Hi, I'm Chris Rathgeb. For years, I told myself I'd learn another language "when I had time." After spending over 15 years building software companies, I finally made time. Verbific is what happened when an engineer decided to build the learning tool he wished existed.
The Goal That Kept Getting Postponed
Learning a new language has been on my list for as long as I can remember. But between founding startups, leading engineering teams, and the general chaos of building products from zero to one, it kept getting pushed aside. There was always another feature to ship, another fire to put out.
That changed recently. After my company was acquired, I found myself with something rare: a genuinely stress-free break. No emails pulling me back to work, no looming deadlines. For the first time in years, I could focus on that goal I'd been postponing. J'apprends le français.
Building Tools for Myself
When you've spent your career as a software engineer, you tend to solve problems by building things. I tried the popular language learning apps, but they left me frustrated. Too much gamification, not enough substance. I wanted to actually learn the grammar, not just collect streaks and badges.
So I went back to basics with textbooks and grammar guides. But I kept running into friction with those too. I started building small tools for myself — an app to turn textbook exercises into printable worksheets, scripts to organize vocabulary. And eventually, a more ambitious project: a comprehensive verb conjugation resource with multiple ways to practice.
That project became Verbific.
Why Verb Conjugations?
Verbs are the engine of every sentence. You can gesture your way through nouns, but verbs are what let you actually communicate. "I want," "I need," "I'm going" — these are the building blocks that turn vocabulary into conversation.
The problem is that conjugations require repetition to stick. You need to see them, write them, quiz yourself on them. I wanted a tool that supported all of these approaches: quick reference sheets when I'm reading, fill-in-the-blank worksheets for writing practice, and flashcards for drilling.
Built by a Learner, for Learners
I'm not a language teacher or a linguistics expert. I'm a student, same as you. That perspective shapes everything about Verbific. Every feature exists because I needed it for my own learning. If something feels clunky or unhelpful, I experience that friction too.
Verbific is free to use. No accounts required, no paywalls blocking content. This started as a side project born from a personal goal, and I want to keep it accessible to anyone on this journey.
What's Next
Right now, Verbific covers French and Spanish. I'm actively expanding the verb library and improving the learning modes based on what works in my own practice. More languages will come as the project grows.
If you find Verbific useful, that's the best outcome I could hope for. We're all on this language learning journey together.
— Chris Rathgeb
Chapel Hill, North Carolina