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Where to learn Luxembourgish as a newcomer: courses at the National Language Institute (INLL) and the 200-hour paid language leave for employees.
Luxembourg lives its daily life in three languages — Luxembourgish, French and German — and English is everywhere at work. You can live perfectly well without Luxembourgish, but learning it opens doors: local integration, public sector jobs, and it is a condition for naturalisation (the "Sproochentest" exam, A2 level for speaking).
The National Language Institute Luxembourg (INLL) is the public reference institution for adult language learning. It offers Luxembourgish courses from beginner to advanced levels of the European framework (CEFR), in person and online, at moderate public rates. The INLL also organises the official certifications and the Sproochentest required for nationality. Communes, the SNJ and many associations offer additional courses.
Employees and self-employed people working in Luxembourg can benefit from a special language leave (congé linguistique) to learn or improve Luxembourgish. Its features:
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Total volume | 200 hours maximum over an entire career |
| Split | Compulsorily in 2 instalments of 80 to 120 hours |
| Condition between instalments | Certificate of attendance of the 1st course required for the 2nd instalment |
| Seniority | At least 6 months with the same employer |
| Compensation | Compensatory allowance; the State reimburses part of it to the employer |
The request is made to the employer with proof of enrolment in a recognised course; the hours can be taken in fractions. For part-time workers, the volume is calculated pro rata.
Start early, even 30 minutes a day: Luxembourgish is close to German, and French speakers will recognise a lot of vocabulary. Combine formal courses with real practice — shops, neighbours, free apps — and aim for the Sproochentest only once you have comfortably reached A2 level.
