Duolingo’s well-known green owl mascot is no longer part of the brand’s identity.
The U.S.-based language-learning company, which gained widespread popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic, recently announced a major change—its beloved cartoon owl has been retired.
Following a trend of corporate rebranding, similar to Twitter’s shift to X in 2023, the owl has been replaced as part of Duolingo’s evolving image.
On Tuesday, Duolingo shared a post on social media stating: “With a heavy heart, we announce that Duo, formerly known as the Duolingo Owl, is no longer with us.
“Investigations are ongoing, and we are fully cooperating. If we had to guess, he might have just been waiting too long for you to complete your lesson—but what do we know?”
Founded in 2011, the Pittsburgh-based company offers over 100 courses in more than 40 languages, making language learning accessible in bite-sized sessions. Its popularity surged during the pandemic when many users sought productive ways to spend their time.
Duolingo’s statement continued with a lighthearted note: “We know he had many critics, but please refrain from sharing complaints in the comments. However, if you do, feel free to include your credit card number so we can sign you up for Duolingo Max in his honor.”
Adding to the playful tone, the post concluded: “We appreciate everyone respecting Dua Lipa’s privacy at this time.”
This was likely a reference to Duolingo’s past social media posts, where it humorously portrayed the owl as having an admiration for the singer. In a blog post last July, the company even used her lyrics to teach English grammar concepts.
The announcement quickly went viral, with the post gaining over 47 million views by Wednesday morning.
One user commented: “He spent his last moments reminding me to learn French… and I ignored him. I’ll never get over this.”
Another joked: “Are there any suspicions of foul play?”
Later, Duolingo posted: “Instead of flowers, please complete a lesson.”
The company also updated its profile picture on social media to depict the owl with crossed-out eyes and its tongue sticking out. A new logo featuring a cowboy hat appeared at the top of the post, signaling a shift in branding.
While the app icon now reflects this change, within the platform itself, the familiar owl still seems to be present.
Duolingo told CNN via email that more details about this unexpected transition would be revealed on social media soon.