DrillPhrases.com

Master languages through focused phrase practice.

No grammar. No fluff. Just drills that make you fluent.

The DrillPhrases Manifesto

Fluency is earned, not awarded. Every sentence you understand, every phrase you blurt out without thinking, is a rep you paid for in effort. Real skill is forged by repetition—not badges, streaks, or artificial “XP.”

Most language apps ask you to recognize answers on a screen. We ask you to produce answers from memory. That difference—between clicking and recalling—draws the line between feeling like you’re learning and actually being able to speak.

Why phrases?

Our core principles

  1. Active recall or bust. If you aren’t retrieving from memory, you’re not training. Every DrillPhrases loop forces recall, checks it, and moves on.
  2. Tight feedback loops. See or hear a prompt → answer → immediate correction → next rep. No waiting, no cognitive drift.
  3. Zero wasted motion. No login wall, no lesson gating, and any ads we include will stay off the practice flow—never between you and the next rep.
  4. Self-honesty beats gamification. Only you know if you “got it right.” Mark it honestly and let the algorithm hammer weak spots until they’re strong.

The commitment

We will keep the interface spartan so the hard thing—recall—stays front and center. Any ad that appears will be tucked away, static, and ignorable. We will measure success not by clicks, but by the moment you realize you just thought in your new language.

If that’s the kind of fluency you want, grab a coffee, open a drill, and start stacking reps.
The countdown to confident conversation begins the second you hit “Play phrase.”

Our Belief

We believe that most language learning tools get it wrong.

They promise fluency but bury you in grammar rules, gamification, and passive lessons. They reward you for showing up, not for improving. They make learning feel like a game—but language isn’t a game. It’s a skill. And skills are earned through practice.

DrillPhrases was built for people who want to skip the noise and get fluent the hard, fast, honest way: by drilling what matters.

Real fluency doesn’t come from memorizing words or finishing courses. It comes from seeing a phrase, recalling what it means, and producing it under pressure—again and again—until it’s automatic. Until you don’t think. You just speak.

That’s why we cut everything else: no lessons, no levels, no distractions. Just drills. Just phrases. Just work.

If you believe fluency is something you train, not something you’re given—then you’re one of us.

Why DrillPhrases?

Because learning a language shouldn't mean memorizing lists or sitting through lessons. It should mean doing the thing—reading, listening, speaking, and writing real phrases until they stick.

DrillPhrases gives you simple, focused drills to help you build fluency one phrase at a time. No grammar lectures. No fluff. Just practice that works.

Start now, no account needed.

About

DrillPhrases is a practice-first platform for language learning. It’s built around a simple idea: the best way to learn a language is to actively use it.

Instead of passively consuming content or memorizing isolated words, DrillPhrases pushes you to recall, produce, and refine full phrases through targeted drills.

No grammar lectures, no long lessons—just pure, focused repetition of what you'll actually say and hear in real conversations.

Inspiration

DrillPhrases is inspired by Ultralearning—a self-directed, aggressive approach to skill acquisition popularized by Scott Young. One of its core principles is active recall: learning by retrieving information from memory, not just reviewing it.

Another influence is Benny Lewis, who emphasizes the importance of learning useful phrases from day one instead of studying grammar or vocabulary lists in isolation.

DrillPhrases combines these philosophies into a focused set of tools that help you get better through deliberate practice—one phrase at a time.

Why Phrases, Not Words?

Most language learners start by memorizing individual words. But knowing the word for “apple” or “run” doesn’t help you order food, ask for directions, or have a real conversation.

Phrases are the building blocks of communication. They carry meaning, tone, and grammar all at once. Learning in phrases helps you:

DrillPhrases focuses entirely on practicing complete, useful phrases—so you build functional fluency, not just vocabulary.

The Tools

DrillPhrases gives you four simple, powerful tools for practicing language actively. Each one targets a core language skill using focused recall and phrase-based training.

