Expand Mac's Dictionary App by Adding Additional Languages

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Expand Macs Dictionary App by Adding Additional Languages

Written by Jeffry Thurana

April 5, 2009

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As a writer, one of the most important applications I use in Mac is

Dictionary (Applications Dictionary.app). And, as

the citizen of a
country where English is a foreign language, I always wish to be
able to add my own language to the Dictionary so I can quickly and
easily translate between the languages.
Be careful of what you wish, it may come true.

That statement is wise indeed.

Especially when you wish upon a search engine named Google. I found out that
adding other languages to Apple Dictionary is a snap.

Activating Other Built In Dictionaries on your

Mac
First and foremost, lets explore the Dictionary.app before we go too far. It turns out
that Dictionary in Leopard already comes with six built in dictionaries plus access
to Wikipedia as online reference.

Wait a minute, six? Most people thought there are only three: New Oxford
American Dictionary, Oxford American Writers Thesaurus, and Apple Dictionary.

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/easily-expanding-apple-dictionary-mac-only/[4/12/2016 11:04:02 PM]

Expand Mac's Dictionary App by Adding Additional Languages

But if you go to Dictionarys Preferences (Dictionary Preferences or simply hit

the Command
+ Comma
button),
you will have checklist options to activate
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another three: Japanese, Japanese-English, and Japanese Synonyms.

Apple add built in Japanese dictionaries to Dictionary, you have to ask Apple

directly.)

Another less-known feature that also can be activated here is Wikipedia search on
another non-English language. Just select the Wikipedia from the list, and then
look at the option panel that will show up below it. There are several choices of
languages to be chosen by
giving tick to the box, but user can add one more
language from the drop down lists.
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Expand Mac's Dictionary App by Adding Additional Languages

After closing the Preferences window and restarting the Dictionary, you can see the
full list of new active dictionaries.

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Expand Mac's Dictionary App by Adding Additional Languages

Adding External Dictionaries

The first logical step to add more dictionaries is to search for ready-made .dict
file. You can accomplish this by going to download sites or directly to google and
seach Apple Dictionary plugin

and/or .dict . There are several

dictionaries

available such as OpenThesaurus German Dictionary Plugin and Thai-English

translation dictionary.
But you can go further by converting other ready-made dictionary format files and
translate them into Apple Dictionarys format. The steps are:
First: acquire the dictionaries

1. Go to StarDict and choose one or more of the many available dictionaries.

2. You can also go to the StarDict online dictionary.

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Expand Mac's Dictionary App by Adding Additional Languages

3. Choose the source and destination language.

4. A link or links will show up and when you click on one of them, a pop up
window will appear with the download link of the dictionary.

5. Choose as many or as little dictionaries as you need.

Second: Convert the dictionaries
To convert the dictionaries that weve downloaded into something that could be
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Expand Mac's Dictionary App by Adding Additional Languages

opened by Apple Dictionary App, we need DictUnifier.

1. Download the installer and run it.

2. Choose (one of) the dictionary file(s) that youve downloaded.
3. Click Convert .

4. The conversion process will take from about several seconds to a few minutes.
5. After finish converting, the converted dictionary will automatically exported to
Apple Dictionary, and the Dictionary app will be opened.
Simple enough, but please note that some users reported that DictUnifier can not
convert several StarDicts dictionary. If this
is the case, just remember to put the
same name in the Dictionary Name and Dictionary ID fields.
Finally, you can learn more about Apple Dictionary and how to build your own
dictionary by going to Apples Dictionary Services Programming Guide.
Do you have other favorite dictionary application? Share using the comment below.

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Expand Mac's Dictionary App by Adding Additional Languages

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Comments (20)

Vaclav Slavik

Write a Comment

Reply

23 January, 2016

I have made an app that you may find useful given how hard it is to find good
dictionaries. It contains translation dictionaries for (currently) 44 languages that
are based on a good source (Wiktionary) and look good in Yosemite and El
Capitan (unlike many old or stardict-based ones). Its called Dictionaries and is at
https://dictionaries.io

Jorge Diaz

Reply

22 February, 2016

Loved it! And happily paid for it, good job!

michael dematties

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/easily-expanding-apple-dictionary-mac-only/[4/12/2016 11:04:02 PM]

Reply

Expand Mac's Dictionary App by Adding Additional Languages

13 January, 2015

This no longer works. Stardict has chnaged its interface

Anonymous

Reply

3 January, 2015

RE: 5. After finish converting, the converted dictionary will automatically exported
to Apple Dictionary, and the Dictionary app will be opened.

Simple enough, but please note that some users reported that DictUnifier
can not
convert several StarDicts dictionary. If this is the case, just remember to put the
same name in the Dictionary Name and Dictionary ID fields.
And in some cases, even that doesnt work. I just spent over three fruitless hours
trying to add the stardict Websters 1913 dictionary to my Mac. Thanks for your
efforts, though.

Christopher Honey

Reply

14 February, 2010

All You gotta Do Is deselect the script checkbox!!!!!

Maria

Reply

29 October, 2009

PERFECT!!! Got the file from stardict.org and converted it.. It was very easy and
IT WORKED!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!

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