Turn your English word lists into free ESL flashcards
Upload the vocabulary, reading or grammar notes your class uses and get flashcards you can review in the browser for free.
Why generate your own ESL flashcards
Printable decks rarely match the vocabulary your class covers this week, so free ESL flashcards work best when they start from your own material.
- Upload PDFs, slides, notes or photos of pages and get flashcards from them.
- Study in the browser on the Free plan with 3 generations per month.
- Use spaced repetition so difficult words return more often.
- Export to Anki, PDF, DOCX or CSV with the Plus plan.
Built from your material
Upload a PDF, slides, DOCX, plain notes or a photo of a page, and the flashcards match the words your class is actually studying.
Spaced repetition
Cards you find hard come back sooner, and familiar words appear less often, so review time goes to the vocabulary you still miss.
Free to start
The Free plan includes 3 generations per month and browser study, with no credit card needed to begin.
How it works
Upload your notes
Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, text file or image of a worksheet or board.
Generate flashcards
DeckOwl reads the text and creates question and answer cards from it.
Review in the browser
Study with spaced repetition and mark the cards you missed so they return sooner.
Cards made from your reading passage or vocabulary list keep the words in context. Spaced repetition then brings each word back just before you would forget it, which is how most learners move new vocabulary into everyday use.
Start with the Free plan to check whether the cards help before you decide on a paid option.
Explore related topics
Clothing Vocabulary Flashcards for ESL
Turn your clothing word lists into ESL flashcards with spaced repetition.
Free Printable ESL Flashcards
Turn your ESL lesson material into flashcards, study free, and print with Plus.
Printable ESL Flashcards
Turn your own ESL word lists and lesson slides into flashcards you can print or study with spaced repetition.
ESL Vocabulary Flashcards From Your Notes
Turn your own readings, slides or photos into ESL vocabulary flashcards.
Vocabulary Flashcards for ESL Students
Make ESL vocabulary flashcards from your own notes, slides or readings.
German Word Flashcards From Your Own PDF
Turn a German vocabulary list or notes into AI flashcards with spaced repetition.
1000 Common Italian Words Flashcards
Turn your common Italian word list into flashcards with spaced repetition.
1000 Common Spanish Words Flashcards
Turn your Spanish notes into flashcards with spaced repetition. Free to start.
Frequently asked questions
How many new words should an ESL learner add per lesson?
Most learners do better with a short set of new words per lesson, reviewed in brief daily sessions. Smaller sets are easier to recall than a long list studied once.
What makes a good ESL flashcard?
Put the target word or phrase on the front with a short example sentence, and a plain definition or translation on the back. Long definitions are hard to recall quickly, so keep the answer brief.
Is DeckOwl free for ESL students?
The Free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser, with no credit card needed to start. Students can get 40% off Plus with a school email.
Can I export my ESL flashcards to Anki?
Yes, but export to Anki is part of the Plus plan at $39/year or $7.99/month. Free accounts can study their cards in the browser without exporting.
Keep exploring the topic
Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.
Vocabulary Quiz for Unit 2 Focus 3
Generate a vocabulary quiz for unit 2 focus 3 from your own notes, with explanations for each answer.
Trivia maker reviews and custom quizzes
Compare trivia makers, then build a quiz from your own notes with explanations included.
Class 11 Business Studies Mind Maps
Turn Class 11 business studies notes into an editable mind map you can explore branch by branch.
YouTube Video Mind Map Generator
Turn a YouTube video transcript into an editable, explorable AI mind map.