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Why I Built Mora: A Flashcard App for Language Learners

3 min read

FLASHCARDS
A person building a flashcard app.

Earlier this year, I started learning Thai. Like many language learners, I quickly realized that remembering vocabulary was harder than I expected. I tried different flashcard apps, but most felt clunky, unintuitive, or missing the features I actually needed.

That frustration is what inspired me to build Mora — a simple, modern flashcard app designed for language learners.

The Problem With Existing Flashcard Apps

When I searched for tools, I kept running into the same problems:

  • Complex interfaces that felt more like a chore than a helpful tool.
  • Apps focused only on Latin scripts, making it hard to study Thai, Chinese, or Vietnamese.
  • No support for handwriting input — but I was learning Thai with phonetic spelling before learning the Thai script, so I used a lot of characters that were not on my keyboard.
  • Limited or clumsy audio features, even though tones are essential in many languages.
  • No easy way to study across devices — I wanted something I could use on both my laptop and my phone without friction so I could study anywhere.

I knew there had to be a better way.

Building Mora

With Mora, I wanted to create a tool that felt intuitive and supportive of real language learners. Here are the features I started with:

  • ✍️ Handwriting support — practice characters and phonetic spelling directly in the app.
  • 🔊 Text-to-speech — hear how words are pronounced with one tap.
  • 🔁 Spaced repetition — proven memory science to help words stick.
  • 📂 CSV import & export — bring in your own vocabulary lists or back them up anytime.
  • 💻 Cross-device support — use Mora seamlessly on both laptops and mobile devices, so you can study anywhere, anytime.
  • 🧑‍💻 Easy and intuitive interface — Mora is designed to be simple, so you can focus on learning, not figuring out how the app works.

The goal was simple: no clutter, no ads, just a flashcard app that works.

Who Mora Is For

Mora is designed for anyone learning a new language, especially those working with:

  • Non-Latin scripts like Thai, Chinese, or Japanese.
  • Tonal languages like Vietnamese or Mandarin.
  • Learners who want an app that adapts to them, not the other way around.

If you’ve ever struggled to find a tool that is easy-to-use, Mora is for you.

What’s Next

Mora is still young, but it’s evolving fast. I’m exploring features like:

  • Smarter study modes.
  • Audio upload.
  • Import vocabulary from other file formats.

But the most important direction will always come from you, the learners. Your feedback shapes what Mora becomes.

Try Mora Today

If you’re learning a new language and want a modern, intuitive flashcard app, give Mora a try for free:

👉 https://usemora.co

I hope Mora makes your language learning journey a little easier — and a lot more enjoyable. 💜

Built by a language learner, for language learners.