Sabda, A Nepali vocabulary Building Mobile App

Background

In recent years, we’ve witnessed a gradual decline in the everyday use of the Nepali language, especially among the younger generations. With the growing dominance of English as the medium of education in most educational institutions across Nepal, many students find themselves more comfortable communicating in English than in their native tongue.

Language is not just a tool for communication, it is deeply tied to identity, culture, and heritage. As each generation grows more distant from the linguistic roots of Nepali, the risk of losing not just vocabulary but the cultural richness it carries becomes more real.

To address this issue in our own small way, my friends and I decided to build a mobile app: Sabda.

Sabda is a vocabulary-building app focused on helping users learn and retain Nepali words more effectively. The app is designed with simplicity and consistency in mind, and features:

• Learn new words every day with scheduled notifications
• Save words that interest you for future reference
• Explore a personalized feed of new words based on your level of expertise
• More features are being added to make the experience richer and more interactive

The goal was to make learning Nepali not just accessible, but also engaging, especially for younger users who may have grown up speaking less of it.

We believe that preserving our language starts with small, consistent efforts, and Sabda is our contribution to that mission. Whether you are fluent or just getting started, the app aims to offer a space to reconnect with our language one word at a time.

Introduction

Sabda is a mobile application aimed at helping users learn and reinforce Nepali vocabulary through structured lessons, interactive quizzes, and spaced repetition techniques. It is designed for both native speakers and second-language learners, with a focus on usability and performance.

Tech Stack & Architecture

Frontend

• Built with Flutter for cross-platform support (Android & iOS).
• Implements a declarative UI architecture for consistent performance and responsiveness.

State Management

• Uses the Provider package for state management.
• Promotes clean separation between UI and business logic with reactive data flow.

Backend & Data Handling

• Firebase is used for:
  • Cloud Firestore (Real-time NoSQL Database)
• Flutter Secure Storage secures local data storage with AES-256 encryption.
• Offline usage support via encrypted local caching of vocabulary sets.

Monetization

• Integrated with Google AdMob:
  • Native Ads for the most unintrusive user experience
• Framework ready for future premium (ad-free) subscription model.

Design & Assets

• All icons, illustrations, and UI assets were designed using Adobe Illustrator.
• Focused on creating a clean, minimalistic, and user-friendly visual style.
• Exported assets optimized for performance and compatibility across devices.
• Ensured scalability and resolution independence for both Android and iOS platforms.
• Neubrutalism design language for a bold, modern aesthetic.
• Focused on vibrant colors, thick borders, and raw, unpolished textures to create a unique visual identity.

Key Functionalities

• Categorized word lists based on themes and difficulty levels.
• Intelligent spaced repetition algorithm for retention.
• Local User Progress tracking, streaks, saved words and more.
• Zero User Data Collection :)
• Local Notifications implemented for spaced repetition reminders and daily practice alerts.

Future Enhancements

• Text-to-speech for pronunciation practice.
• Flashcards for user selected words for practice.
• In-app rewards and leaderboards for community learning.

Screenshots

App Screens

NeuBrutalism inspired simple yet eye catching design

Icons

Supports both normal icons and Android 13+ dynamic theming app icons:) Android 8+ to 12 based, adaptive icons is also supported

Launching Soon on the Play Store!

Available now in the Google Play Store!

We welcome your feedback and suggestions! Your input helps us improve Sabda and make it even more useful for everyone. Feel free to share your thoughts, feature requests, or any issues you encounter.

Get Sabda on Google Play Store