 months to reach B1 level with regular lessons. But for travellers or professionals targeting a specific mission in Paraguay, a survival level (greetings, essential phrases, jopará expressions) is achievable within 2 to 3 months.

How much do Guarani courses cost on Targumi?

Targumi offers 3 plans: monthly, quarterly, and lifetime access. All plans include live small-group classes with native teachers, interactive lessons, and the community. See full pricing on the pricing page.

Are the Guarani courses online or in person?

100% online. Live classes happen in small groups via Google Meet. You can join from anywhere in the world. The mobile and web app stay accessible 24/7 for interactive lessons.

Is there a money-back guarantee?

Yes. Targumi offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans. If you are not satisfied, just email [email protected] for a full refund.

How do I cancel my subscription?

You can cancel anytime from your profile (“My subscriptions” section) with no hidden fees. Your access stays active until the end of your paid period.

Resources

All Guarani resources

Explore our free tools to progress outside of class.

Guarani level test

Assess your CEFR level in 5 minutes. 30-day learning plan included.

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Guarani survival kit

A hundred words and thirty key phrases as a printable PDF, free.

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Guarani cultural quiz

How well do you know Guarani culture? Films, music, traditions.

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Guarani articles

Guides and articles to learn Guarani.

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Guarani vocabulary

Essential words and phrases organized by theme.

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Cultural resources

Podcasts, movies, TV shows and music to progress through immersion.

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Reviews

They are learning Guarani with Targumi

Verified learner testimonials.

“my partner is paraguayan. his family speaks guarani among themselves, always has. 6 months in, and last sunday his aunt talked to me in guarani. i replied. she laughed. worth every penny”

Solène R.Verified purchase

“Been on Targumi for 3 months. The small group format is exactly what I needed. My teacher takes time to correct accent, it's precious. Made more progress in 3 months than in 2 years of regular apps.”

CamilleVerified purchase

“What sold me is you actually speak from class one. No 10 hours of theory before opening your mouth. And the platform between classes is well-built, I revise on the morning commute.”

DamienVerified purchase

“Honestly I had doubts at first because I'd tried plenty of methods without sticking. This is different, the teacher knows their stuff, adapts to your level, and we have fun on top of it. 6 months in and still motivated.”

SorayaVerified purchase

“Really good experience overall, the rhythm between live classes and independent practice is well-balanced. Small note: the mobile app lags sometimes, but the teaching content is well worth the price.”

AntoineVerified purchase

“The thing that makes a real difference compared to other platforms: teachers are native and trained. You feel it, especially on accent and everyday expressions you don't learn in textbooks.”

EmilyVerified purchase

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A complete learning platform: learn to build sentences, listen to audio to pronounce correctly, practice with exercises.
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