A cute petite green owl named Duo is the official mascot of Duolingo.
The owl is a guide and a coach to motivate Duolingo users to learn a new language on several aspects of the popular website.
In this guide, we will explain everything about the Duolingo Bird or Owl.
The Duolingo owl is known to pop up in between lessons to encourage users to give their best.
It has acquired a cult status on TikTok and is the face of innumerable Duolingo memes.
In French Duo is a chouette (owl without ear tufts).
An Owl is considered a representation of wisdom and knowledge since ancient times and that’s the reason why the founders selected it as the mascot of Duolingo.
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However, there is an interesting story behind its Green color, it so happened that the two founders Luis Von Ahn, and Severin Hacker, were discussing the concept for the mascot.
Hacker said he did not want the mascot to be green.
To pull his leg, Von Ahn and the team made Duo bright green and the rest is history.
The Evolution of Duo The Owl
Duo The Owl has undergone a massive transformation over the years to finally become the cute plump happy owl.
Duo the Owl in 2011
In the beginning, Duo had his name on his face and was 2D, the chest feathers, the simple organic shapes.
However, there was no beak or eyes. It looks like Duo is wearing a pair of fake sunglasses.
Duo the Owl in 2012.
A year later with the launch of iOS 7, Duo acquired a 3D form.
He had eyes, a beak, and proper feathers, making him look much like an owl. But still, something was missing.
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Duo the Owl in 2014
A couple of years later, there were some changes to Duo’s iconic look. The 3D base owl was much cuter and cuddlier than the first two.
The beak is smoother, and the feet are Yellow and aren’t attached to his body anymore.
This version of the Duo stayed for 4 long years and it pulled at the user’s heartstrings. It was redesigned in 2018.
Duo the Owl in 2018
In 2018, a modern version of Duo was unveiled. It was once again a 2D version with separated feet and enlarged eyes that made him look cute.
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He had a happy vibe as he seemed to be jumping in the air.
More Duolingo characters were launched in 2020 in the same style.
This design stuck for a long time and Duolingo also saw a rise in subscriptions after this redesign.
Duo Threats
Well, Duo may look cute, but many users started fearing him. Though he looks cute Duo is a tough taskmaster.
However, Duo does not hurt anyone, he pushes you to give your best and also sends you on a guilt trip if you miss out on your lessons.
The crying Duo is seen in your email inbox if you miss a lesson. He is usually seen standing in a puddle of tears.
This pic of the owl looking at you with tear-filled eyes will soon send you on a guilt trip
He will nag you with emails and push notifications if you have not signed in for a while.
The duo is concerned about your language learning progress.
So, he will send you notifications such as “You made Duo sad” or “We missed you” in the middle of a meeting, on vacation, even when you are sleeping.
Duo the Owl Fan Art
Some users are so obsessed with Duo, that they have been given a cult hero status.
Artists create fan art featuring their favorite owl on Duolingo’s Instagram account and hold Fan Art Fridays to share their favorites.
Duo The Owl Memes
Duo the Owl Takes Over TikTok
Duo has also taken over TikTok as a bona fide celebrity. Duo in the form of a giant, real-life mascot is seen seemingly terrorizing the Duolingo offices.
He is also seen taking over the street to confront unsuspecting members of the public. He also has an obsession with Dua Lipa.
There’s a subcategory of Duo TikToks about Duo’s rivalry with Duolingo’s teams: The account now has 3.2 million followers.
Duolingo Owl Plushie
Duo plushies are also a rage and you can now have the cute owl with you every hour of every day.
They are not available to buy but the team just gives them away randomly on their social media channels.
That is all you need to know about Duolingo’s cute mascot The Duo.
