Visual English vocab app / iOS

Words you'll actually use,
paired with images.

Speak without stumbling. Built for daily English, not test prep.
Pictan pairs every English word with its own image.

Get it on the App Store

No sign-in. Open and go.

pictan flashcard for the word “spill,” showing the image, definition, example, and Got it / Not yet buttons.

Why does English vocabulary keep feeling like a chore?

When studying English isn't sticking, it's usually one of these.

Your vocab book always stops at page 40.
The motivation you started with doesn't last three days.
You stop opening the app after three weeks.
Only the notifications keep piling up.
You try to learn from films, but the dictionary breaks the flow.
Pausing again and again turns watching into work.
The word you know just won't come out when you talk.
"Wait, what was that..." and the conversation moves on without it.

It's not your fault.
Most methods are designed for the wrong setting.

Three structural reasons English vocabulary tends to fall apart. Pictan is built around fixing them.

01
You memorize only the word and its meaning.
Nothing for memory to hook onto. The word starts slipping out almost as soon as you've learned it.
02
Recognizing is not speaking.
Knowing what a word means when you see it doesn't help unless you've practiced recalling it yourself.
03
You go through your native language to use English.
Conversation speed and fast film dialogue won't wait for the extra translation step. You're always a beat behind.

Three pillars holding each other up.

Pictan is built on three things: daily-conversation vocabulary, images, and English-only definitions. They each help, but it's the combination that makes them stick.

Pillar 01

Only the words you'll actually say.

Every word is chosen because it shows up in real life — concrete objects, everyday actions, common states. Not the business jargon of standardized tests. Abstract words that can't be pictured are left out from the start.

Pillar 02

Words stick when they come with an image.

Every word has its own image. Pairing text with imagery is more memorable than text alone — what learning research calls dual coding theory.

Pillar 03

Learn English in English.

All definitions are in English, but written only with words below your current level. You build a habit of reading meaning without translating back to your native language.

Not a picture vocab book. Not a flashcard drill app. Not an English-only dictionary.

Because the words are chosen for conversation, what you learn works in the real world.
Images let you grasp meaning even when the English definition is hard.
English-only definitions let images and words connect without translation.
The three interlock — that's when vocabulary actually becomes usable.

What happens on a single card.

Try to recall first, then tap to check. Five to fifteen minutes a day fits a commute or a break.

Card with only the image and definition visible — the spelling stays hidden so you can recall it first.
1

First, try to recall.

Only the image and the English definition show. The spelling stays hidden, so you have time to think before checking.

After tapping: the spelling and example appear, and Got it / Not yet buttons appear at the bottom.
2

Tap to reveal, then judge yourself.

Spelling and example appear together, and audio plays for pronunciation. Pick Got it or Not yet—words you missed come back sooner.

Start where you are, step by step.

Launching with Lv.1–3 (about 2,400 words). More levels will be added as they're ready.

Lv.2 — Everyday Verbs
487 / 800
New 96
Still Learning 142
In Review 128
Mastered 121
Each level shows its progress bar and breakdown at a glance.
New → Still Learning → In Review → Mastered. The words you've learned and the words to review again are always one tap away.

No personal data.
No ads.

Keeping up with study isn't only about features. Anything not about learning, we keep off the screen.

Your learning data stays on your device.
What you've learned is saved on your iPhone. The app isn't built to send it to the cloud.
No advertising.
Nothing breaks your focus mid-card.
No sign-in required.
No account, no email verification. Open the app, start.
Works offline.
It doesn't stop on the subway or in a flight. Wherever the signal isn't, the cards still work.

Things people ask first.

Each definition uses only words below your current level, so they're easier to read than a regular dictionary. If something still trips you up, the image is right there to fill in the meaning. Reading both at once is the design.
Pictan isn't a TOEIC-prep app. The goal is being able to hold a conversation and watch films without subtitles. Your vocabulary grows as a result, which may affect a score along the way.
Lv.1 — 800 words. Lv.2 and up are a monthly subscription.
Yes. The learning data is on your device, so subways and air travel don't slow it down.
Pictan is designed for adults. We don't recommend it for younger learners.
Three things at once: vocabulary chosen for daily conversation, learning with images, and English-only definitions. Not many apps combine all three.

Words, paired with images

Start with today's commute. A few minutes a day is enough.

Get it on the App Store

Cancel any time if it doesn't fit. Lv.1 stays available either way.