  1. Reading Comprehension

    You see a phrase written in your target language (e.g., Spanish), and you try to recall its meaning in your native language. This develops your ability to quickly understand written language without translating word by word.

    It's ideal for building recognition of common phrases and sentence patterns, and it trains you to think in your target language instead of decoding it.

  2. Listening Comprehension

    You hear a phrase spoken aloud, and you try to recall what it means. This strengthens your ear for natural speech, helping you recognize sounds, rhythm, and phrasing in real time.

    Listening is one of the hardest skills to master, especially in fast or unclear speech. This tool trains you to process audio input quickly and accurately.

  3. Speech Production

    You see a phrase in your native language (e.g., English), and you try to say it out loud in your target language from memory. Then, you compare it to the correct version.

    This builds the critical skill of turning thoughts into fluent speech—without hesitation or mental translation. It's active, challenging, and one of the most effective ways to develop fluency.

  4. Writing Production

    You see a phrase in your native language and type the correct version in your target language. This reinforces spelling, structure, and recall.

    Writing helps lock in correct grammar and phrasing because it slows you down and makes you notice details you might miss in speech. You'll learn to express yourself accurately and confidently.

Each tool is simple by design. There's no scoring, gamification, or distractions—just raw, deliberate practice. You drill, you recall, you improve.

Who It's For

DrillPhrases is perfect for:

How It Works

DrillPhrases is built around a simple but powerful learning loop designed to strengthen your memory through active recall. Each practice mode follows the same flow:

1. See or Hear a Prompt

Depending on the mode you choose (Reading, Listening, Speaking, or Writing), you’ll be shown a phrase in your target language, your native language, or hear it spoken aloud.

2. Try to Recall or Produce the Answer

You attempt to recall what the phrase means—or say or write the correct version—based on the prompt. This moment of effort is the key to building fluency.

3. Click “Show Answer”

Once you’ve made your attempt, you click to reveal the correct answer. This immediate feedback helps reinforce correct recall and self-correct mistakes.

4. Give Feedback: Did You Get It Right?

After seeing the correct answer, you indicate whether you got it right or wrong. This helps the system know how to prioritize future phrases (especially in personalized modes).

5. Get a New Phrase

Right after you give feedback, the next phrase appears—starting the loop again. No waiting, no distractions—just continuous, focused practice.

Why This Loop Works

This drill loop is based on the principle of retrieval practice: actively recalling information makes learning stick far better than passive review. Repeating this loop with hundreds of useful phrases trains your brain to understand, produce, and use the language instinctively.

And because each practice session is quick and lightweight, you can train as little or as much as you want—one loop at a time.

FAQ

Do I need to create an account?
No. The current version of DrillPhrases is completely account-free. You can start practicing immediately without signing up.
Can I add or customize my own phrases?
Not yet. In this first version, you practice with a curated set of useful phrases. In the future, we plan to offer a paid version with accounts where you can manage and drill your own custom phrase lists.
What languages are supported?
Currently: Spanish, German, French, and more are on the way. We’re focusing on the most widely spoken and requested languages first.
Will there be a mobile version?
Possibly. If enough people find value in DrillPhrases, we plan to develop a dedicated mobile app to make practice even easier on the go.
Is it free?
Yes, this initial version is free to use. To support it, we may include ads. In the future, we’ll offer a paid subscription with more features—like custom phrase practice and ad-free experience.
How is this different from Duolingo?
DrillPhrases isn’t gamified or lesson-based. It’s built for people who want to practice deliberately—one phrase at a time—using the principles of active recall and ultralearning. No cartoons, no hearts, no fluff. Just drills that work.
How long should I use it each day?
Even 5–10 minutes of focused practice per day can make a difference. There’s no set time—you can do as many or as few drills as you want. The key is consistency.
What happens when I say I got a phrase right or wrong?
Right now, the system uses that information to guide your session flow. In the future, we plan to track your progress over time once accounts are introduced.