Reverse modes
With a subtitle track in your native language, PlayLingo switches to Read, Build, Speak and Translate — you work with the translation in the language you learn.
When a video’s subtitle track is in your native language, the modes flip. You hear speech you already understand, and the main line on screen is its translation into the language you learn. The reverse modes are Read, Build, Speak and Translate.
When reverse modes apply
- Open a video and choose a subtitle track in your native language (or a language you already understand). See Subtitle tracks.
- The player switches to the reverse set of modes automatically. The first time, Lingo explains what changed.
- Tap the round mode button to pick a mode.
Your usual mode is remembered separately for each direction, so switching tracks doesn’t lose it.
Read
You hear the line in your own language and read how to say it in the new one. Look up and save words from the text on screen as usual.
When to use it: when the language is brand new and a normal video is still too hard.
In the mode sheet, the Original row turns the text of the track itself on or off — without it you read only the new language.
Build
The video stops after every line. Below are the words of the translation, shuffled — put them in order. Say it out loud in Exercise settings reads the finished line aloud.
When to use it: when you want to study, not just watch.
Speak
The line is covered. Say what you can: every word you get opens up and stays open, in any order. Tap a covered word to see it and hear how it sounds. Once the line counts, it opens fully.
When to use it: when you understand the line but cannot yet say it.
Translate
The words are hidden. You hear the line in your language and recall how to say it in the new one. Tap to open one word; the eye button opens the whole line. Auto-pause turns on when you enter this mode.
When to use it: when you want to learn to speak, not only to understand.
Free or Pro
- Read and Translate are free; watching time uses your daily energy.
- Build and Speak share the same free daily lines as the regular Build and Speak — 10 of each by default. After that they need Pro. See Free and Pro.
Common questions
Why aren’t Understand and Listen available?
They train understanding of the language you learn. With a native-language track, there’s nothing to listen for, so the reverse set replaces them.
How do I get back to the regular modes?
Pick a subtitle track in the language you learn.
Related guides
- Modes overviewWatch, Understand, Listen, Build and Speak — PlayLingo’s modes turn the same video into listening, sentence-building and speaking practice. Here’s when to use each.
- Subtitle tracksHow to pick the subtitle language and track type for a YouTube video in PlayLingo — Enhanced, Auto and Channel — and report bad subtitles.
- Build modeIn Build mode the video stops after each line and you put its shuffled words back in order. How chips, sessions and free daily lines work.
- Speak modePractice speaking with shadowing in PlayLingo — the video pauses after each line, you repeat it out loud, and on-device speech recognition checks every word.