FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vocabu free?

Vocabu is available for free on the App Store. Some advanced features such as the AI Photo Scanner or automatic AI translation can be unlocked as in-app purchases.

Which devices does Vocabu run on?

Vocabu is available for iPhone and iPad and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store. An Android version is not currently planned.

Which languages can I learn with Vocabu?

Currently you can learn English, German, Spanish and French with Vocabu. More languages are already in planning and will follow in future updates.

Is my data backed up?

Your study sets and progress are stored locally on your device. If you uninstall the app, your data will also be deleted. We recommend exporting your study sets as CSV before uninstalling.

Can I import vocabulary from Excel or CSV?

Yes! Vocabu supports importing Excel and CSV files. Here's how:

1. Open your study set and tap "Add Cards"
2. Select "Import Excel/CSV"
3. Choose your file

The first column is used as the front (e. g. foreign language), the second column as the back (e. g. translation) of the card. Optionally, a third column can be imported as an example sentence.

How many cards can a study set have?

There is no fixed upper limit. Study sets with several hundred or even thousands of cards work without any issues. The Spaced Repetition system ensures you always see only the right cards at the right time.

Can I edit cards after creating them?

Yes. Open the study set, tap a card and then tap the edit symbol. You can adjust the vocabulary, translation, example sentence, image and audio at any time. Editing a card has no effect on its learning progress.

Can I share study sets?

You can export a study set as CSV and then share the file with others, who can in turn import it into their own Vocabu app.

What is Spaced Repetition?

Spaced Repetition is a scientifically proven learning method based on the so-called forgetting curve. The idea: just before you forget information, you repeat it – this strengthens your memory with minimal effort.

In Vocabu, your cards are divided into learning levels. The higher the level, the longer the interval until the next review. If you rate a card as "Wrong", it drops a level; if you rate it "Correct", it rises.

How many vocabulary words should I learn per day?

It depends on your goals and available time. As a rule of thumb:

• Beginners: 10–15 new cards per day
• Intermediate: 20–30 new cards per day
• Intensive learners: 40+ new cards per day

More important than quantity is consistency: 10 minutes daily is significantly more effective than one hour once a week.

What is the difference between Quiz and Practice?

Quiz uses the Spaced Repetition system. Vocabu automatically selects the cards you should learn or review today. This mode is ideal for long-term learning.

Practice is a free mode without interval logic. You can go through any cards from your set – handy for exam preparation or quick revision.

What do the three rating options mean?

• 👎 Wrong (red thumb): The card drops one learning level and will be shown again soon.
• ✅ Learned (middle button): The card is directly marked as "learned" and receives the longest review interval.
• 👍 Correct (green thumb): The card rises one learning level and will be repeated at the next optimal time.

Why am I not seeing any new cards?

Vocabu limits the number of new cards per day according to your set daily limit. Once you've reached the limit, the app only shows due reviews. You can increase the limit at any time in the settings.

What is a streak?

A streak counts how many consecutive days you've reached your daily learning goal. Streaks help build a regular learning habit and stay motivated.

What happens if I break my streak?

If you miss a daily goal and have a "Streak Freeze" available, one will be automatically used – your streak stays intact. If you have no freezes left, the streak resets to 0.

You can collect freezes by reaching your goal for 5 consecutive days. You can have a maximum of 2 freezes at the same time.

When is the daily goal considered reached?

The daily goal is considered reached when you have completed at least one learning session – more precisely, as soon as you have rated a card. You can adjust the specific goal (number of cards, minutes) in the settings.

What can the AI Photo Scanner recognize?

The scanner can process text from the following sources:

• Photos of textbooks, worksheets and printed texts
• Screenshots of websites, digital documents or apps
• Handwritten notes (with clear handwriting)

The scan results are inaccurate – what can I do?

• Ensure good lighting without shadows or reflections
• Hold the device straight over the document
• Make sure the text is sharp and readable
• If possible, use a light background with dark text

After scanning, you can manually review and correct all recognized vocabulary before adding them.

Which languages does the scanner recognize?

The AI scanner supports all common languages, including Latin, Cyrillic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Arabic scripts. Recognition quality is best with clear printed texts.

Does Vocabu work offline?

Yes, learning with your existing cards works completely offline. However, AI features such as automatic translation or the Photo Scanner require an internet connection.

How do I back up my data?

You can export individual study sets as a CSV file. To do this, open the study set, tap the three dots (⋯) in the top right and select "Export". You can save the file in iCloud, via email or other apps.

How do I transfer my study sets to a new device?

Export all study sets on your old device as CSV and then import them on the new device under "Add Cards" → "Import Excel/CSV".

The app crashes or behaves strangely – what should I do?

1. Restart the app (close it completely and reopen it)
2. Restart your iPhone/iPad
3. Make sure you have the latest version of Vocabu installed
4. Uninstall the app and reinstall it (export data first!)

If the problem persists, please write to us at daniel@styrianapps.com with a brief description of the problem and your iOS version.